• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.453-475
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• 2007

School algebra starts with introducing algebraic expressions which have been one of the cognitive obstacles to the students in the transfer from arithmetic to algebra. In the recent studies on the teaching school algebra, algebraic thinking is getting much more attention together with algebraic expressions. In this paper, we examined the processes of the transfer from arithmetic to algebra and ways for teaching early algebra through algebraic thinking factors. Issues about algebraic thinking have continued since 1980's. But the theoretic foundations for algebraic thinking have not been founded in the previous studies. In this paper, we analyzed the algebraic thinking in school algebra from historico-genetic, epistemological, and symbolic-linguistic points of view, and identified algebraic thinking factors, i.e. the principle of permanence of formal laws, the concept of variable, quantitative reasoning, algebraic interpretation - constructing algebraic expressions, trans formational reasoning - changing algebraic expressions, operational senses - operating algebraic expressions, substitution, etc. We also identified these algebraic thinking factors through analyzing mathematics textbooks of elementary and middle school, and showed the middle school students' low achievement relating to these factors through the algebraic thinking ability test. Based upon these analyses, we argued that the readiness for algebra learning should be made through the processes including algebraic thinking factors in the elementary school and that the transfer from arithmetic to algebra should be accomplished naturally through the pre-algebra course. And we searched for alternative ways to improve algebra curriculums, emphasizing algebraic thinking factors. In summary, we identified the problems of school algebra relating to the transfer from arithmetic to algebra with the problem of teaching algebraic thinking and analyzed the algebraic thinking factors of school algebra, and searched for alternative ways for improving the transfer from arithmetic to algebra and the teaching of early algebra.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.439-452
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• 1998

In this Study, I concerned the learning-teaching of the use of letters in algebra. Our Study can be summarized as follows; First, I tried to establish the theoretical Foundation necessary for the learning-teaching of the use of letters in literal expressions. Second, I made a course of study that leads to the understanding of the meaning and the use f literals in algebraic expressions. Third, Based on this course of study, I held classes on First-grade students in middle school and I carried on an investigation their understanding of the meaning and the use of literals in algebraic expressions. Finally, I made an analysis of findings in this investigation and identified student's a better understanding of the meaning and the use of literals in algebraic expressions.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.79-99
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• 2019

This study is a study to collect information about 'Limitations of functions' related learning. Especially, this study was conducted on three students who can find answers by algebraic procedure in the process of extreme problem solving. Students have had the experience of converting from their algebraic procedures to graphical expressions. This shows how they reflect on their algebraic procedures. This study is a study that observes these parts. To accomplish this, twelfth were teaching experiment in three high school students. And we analyzed the contents related to the research topic of this study. Through this, students showed the difference of expressions in the method of finding limits by using algebraic interpretation methods and graphs. In addition, we examined the connectivity of the limitations of functions problem solving process of functions using algebraic procedures and graphs in the process of converting algebraic expressions to graph expressions. This study is a study of how students construct limit concepts. As in this study, it is meaningful to accumulate practical information about students' limit conceptual composition. We hope that this study will help students to study limit concept development process for students who have no limit learning experience in the future.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-392
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• 2013

Generally school algebra is to start with introducing variables and algebraic expressions, which have major cognitive obstacles to students in the transfer from arithmetic to algebra. But the recent studies in the teaching school algebra argue the algebraic thinking from an early algebraic point of view. We compare the Korean elementary mathematics textbooks with Americans from this perspective. First, we discuss the history of school algebra in the school curriculum. And Second, we investigate the recent studies in relation to early algebra. We clarify the goals of this study(the importance of early algebra in the elementary school) through these discussions. Next we examine closely the number sense in the arithmetic and the symbol sense in the algebra. And we conclude that the operation sense can connect these senses within early algebra using the algebraic thinking. Finally, we compare the elementary mathematics books between Korean and American according to the components of the operation sense. In this comparative study, we identify a possibility of teaching algebraic thinking in the elementary mathematics and early algebra can be introduced to the elementary mathematics textbooks from aspects of the operation sense.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.265-288
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• 2021

