• Title/Summary/Keyword: Beliefs about Mathematics

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An Elementary Teacher's Practical Knowledge of Using mathematical Tasks for Promoting Students' Understanding and Discourse

  • Cho, Cheong-Soo
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.39-51
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    • 2002
  • This study described an elementary teacher's practical knowledge of selecting and using mathematical tasks for promoting students' understanding and discourse. The informant of this ethnographic inquiry was a third grade teacher and has 10 years of teaching experience. According to the analysis of multiple data sources, this study showed that based on his beliefs about the development of understanding of mathematics and discourse, he continually employed two different types of tasks: open-ended tasks and tasks from students' mistakes and comments during discourse. Teachers' practical knowledge of teaching mathematics and the classroom norms for students' understanding and discourse are suggested to be given attention for further research on this area.

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Comparative Study on Chinese Junior Middle School Students' Mathematics Belief Systems in Chaoxian and Han Nationalities

  • Jin, Meiyue;Zhang, Peng;Liu, Jinhua;Dai, Feng
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.267-296
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    • 2009
  • We used the quantitative method to compare with Chinese junior middle school students' mathematics belief systems in Chaoxian and Han nationalities, and their correlations within its own group. By comparison, the results revealed that all students in Han and Chaoxian nationalities hold multiple beliefs, and their belief systems are not stable. In addition, there were some differences and similarities between their belief systems in two nationalities, and significant correlations were founded.

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Effects of the Mathematical Modeling Learning on the Word Problem Solving (수학적 모델링 학습이 문장제 해결에 미치는 효과)

  • Shin, Hyun-Yong;Jeong, In-Su
    • Education of Primary School Mathematics
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.107-134
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of two teaching methods of word problems, one based on mathematical modeling learning(ML) and the other on traditional learning(TL). Additionally, the influence of mathematical modeling learning in word problem solving behavior, application ability of real world experiences in word problem solving and the beliefs of word problem solving will be examined. The results of this study were as follows: First, as to word problem solving behavior, there was a significant difference between the two groups. This mean that the ML was effective for word problem solving behavior. Second, all of the students in the ML group and the TL group had a strong tendency to exclude real world knowledge and sense-making when solving word problems during the pre-test. but A significant difference appeared between the two groups during post-test. classroom culture improvement efforts. Third, mathematical modeling learning(ML) was effective for improvement of traditional beliefs about word problems. Fourth, mathematical modeling learning(ML) exerted more influence on mathematically strong and average students and a positive effect to mathematically weak students. High and average-level students tended to benefit from mathematical modeling learning(ML) more than their low-level peers. This difference was caused by less involvement from low-level students in group assignments and whole-class discussions. While using the mathematical modeling learning method, elementary students were able to build various models about problem situations, justify, and elaborate models by discussions and comparisons from each other. This proves that elementary students could participate in mathematical modeling activities via word problems, it results form the use of more authentic tasks, small group activities and whole-class discussions, exclusion of teacher's direct intervention, and classroom culture improvement efforts. The conclusions drawn from the results obtained in this study are as follows: First, mathematical modeling learning(ML) can become an effective method, guiding word problem solving behavior from the direct translation approach(DTA) based on numbers and key words without understanding about problem situations to the meaningful based approach(MBA) building rich models for problem situations. Second, mathematical modeling learning(ML) will contribute attitudes considering real world situations in solving word problems. Mathematical modeling activities for word problems can help elementary students to understand relations between word problems and the real world. It will be also help them to develop the ability to look at the real world mathematically. Third, mathematical modeling learning(ML) will contribute to the development of positive beliefs for mathematics and word problem solving. Word problem teaching focused on just mathematical operations can't develop proper beliefs for mathematics and word problem solving. Mathematical modeling learning(ML) for word problems provide elementary students the opportunity to understand the real world mathematically, and it increases students' modeling abilities. Futhermore, it is a very useful method of reforming the current problems of word problem teaching and learning. Therefore, word problems in school mathematics should be replaced by more authentic ones and modeling activities should be introduced early in elementary school eduction, which would help change the perceptions about word problem teaching.

A Profile of Mathematical Literacy on Korean Students in PISA 2003 (PISA 2003에 나타난 우리나라 학생들의 수학적 소양의 특징)

  • Na GwiSoo
    • Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.147-176
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    • 2005
  • This study intends to examine the characteristics of mathematical literacy on Korean Students in PISA 2003(Programme for International Student Assessment 2003). We study the mean performance, the distribution of student performance, the student performance in terms of mathematics contents and process and situation and item format, the differences in mean scores between PISA 2000 and PISA 2003, and the gender differences in student performance. In addition to, we study students' engagement with mathematics, students' beliefs about themselves, students' anxiety in mathematics, and students' teaming strategies. Finally, we discuss the reasons of the characteristics of mathematical literacy on Korean students in PISA 2003, and suggest the implications for mathematics educators and educational policy-makers.

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Working with Diverse Learners in Mathematics Classrooms: An Analysis of Elementary Pre-service Teachers' Perceptions Reflected in Lesson Planning

  • Lee, Ji-Eun;Jongekrijg, Terri
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.19-33
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    • 2019
  • While the field of mathematics education strives to promote equitable mathematics learning and identifies it as a core instructional practice, less is known about its effective enactment. As teachers' teaching practices are dependent on their views and beliefs, this study investigated 133 elementary pre-service teachers' (PSTs') interpretations of diverse learners' learning experiences and proposed accommodations for them as reflected in their lesson planning process. Findings showed that PSTs came up with some strategies that are often suggested in teacher education literature, such as using multiple modes of representation and various grouping strategies. However, their responses were generic in nature rather than specific to diverse learners. Also, it was noted that many PSTs' interchangeably referred to the English Language Learners (ELLs), struggling learners, and culturally diverse learners, inferring that they thought that culturally diverse students must have been ELLs and that ELLs or culturally diverse students must have been weaker students in math. We found that the PSTs used their own frames while filtering and discarding information about diverse student populations to develop instructional plans, rather than based on the results of assessments of learning. We suggest that it is the critical first step to unwrap PSTs' unproven assumptions to better equip them for working with all of their future students.

