• The Mathematical Education
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.235-263
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• 2009

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of children's understanding of fractions in mathematics problem solving. Kieren has claimed that the concept of fractions is not a single construct, but consists of several interrelated subconstructs(i.e., part-whole, ratio, operator, quotient and measure). Later on, in the early 1980s, Behr et al. built on Kieren's conceptualization and suggested a theoretical model linking the five subconstructs of fractions to the operations of fractions, fraction equivalence and problem solving. In the present study we utilized this theoretical model as a reference to investigate children's understanding of fractions. The case study has been conducted with 6 children consisted of 4th to 5th graders to detect how they understand factions, and how their understanding influence problem solving of subconstructs, operations of fractions and equivalence. Children's understanding of fractions was categorized into "part-whole", "ratio", "operator", "quotient", "measure" and "result of operations". Most children solved the problems based on their conceptual structure of fractions. However, we could not find the particular relationships between children's understanding of fractions and fraction operations or fraction equivalence, while children's understanding of fractions significantly influences their solutions to the problems of five subconstructs of fractions. We suggested that the focus of teaching should be on the concept of fractions and the meaning of each operations of fractions rather than computational algorithm of fractions.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.353-370
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• 2015

This study was conducted as a qualitative case study that explored how gifted 3rd-grade elementary school children who had learned the primary concepts of division and fraction, when they studied contents about decimal, formed the transformed primary concept and transformed schema of decimal by the learning of accurate primary concepts and connecting the concepts. That is, this study investigated how the subjects attained relational understanding of decimal based on the primary concepts of division and fraction, and how they formed a transformed primary concept based on the primary concept of decimal and carried out vertical mathematizing. According to the findings of this study, transformed primary concepts formed through the learning of accurate primary concepts, and schemas and transformed schemas built through the connection of the concepts played as crucial factors for the children's relational understanding of decimal and their vertical mathematizing.

• School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.135-150
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• 2012

This paper analyzes the activities for (fraction) ${\times}$(fraction) in Korean elementary textbooks focusing on the connection between visual models and the algorithm. New Korean textbook attempts a new approach to use length model (as well as rectangular area model) for developing the standard algorithm for the multiplication of fractions, $\frac{a}{b}{\times}\frac{d}{c}=\frac{a{\times}d}{b{\times}c}$. However, activities with visual models in the textbook are not well connected to the algorithm. To bridge the gap between activities with models and the algorithm, distributive strategy should be emphasized. A wealth of experience of solving problems of fraction multiplication using the distributive strategy with visual models can serve as a strong basis for developing the algorithm for the multiplication of fractions.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.125-140
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• 2023

In elementary school mathematics, the addition and subtraction of fractions are difficult for students to understand but very important concepts. This study aims to examine the teaching methods and visual aids utilized in the context of common denominator fraction addition and subtraction. The analysis focuses on evaluating the lesson flow and the utilization of visual representations in one national textbook and ten certified textbooks aligned with the current 2015 revised curriculum. The results show that each textbook is composed of chapter sequences and topics that reflect the curriculum faithfully, with each textbook considering its own order and content. Additionally, each textbook uses a different variety and number of visual representations, presumably intended to aid in learning the operations of fractions through the consistency or diversity of the visual representations. Identifying the characteristics of each textbook can lead to more effective instruction in fraction operations.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.563-588
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• 2015

In elementary school, didactical transposition is inevitable due to several reasons. In mathematics, addition and multiplication are taught as binary operations, subtraction and division are taught as unary operations. But in elementary school, we try to teach all the four operations as binary operations by didactical transposition. In 'Mastering' the concepts of the four operations, the way of concept introduction is dealt importantantly. So it is different from understanding the four operations. In this study, we analyzed the four operations of natural numbers and fractions from two perspectives: concept understanding (how to introduce concepts and how to choose an operation) and connection between the operations. As a result, following implications were obtained. In division of fractions, students attempted a connection with multiplication of fractions right away without choosing an operation, based on the situation. Also, to understand division of fractions itself, integrate division of fractions presented from the second semester of the fifth grade to the first semester of the sixth grade are needed. In addition, this result can be useful in the future textbook development.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-62
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• 2014

