• The Mathematical Education
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.197-213
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• 2018

Descriptive problems can be used to grow student's ability of thinking logically and creatively, because it shows if the students had a reasonable way of thinking. Rate of descriptive problems is increasing in middle and high school exams. However, students in middle and high schools are generally used to answering multiple-choice or short-answer questions rather than describing the solving process. The purpose of this paper is to gain a theoretic ground to increase the rate of descriptive problems. In this study, students were to solve some multiple-choice problems, and after a few weeks, to solve the problems of same contents in the form of descriptive problems which requires the students to write the solving process. The difference of the scores were measured for each problems to each students, and students were asked what they think the reason for rise or fall of the score is. The result is as follows: First, average scores of 7 of 8 problems used in this study had fallen when it was in descriptive form, and for 5 of them in the rate of 11.2%~16.8%. Second, the main reason of falling is that the students have actual troubles of describing the solving process. Third, in the case of rising, the main reason was that partial scores were given in the descriptive problems. Last, there seems a possibility gender difference in the reason of falling. From these results, followings are suggested to advance the learning, teaching and evaluation in mathematics education: First, it has to be emphasized enough to describe the solving process when solving a problem. Second, increasing the rate of descriptive problems can be supported as a way to advance the evaluation. Third, descriptive problems have to be easier to solve than multiple-choice ones and it is convenient for the students to describe the solving process. Last, multiple-choice problems have to be carefully reviewed that the possibility of students' choosing incorrect answer with a small mistake is minimal.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.355-375
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• 2011

This paper was designed for the purpose of helping the functional comprehension on the concept of a circumcenter and an incenter of triangle and offering the help for teaching-learning process on their definitions. We analysed the characteristic of the definition on a circumcenter and an incenter of triangle and studied the context, mean and purpose on the definition. The definition focusing on the construction is the definition stressed on the consistency of the concept through the fact that it is possible to draw figure of the concept. And this definition is the thing that consider the extend of the concept from triangle to polygon. Meanwhile this definition can be confused because the concept is not connected with the terminology. The definition focusing on the meaning is easy to memorize the concept because the concept is connected with the terminology but is difficult to search for the concept truth. And this definition is the thing that has the grounds on the occurrence but is taught in a made-knowledge. The definition focusing on both the construction and meaning is the definition that the starting point is vague in the logical proof process. We hope that the results are used to improve the understanding the concept of a circumcenter and an incenter of triangle in the field of mathematical education.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.143-160
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• 2022

This study was conducted to discuss educational implications by analyzing the types of mathematical thinking that appeared in challenge math in 5th and 6th grade math teacher's guidebooks. To this end, mathematical thinking types that can be evaluated and nurtured based on teaching and learning contents were organized, a framework for analyzing mathematical thinking was devised, and mathematical thinking appearing in Challenge Math in the 5th and 6th grade math teachers' guidebooks was analyzed. As a result of the analysis, first, 'challenge mathematics' in the 5th and 6th grades of elementary school in Korea consists of various problems that can guide various mathematical thinking at the stage of planning and implementation. However, it is feared that only the intended mathematical thinking will be expressed due to detailed auxiliary questions, and it is unclear whether it can cause mathematical thinking on its own. Second, it is difficult to induce various mathematical thinking at that stage because the questionnaire of the teacher's guidebooks understanding stage and the questionnaire of the reflection stage are presented very typically. Third, the teacher's guidebooks lacks an explicit explanation of mathematical thinking, and it will be necessary to supplement the explicit explanation of mathematical thinking in the future teacher's guidebooks.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.419-443
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the problem solving strategies of ordinary students, gifted students, pre-service teachers, and in-service teachers with the 'chicken and pig problem,' which has multiple strategies to obtain the solution. For this study, 98 students in the 6th grade elementary schools, 96 gifted students in a gifted institution, 72 pre-service teachers, and 60 in-service teachers were selected. The researcher presented the "chicken and pig" problem and requested them the solution strategies as many as possible for 30 minutes in a free atmosphere. As a result of the study, the gifted students used relatively various and efficient strategies compared to the ordinary students, and there was a difference in the most used strategies among the groups. In addition, the percentage of respondents who suggested four or more strategies was 1% for the ordinary students, 54% for the gifted students, 42% for the pre-service teachers, and 43% for the in-service teachers. As suggestions, the researcher asserted that various kinds of high-quality mathematical problems and solving experiences should be provided to students and teachers and have students develop multi-strategy problems. As a follow-up study, the researcher suggested that multi-strategy mathematical problems should be applied to classroom teaching in a collaborative learning environment and reflected them in teacher training program.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-45
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• 2011