In the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum, the system of equations is first introduced in 'Variables and Expressions' of [Middle School Grades 1-3]. Then, It is constructed that after learning the linear function in 'Functions', the relationship between the graphs of two linear functions and the systems of linear equations are learned so that students could improve the geometric representation of the systems of equations. However, in of Elective-Centered Curriculum Common Courses, Instruction is limited to algebraic manipulation when teaching and learning systems of quadratic equations. This paper presented the teaching and learning method that can improve students' mathematical connection through various representations by providing geometric representations in parallel using GeoGebra, a mathematics learning software, with algebraic solutions in the teaching and learning situation of simultaneous quadratic equations.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.343-360
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• 2003

In this paper, we deal with the teaching of algebra based on patterns and generalization. The past algebra curriculum starts with letters(variables), algebraic expressions, and equations, but these formal approaching method has many difficulties in the school algebra. Therefore we insist the new algebraic approaches should be needed. In order to develop these instructions, we firstly investigate the relationship of patterns and algebra, the relationship of generalization and algebra, the steps of generalization from patterns and levels of difficulties. Next we look into the algebra instructions based arithmetic patterns, visual patterns and functional situations. We expect that these approaches help students learn algebra when they begin school algebra.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.353-369
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• 2002

In this paper, we deal with the teaching of the approaching to algebra based on patterns. The change of algebra curriculum has been undergoing in many countries including USA, England, Australia. The traditional algebra curriculum starts with letters(variables), algebraic expressions, and equations. But these formal approaching method has many difficulties in teaching school algebra. Therefore the new algebra curriculum has to be needed, and the approaching to algebra based on patterns has been focused. In this paper, we compare this new approaching to algebra based on patterns to the traditional algebra curriculum. Next we consider the NCTM algebra curriculums based on Standards (1989) and Standards 2000(2000), Britannica textbook series(1998) based on RME. Also we investigate our pattern approaching in our curriculum and discuss some problems from the perspective of the approaching to algebra based on patterns.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.211-230
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• 2016

The study aimed to investigate the characteristics of algebraic thinking of the mathematically gifted students and search for how to teach algebraic thinking. Research subjects in this study included 93 students who applied for a science gifted education center affiliated with a university in 2015 and previously experienced gifted education. Students' responses on an algebraic item of a creative thinking test in mathematics, which was given as screening process for admission were collected as data. A framework of algebraic thinking factors were extracted from literature review and utilized for data analysis. It was found that students showed difficulty in quantitative reasoning between two quantities and tendency to find solutions regarding equations as problem solving tools. In this process, students tended to concentrate variables on unknown place holders and to had difficulty understanding various meanings of variables. Some of students generated errors about algebraic concepts. In conclusions, it is recommended that functional thinking including such as generalizing and reasoning the relation among changing quantities is extended, procedural as well as structural aspects of algebraic expressions are emphasized, various situations to learn variables are given, and activities constructing variables on their own are strengthened for improving gifted students' learning and teaching algebra.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

Patterns are of great significance to develop algebraic thinking of elementary students. This study analyzed teaching methods of patterns in current elementary mathematics textbook series in terms of three main activities related to pattern generalization (i.e., analyzing the structure of patterns, investigating the relationship between two variables, and reasoning and representing the generalized rules). The results of this study showed that such activities to analyze the structure of patterns are not explicitly considered in the textbooks, whereas those to explore the relationship between two variables in a pattern are emphasized throughout all grade levels using function table. The activities to reason and represent the generalized rules of patterns are dealt in a way both for lower grade students to use informal representations and for upper grade students to employ formal representations with expressions or symbols. The results of this study also illustrated that patterns in the textbooks are treated rather as a separate strand than as something connected to other content strands. This paper closes with several implications to teach patterns in a way to foster early algebraic thinking of elementary school students.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.477-506
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• 2003

In this paper, we analyze nine-grade students' conceptions of parameters, their relation to unknowns and variables and the process of understanding of letters in problem solving of equations and functions. The roles of letters become different according to the letters-used contexts and the meaning of letters Is changed in the process of being used. But, students do not understand the meaning of letters correctly, especially that of parameter. As a result, students operate letters in algebraic expressions according to the syntax without understanding the distinction between the roles. Therefore, the parameter of learning should focus on the dynamic change of roles and the flexible thinking of using letters. We develop a self-regulation model based on the monitoring working question in teaching-learning situations. We expect that this model helps students understand concepts of letters that enable to construct meaning in a concrete context.