In this thesis, we inquire into teaching method of decimal fraction concept in elementary mathematics education based on measurement activity. For this purpose, our research tasks are as follows: First, we design a experimental learning-teaching plan of 'decimal fraction' unit in 4th grade textbook and verify its effect. Second, after teaching experiment using experimental learning-teaching plan, we analyze the student's status of understanding about decimal fraction concept. As stated above, we have performed teaching experiment which is ruled by new lesson design and analysed the effects of teaching experiment. Through this study, we obtained the following results. First, introduction of decimal fraction based on measurement activity promotes student's understanding of measuring number and decimal notation. Second, operator concept of decimal fraction is widely used in daily life. Its usage is suitable for elementary mathematics education within the decimal notation system. Third, a teaching method of times concepts using place value expansion of decimal fraction is more meaningful and has less possibility of misunderstanding than mechanical shift of decimal point. Fourth, teaching decimal fraction through the decimal expansion helps students with understanding of digit 0 contained in decimal fraction, comparing of size and place value. Fifth, students have difficulties in understanding conversion process of decimal fraction into decimal notation system using measurement activity. It can be done easily when fraction is used. However, that is breach to curriculum. It is necessary to succeed research for this.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2016

Fraction is one of the concepts which are difficult to elementary school students. So, many researches about fraction were performed in mathematics education research. In special, fraction has so many subordinative concepts-proper fraction, improper fraction, mixed number. We have to concentrate on the conceptual understanding in teaching of fraction. In this case, a mixed number and improper fraction are concepts which can convert respectively. And there are methods that a mixed number and improper fraction can be converted. So, it's needed to analyze the converting methods in textbooks for getting the implication of teaching in this areas. In this study, I analyzed the Korean and foreign's textbooks. I certified the methods-using addition expression, using part-whole model in the textbooks. For the conceptual understanding, I suggested to use the fusion of the various part-whole fraction models and addition expression more than the algorithm in converting between a mixed number and improper fraction. It's reason that the use of models in converting between a mixed number and improper fraction is important for the relational understanding.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-43
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• 2014

On the subjects of elementary 3rd grade three child prodigies who had learned the four fundamental arithmetic operations and primary concepts of fraction, this study conducted a qualitative case research to examine how they composed schema of addition and multiplication of fractions and transformed schema through recognition of precise concepts and linking of concepts with addition and multiplication of fractions as the contents. That is to say, this study investigates what schema and transformed schema child prodigies form through composition of primary mathematic concepts to succeed in relational understanding of addition and multiplication of fractions, how they use their own formed schema and transformed schema for themselves to approach solutions to problems with addition and multiplication of fractions, and how the subjects' concept formation and schema in their problem solving competence proceed to carry out transformations. As a result, we can tell that precise recognition of primary concepts, schema, and transformed schema work as crucial factors when addition of fractions is associated with multiplication of fractions, and then that the schema and transformed schema that result from the connection among primary mathematic concepts and the precise recognition of the primary concepts play more important roles than any other factors in creative problem solving with respect to addition and multiplication of fractions.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.457-481
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• 2013

Since the importance of teacher knowledge in teaching mathematics has been emphasized, there have been many studies exploring the nature or characteristics of such knowledge. However, there has been lack of research on the tools of investigating teacher knowledge. Given this background, this study explored teachers' knowledge of fraction lessons using classroom video analysis. The analyses of this study showed that knowledge of teaching methods was activated better than that of student thinking or mathematical content. Knowledge of fraction operation was activated better than that of fraction concept. The degree by which teacher knowledge was activated depended on the characteristics of the video clips used in the study. This paper raised some issues about teachers' knowledge of fraction lessons and suggested classroom video analysis as an alternative tool to measure teacher knowledge in the Korean context.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2021

This study investigates students' conceptions of fractions from a measurement approach while providing a technological environment designed to support students' understanding of the relationships between quantities and adjustable units. 13 third-graders participated in this study and they were involved in a series of measurement tasks through task-based interviews. The tasks were devised to investigate the relationship between units and quantity through manipulations. Screencasting videos were collected including verbal explanations and manipulations. Drawing upon the theory of semiotic mediation, students' constructed concepts during interviews were coded as mathematical words and visual mediators to identify conceptual profiles using a fine-grained analysis. Two students changed their strategies to solve the tasks were selected as a representative case of the two profiles: from guessing to recursive partitioning; from using random units to making a relation to the given unit. Dragging mathematical objects plays a critical role to mediate and formulate fraction understandings such as unitizing and partitioning. In addition, static and dynamic representations influence the development of unit concepts in measurement situations. The findings will contribute to the field's understanding of how students come to understand the concept of fraction as measure and the role of technology, which result in a theory-driven, empirically-tested set of tasks that can be used to introduce fractions as an alternative way.