• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.443-458
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• 2011

There has been a lively discussion on improving Korean students' academic achievement and the imbalance in their recognition of the value of mathematics. In this context, there is a need for a program that enables the majority students who regards mathematics as a subject for the entrance examination to recognize the practicality and historicity of mathematics. Educational books on mathematics in everyday life or the history of mathematics are also expected to serve as an effective tool. In addition, Web 2.0 Map is another means of representing mathematics in everyday life and the history of mathematics in connection with the practical context. The active storytelling process in which mathematics in the practical context in mathematical educational books is represented in Web 2.0 Map is expected to help to understand in depth the practicality and historicity of mathematics. Nevertheless, mathematical educational books and Web 2.0 Map may lead to a considerable variety of outcomes and speeds if carrying out tasks depending on the student's competence and may have practical difficulties in being operated in class. These concerns, however, can be resolved through the creative activity programs adopted in conformance with the 2009 revised curriculum. Therefore, this study intends to develop a program for creating mathematical story maps through mathematical educational books and the Mashup of Web 2.0 Map in accordance with the process of developing activity programs. This study also intends to determine its effectiveness in enabling students to recognize the practical and historical values of mathematics.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2011

Stevin is known as the inventor of decimal fractions, even though many mathematicians had the concept of decimal fractions and used it before Stevin. Why? To respond to such a question, we studied about its significance which 'La Disme' had in the history of mathematics. These can be summarized as its notational aspect, the manner of developing the book, the conceptual revolution and the practical purpose. And the chapter and verse of are little known when compared to its reputation. So in this paper we considered its contents in detail and discussed some didactical implications in relation to teaching and learning of decimal fractions in elementary school : importance of place values, similarity of calculation to natural numbers, using common fractions to justify, emphasis on the applications of decimal fractions, relation to measuring units, necessity of teaching number sense, using notational aspects.