An analysis of characteristics of the perception for mathematics learning of Korean language learners in 6th grade of elementary school (초등학교 6학년 한국어학습자의 수학 학습에 대한 인식의 특성 분석)

  • Do, Joowon
    • The Mathematical Education
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    • v.60 no.4
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    • pp.529-542
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this research is to compare the mathematical beliefs that directly or indirectly affect the mathematics learning of Korean languge learners with those of non-Korean languge learners and identify the characteristics. To this end, an analytical comparative research was conducted through a questionnaire survey on perceptions of mathematics learning for 6th grade students of elementary school with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds in the same mathematics classroom. As a result of the analysis, Korean languge learners and non-Korean languge learners gave different meanings to learning mathematics, and they recognized various meanings of success in mathematics. In addition, the math learning ability of non-Korean learners was evaluated higher than that of Korean learners. Based on their positive beliefs, they decided how to resolve conflict situations with different problem-solving results. It will be necessary to prepare a teaching/learning plan that can fully implement multicultural mathematics education in the mathematics classroom where Korean language learners with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds belong. The results of this research can contribute to raising awareness of the need for follow-up researches to find ways to reduce the learning gap between Korean languge learners and non-Korean languge learners. It is expected that this research will contribute to understanding the perceptive characteristics of Korean language learners about learning mathematics and to prepare a plan to utilize them in mathematics lessons.

Fostering Pre-service STEM Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge: A Lesson Learned from Case-based Learning Approach

  • Srisawasdi, Niwat
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.32 no.8
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    • pp.1356-1366
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    • 2012
  • As the recent demand for human resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the development of professional STEM teacher is called worldwide. It is becoming a critical need in teacher education in order to educate student teachers, and prepare pre-service and beginning teachers for high quality of teaching competency. To promote the competency for $21^{st}$ century STEM teachers, the epistemology of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) is currently considered as the essential qualities of knowledge for highly qualified teachers. The aim of this study is explore the effect of case-based learning approach on TPACK competency of pre-service STEM teachers. In order to develop the pre-service teachers' competency regarding effective integration of technologies into teaching specific content areas, a series of innovative case study teaching in science and mathematics was presented to 43 participants of pre-service physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer teachers during a course of information and communication technology (ICT) in Education at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. After finishing a case presentation, the pre-service teachers were encouraged into a forum of critical open discussion by considering the potential impact of the case and the TPACK framework. They were investigated instructional design competency of using ICT tools into student learning process and their personal beliefs about ICT in educational process both before and after. The participant's reactions and learning was evaluated by using a self-reported questionnaire and an implementation log of content-specific learning process design, respectively. Results showed a change of their beliefs and the transformation of their TPACK competency in STEM teaching. In an effort to better serve the needs of high quality STEM teachers, the results of this study illustrated that the competency of TPACK could be particularly considered as a core attributes for future STEM teachers. By the way, case-based learning approach can play an effective part in preparing and professing the TPACK competency for STEM teachers.

What the justification of idealizations in science tells us about the laws and language of nature

  • Davey, Kevin
    • 한국논리학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2008.07a
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    • pp.73-92
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    • 2008
  • Describing a physical system in idealized terms involves making literally false claims about the system. Given this, it is puzzling that justified beliefs about physical systems can be formed by starting with idealized descriptions and then performing mathematical calculations. I argue that this puzzling aspect of idealizations cannot be easily removed by introducing talk of approximations. I go on to develop an account of how this curious feature of idealizations is to be understood. My account requires us to reassess what precisely we take the laws of physics to be saying, and also has consequences concerning the kind of evidence we can have for thinking that mathematics is the 'language of nature'. Finally, some critical comparisons are made with the so-called model-based account of scientific laws developed by Cartwright and Giere.

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Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Perceptions of Rate of Change

  • Noh, Jihwa
    • East Asian mathematical journal
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    • v.33 no.4
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    • pp.431-451
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    • 2017
  • This is a descriptive study with the intent of providing a rich characterization of teachers' perceptions of rate of change. The nature of teachers' perceptions and differences among teachers were examined by collecting data through a survey on teachers' conceptions of rate of change in terms of learning goals, prerequisites, and beliefs about teaching and learning of rate of change, and an interview individually assessing teachers' concept images and definitions. The participating 13 teachers were selected to provide a range of similar and contrasting levels of experiences based on the teachers' educational background and the number of years they had been teaching. Findings and implications of this study are discussed.

Mathematics as Engaged Practice: Professional Mathematicians' Conceptions of Mathematics (전문수학자의 수학에 대한 신념)

  • Ju, Mi-Kyung
    • Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.477-491
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    • 2010
  • This research took an interpretive approach to investigate professional mathematicians' conception of mathematics, particularly focusing on their beliefs about the nature of mathematics as a discipline, and the relation between the discipline and themselves as knowers. The analysis shows that the professional mathematicians consider mathematics as human practice. For mathematicians, mathematics as a product is considered as a crystalization of practice that emerges in the dialogical relation between the discipline and its practitioners. This dialogical nature of mathematics suggests that professional mathematicians consider mathematics not as isolated fixed knowledge but as something they are playfully engaged with. The results of this research extend our understanding of what mathematics is and provide an alternative perspective on mathematics to make the learning of mathematics more accessible by dismantling the myth of the rationalist pure objectivity in mathematics.

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