• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.251-272
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• 2005

Given that cognitive demands of mathematical tasks can be changed during instruction, this study attempts to provide a detailed description to explore how tasks are set up and implemented in the classroom and what are the classroom-based factors. As an exploratory and qualitative case study, 4 of six-grade classrooms where high-level tasks on ratio and proportion were used were videotaped and analyzed with regard to the patterns emerged during the task setup and implementation. With regard to 16 tasks, four kinds of Patterns emerged: (a) maintenance of high-level cognitive demands (7 tasks), (b) decline into the procedure without connection to the meaning (1 task), (c) decline into unsystematic exploration (2 tasks), and (d) decline into not-sufficient exploration (6 tasks), which means that the only partial meaning of a given task is addressed. The 4th pattern is particularly significant, mainly because previous studies have not identified. Contributing factors to this pattern include private-learning without reasonable explanation, well-performed model presented at the beginning of a lesson, and mathematical concepts which are not clear in the textbook. On the one hand, factors associated with the maintenance of high-level cognitive demands include Improvising a task based on students' for knowledge, scaffolding of students' thinking, encouraging students to justify and explain their reasoning, using group-activity appropriately, and rethinking the solution processes. On the other hand, factors associated with the decline of high-level cognitive demands include too much or too little time, inappropriateness of a task for given students, little interest in high-level thinking process, and emphasis on the correct answer in place of its meaning. These factors may urge teachers to be sensitive of what should be focused during their teaching practices to keep the high-level cognitive demands. To emphasize, cognitive demands are fixed neither by the task nor by the teacher. So, we need to study them in the process of teaching and learning.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.179-200
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• 2020

The study investigates how two different methods of peer tutoring impact academic achievement and student affect in a high school mathematics class. The two methods include the one-on-one non-reciprocal peer tutoring and the one-on-four interactive peer-tutoring method. We looked into students' cognitive gains and their affect toward mathematics after students had experienced peer tutoring for six weeks. Further, we analyzed student responses in a survey about peer tutoring activities. A finding is that the two methods produced no statistically significant difference in both cognitive gains and student affect toward mathematics. As students expressed views about their peer tutoring experiences, their comments, however, revealed the multifaceted aspects of peer tutoring in the classroom setting. In turn, this supports the use of diverse peer tutoring methods especially when the teacher makes incremental changes in teaching practices to improve student learning. Findings also indicate that appropriate peer tutoring experiences have the potential to create intellectually safe learning environments with high student engagement. This underscores the benefit of designing and implementing diverse peer tutoring methods that are effective in engaging students in learning and increasing the opportunity to learn and create knowledge with peers.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.349-368
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the small-group instruction of mathematics in elementary schools. For this, a sample of 742 teachers of elementary schools completed the survey. As a result, about 27.8% of the teachers reported using small group instruction while they worked with one group or they assigned to other groups worked alone. Only 2% of the teachers reported using small group in which students were encouraged to participated cooperatively. This study discusses the five issues about small group instruction in elementary school. The five issues were investigated in this survey. First, major teaching method in mathematics classroom and using of small group instruction were described. Second, frequency and period of small-group instruction were reported. Third, grouping method in small-group instruction was described. And Fourth, effect grouping practices of small-group instruction were described. Fifth, the model of small group instruction and assessment in small-group instruction were reported.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2016

This cross-national study examines the similarities and differences between Korean and U.S. pre-service teachers' views on equitable mathematics teaching. Pre-service teachers enrolled in mathematics education courses at the two sites (Korea, n=51; U.S., n=33) were administered a survey consisting of the following: (a) items about pre-service teachers' views on equity relative to mathematical ability, classroom policies and practices, and access to learning opportunities, (b) items about pre-service teachers' agreement in their views on recommended practices, and (c) items about participants' past learning experiences in an equitable learning environment as students. Similarities were found between the sites regarding the following: (a) advocating for equitable mathematics teaching, and (b) conceptualizing equitable teaching as a way to support the learning of less capable students. Differences were found with regard to nurturing growth mindsets in mathematics; positioning toward equal opportunities and outcomes in learning; and relating to grouping as collaborative learning strategies.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.251-274
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to analyze characteristics of PCK before class, investigate how these characteristics are enacted in classrooms when beginning and experienced teachers teach mathematical functions, and provide pedagogical implications. Two beginning teachers and two experienced teachers participated in the study. In order to analyze characteristics of PCK before class, interviews and survey research were conducted. An investigation of classroom discourse was used to examine how the PCK characteristics appear in classrooms. Results show that experiences teachers enacted their PCK about learner, curriculum, teaching methods, and teaching environment in classrooms, whereas beginning teachers could not show their PCK. These results suggest practical implications for the developments of teacher education curriculum and teacher training program.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.235-253
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• 2014

This study aims to develop strategies for improving the affective characteristics of Korean students based on results from international achievement tests. In pursuing the goal, different research methods are employed including a) analysis of the theories and literature regarding the affective domains included in PISA and TIMSS studies; b) analysis of the current situation and needs of Korean students with respect to the affective factors based on PISA and TIMSS results; c) case studies of best practices in relation to students' affective domains in Korea and abroad; and d) development of strategies for improving and supporting Korean students' affective characteristics. Especially, this paper deals with the analysis of the results from in-depth interviews and class observations, so as to identify the current situation and best practice cases of students' affective characteristics education in Korea. The results are classified into a) curriculum, which is in turn divided into national curriculum and reconstruction of curriculum school and classroom; and b) teaching, learning and evaluation, which is in turn divided into learner characteristics, motivation, teaching strategies, class grouping, activities and interaction, question and feedback, evaluation methods, and evaluation tools. Support plans in terms of school and social environments are also suggested based on the results.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.431-455
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to suggest methods to apply generalizability theory to mathematics teacher evaluation using classroom observations in Korea by analysing mathematics teachers in the U.S. using the instructional quality of assessment instrument as an illustrative example. The subjects were 96 teachers participating in Year 3 and Year 4 from the Middle-school Mathematics and the Institutional Setting of Teaching (MIST) project funded by the National Science Foundation since 2007. The MIST project investigates the following question: What does it takes to support mathematics teachers' development of ambitious and equitable instructional practices on a large scale (MIST, 2007). This study examined data based on both the univariate generalizability analysis using GENOVA program and the multivariate generalizability analysis using mGENOVA program. Specifically, this study determined the relative effects of each error source and investigated optimal measuring conditions to obtain the suitable generalizability coefficients. The methodology applied in this study can be utilized to find effective optimal measurement conditions for the mathematics teacher evaluation for professional development in Korea. Finally, this study discussed limitations of the results and suggested directions for future research.