It is the aim of this paper to find the requisites for the target problem solving process in reference to the base problem and to search the roles of those. Focusing on the structural similarity, analytic activity and comparative activity in stage of similar mathematical problem solving process, we tried to find the roles of them. We observed closely how four students solve the target problem in reference to the base problem. And so we got the following conclusions. The insight of structural similarity prepare the ground appling the solving method of base problem in the process solving the target problem. And we knew that the analytic activity can become the instrument which find out the truth about the guess. Finally the comparative activity can set up the direction of solution of the target problem. Thus we knew that the insight of structural similarity, the analytic activity and the comparative activity are necessary for similar mathematical problem to solve. We think that it requires the efforts to develop the various programs about teaching-learning method focusing on the structural similarity, analytic activity and comparative activity in stage of similar mathematical problem solving process. And we also think that it needs the study to research the roles of other elements for similar mathematical problem solving but to find the roles of the structural similarity, analytic activity and comparative activity.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-47
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the types of errors that may occur in the four arithmetic operations of the fractions after classified according to the level of academic achievement for sixth-grade elementary school student who Learning of the four arithmetic operations of the fountain has been completed. The study was proceed to get the information how change teaching content and method in accordance with the level of academic achievement by looking at the types of errors that can occur in the four arithmetic operations of the fractions. The test paper for checking the type of errors caused by calculation of fractional was developed and gave it to students to test. And we saw the result by error rate and correct rate of fraction that is displayed in accordance with the level of academic achievement. We investigated the characteristics of the type of error in the calculation of the arithmetic operations of fractional that is displayed in accordance with the level of academic achievement. First, in the addition of the fractions, all levels of students showing the highest error rate in the calculation error. Specially, error rate in the calculation of different denominator was higher than the error rate in the calculation of same denominator Second, in the subtraction of the fractions, the high level of students have the highest rate in the calculation error and middle and low level of students have the highest rate in the conceptual error. Third, in the multiplication of the fractions, the high and middle level of students have the highest rate in the calculation error and low level of students have the highest rate in the a reciprocal error. Fourth, in the division of the fractions, all levels of students have the highest r rate in the calculation error.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.243-262
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• 2017

This study has its purpose on improving mathematic education by analyzing the effects of the teaching and learning process which adopted 'FOCUS Problem Solving Steps' on student's mathematical problem solving ability and their mathematical attitude. The result is as follows. First, activities through FOCUS Problem Solving Steps showed positive effect on students' problem solving ability. Second, among mathematical attitudes, mathematical curiosity, reflection and value are proved to have statistically meaningful effect and from the result that analyzed changes of subject students, we could suppose that all 6 elements of mathematical attitude had positive effect. Third, by solving questions through FOCUS steps, students felt satisfaction when they success by themselves. If projects which adopted FOCUS Problem Solving Steps take effect continuously by happiness from the process of reviewing and reflecting their own fallacy and solving that, we might expect meaningful effect on students' problem solving ability. Through this study, FOCUS Problem Solving Steps had positive effect not only on students' mathematical problem solving ability but also on formation of mathematical attitude. As a result, it implies that FOCUS Problem Solving Steps need to be applied to other grades and fields and then studied more.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.395-418
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of mathematical tasks on mathematical communication. Mathematical tasks were classified into four different levels according to cognitive demands, such as memorization, procedure, concept, and exploration. For this study, 24 students were selected from the 5th grade of an elementary school located in Seoul. They were randomly assigned into six groups to control the effects of extraneous variables on the main study. Mathematical tasks for this study were developed on the basis of cognitive demands and then two different tasks were randomly assigned to each group. Before the experiment began, students were trained for effective communication for two months. All the procedures of students' learning were videotaped and transcripted. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to analyze the data. The findings of this study point out that the levels of mathematical tasks were positively correlated to students' participation in mathematical communication, meaning that tasks with higher cognitive demands tend to promote students' active participation in communication with inquiry-based questions. Secondly, the result of this study indicated that the level of students' mathematical justification was influenced by mathematical tasks. That is, the forms of justification changed toward mathematical logic from authorities such as textbooks or teachers according to the levels of tasks. Thirdly, it found out that tasks with higher cognitive demands promoted various negotiation processes. The results of this study implies that cognitively complex tasks should be offered in the classroom to promote students' active mathematical communication, various mathematical tasks and the diverse teaching models should be developed, and teacher education should be enhanced to improve teachers' awareness of mathematical tasks.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2017

In order to improve mathematical problem-solving ability, there has been a need for research on practical application of meta-affect which is found to play an important role in problem-solving procedure. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of the sociodynamical aspects of the meta-affective factor of the successful problem-solving procedure of small groups in the context of collaboration, which is known that it overcomes difficulties in research methods for meta-affect and activates positive meta-affect, and works effectively in actual problem-solving activities. For this purpose, meta-functional type of meta-affect and transact elements of collaboration were identified as the criterion for analysis. This study grasps the characteristics about sociodynamical function of meta-affect that results in successful problem solving by observing and analyzing the case of the transact structure associated with the meta-functional type of meta-affect appearing in actual episode unit of the collaborative mathematical problem-solving activity of elementary school students. The results of this study suggest that it provides practical implications for the implementation of teaching and learning methods of successful mathematical problem solving in the aspect of affective-sociodynamics.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.423-442
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of tasks setting for mathematical modelling in the complex real situations. The tasks setting(MMa, MeA) in mathematical modelling was so important that we can't ignore its effects to develop meaning and integrate mathematical ideas. The experimental setting were two groups ($N_1=103$, $N_2=103$) at public high school and non-experimental setting was one group($N_3=103$). In mathematical achievement, we found meaningful improvement for MeA group on modelling tasks, but no meaningful effect on information processing tasks. The statistical method used was ACONOVA analysis. Beside their achievement, we were much concerned about their modelling approach that TSG21 had suggested in Category "Educational & cognitive Midelling". Subjects who involved in experimental works showed very interesting approach as Exploration, analysis in some situation ${\Rightarrow}$ Math. questions ${\Rightarrow}$ Setting models ${\Rightarrow}$ Problem solution ${\Rightarrow}$ Extension, generalization, but MeA group spent a lot of time on step: Exploration, analysis and MMa group on step, Setting models. Both groups integrated actively many heuristics that schoenfeld defined. Specially, Drawing and Modified Simple Strategy were the most powerful on approach step 1,2,3. It was very encouraging that those experimental setting was improved positively more than the non-experimental setting on mathematical belief and interest. In our school system, teaching math. modelling could be a answer about what kind of educational action or environment we should provide for them. That is, mathematical learning.