• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.333-345
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• 2010

This study focuses on student engagement in Chinese middle school mathematics classrooms. By the recording and quantitative analysis on video case, this study explored the main acts and time of student engagement. The data showed that among the student engagements: (1) Students' responses to teacher's question occurred most frequently; (2) Collective responses were much more than the individual responses; (3) Students' responses and classroom practice spent the longest time; (4) The most frequent student engagements occurred in the aspects of classroom practice; and (5) Students rarely asked a question to teachers. The study also suggested that teacher's effective guidance could improve the level of student engagement and the content of classroom practice is very important to the quality of student engagement.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.10 no.1 s.25
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• pp.71-78
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• 2006

Gifted education has been becoming a focus of every field in Chinese society as a special educational mode, since Special Class for the Gifted Youth in the University of Science and Technology of China began to enroll students. In this paper we first introduce the developing procedure of the gifted education in China, and then recommend and analyze the characteristics of a successful gifted educational base in China. At length, we probe into the problems that exist in process of carrying on the gifted education in China for reference.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2012

Since JiuZhang SuanShu(九章算術), the basic field of the traditional mathemtics in Eastern Asia is the field of rational numbers and hence irrational solutions of equations should be replaced by rational approximations. Thus approximate solutions of equations became a very important subject in theory of equations. We first investigate the history of approximate solutions in Chinese sources and then compare them with those in Chosun mathematics. The theory of approximate solutions in Chosun has been established in SanHakWonBon(算學原本) written by Park Yul(1621 - 1668) and JuSeoGwanGyun(籌書管見, 1718) by Cho Tae Gu(趙泰耉, 1660-1723). We show that unlike the Chinese counterpart, Park and Cho were concerned with errors of approximate solutions and tried to find better approximate solutions.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.563-581
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• 2009

In this study we review the representations used for emphasizing the significance and requirement of mathematics in Chinese and Korean mathematics text(算學書). Especially, we study four terms; first 六藝之一(육예지일, one of the six arts), second 伏義(복희, Fuxi) 周公(주공, Zhougong) 孔子(공자, Kongzi) 孔門(공문, Kongmen), third 道(도, dao) (색, ze) 微奧(미오, weiai) 精微(정미, jingwei), forth 經世之實用(경세지실용, usefulness in the real life). Through these representations that can be seen in the many mathematics text, we consider the author's efforts to improve the mathematics.

• School Mathematics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

In this paper, some characteristics of actual state of school mathematics terms in north Korean mathematics textbooks, which were issued in 2000-2002, are discussed. In north Korea, terms are expressed in north Korean orthography. Many Chinese style terms are translated into pure Korean terms, but there are still so many Chinese style terms. It is known that there is deep gap between north and south Korean terms. But actually it is not. This means that integration of north and south Korean terms can be easily realized. It is known that translating Chinese style terms into pure Korean term can be useful in mathematics teaching and learning, but north Korean experiences tell that we should act with prudence in doing so. We need sufficient discussion in case of north Korean terms which are totally different with south Korean terms. Semantical analysis is needed with preference survey.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.535-551
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• 2010

In this paper, we investigate the methodology to calculate the volume of the pyramid and frustum of the pyramid that is found in Gu Jang Sel Hae and San Hak Jeong Ui(The first volume)text. Comparing and analyzing content in Korean and Chinese mathematics education textbooks that uses as a foundation the aforementioned methodology, it is proposed that in future development of mathematics education curriculum the area of solid geometry be taught in greater depth in basic study guides.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.109-135
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• 2013

The purpose of the study was to investigate the reality of middle school mathematics teachers' subject matter knowledge for teaching mathematical conjecture and justification. Data in the study were collected through interviewing nine Chinese and ten Korean middle school mathematics teachers. The teachers responded to the question that was designed in the form of a scenario that presents a teaching task related to a geometrical topic. The teachers' oral responses were audiotaped and transcribed, and their written notes were collected. The results of the study were compared to the analysis of American and Chinese elementary and secondary teachers' responses to the same task in Ball (1988) and Ma (1999). The findings of the study suggested that teachers' approaches to explaining and demonstrating a mathematical topic were significantly influenced by their knowledge of learners and knowledge of the curriculum they teach. One of the practical implications of the study is that teachers should recognize the advantages of learning the conceptual structure of a mathematical topic. It allows the teachers to have the flexibility to come up with meaningful mathematical approaches to teaching the topic, which are comprehensible to the learners whatever the grade levels they teach, rather than rule-based algorithms.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.171-185
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• 2014

Mathematically deductive reasoning skill is one of the major learning objectives stated in senior secondary curriculum (CDC & HKEAA, 2007, page 15). Ironically, student performance during routine assessments on geometric reasoning, such as proving geometric propositions and justifying geometric properties, is far below teacher expectations. One might argue that this is caused by teachers' lack of relevant subject content knowledge. However, recent research findings have revealed that teachers' knowledge of teaching (e.g., Ball et al., 2009) and their deductive reasoning skills also play a crucial role in student learning. Prior to a comprehensive investigation on teacher competency, we use a case study to investigate teachers' knowledge competency on how to teach their students to mathematically argue that, for example, two triangles are congruent. Deductive reasoning skill is essential to geometry. The initial findings indicate that both subject and pedagogical content knowledge are essential for effectively teaching this challenging topic. We conclude our study by suggesting a method that teachers can use to further improve their teaching effectiveness.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2012

Until the 1950s, linear algebra was considered only as one of abstract and advanced mathematics subject among in graduate mathematics courses, mainly dealing with module in algebra. Since the 1960s, it has been a main subject in undergraduate mathematics education because matrices has been used all over. In Korea, it was considered as a course only for mathematics major students until 1980s. However, now it is a subject for all undergraduate students including natural science, engineering, social science since 1990s. In this paper, we investigate the early history of linear algebra and its development from a historical perspective and mathematicians who made contributions. Secondly, we explain why linear algebra became so popular in college mathematics education in the late 20th century. Contributions of Chinese and H. Grassmann will be extensively examined with many newly discovered facts.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.43-59
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• 2015

In the present study, the changes of mathematics teachers' verbal feedback between ten years ago and later were examined using a coding scheme on the types of teacher verbal feedback. Based on the analysis, it is found that teachers intend to use encouraging strategies to make responses to students ten years later. In addition, the duration used in communication between the teacher and individual student is being longer while the frequency of communication becomes less compared ten years ago. Meanwhile, the difference between good lesson ten years ago and common lesson ten years later is not so apparent. It can be inferred that the quality of teaching has being developed.