• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2009

We present the thoughts behind a course combining the subjects of differential equations and infinite series. The key point is how to connect the two topics in a course with a natural flow.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.221-237
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• 2004

This research analyzed mathematical discourse of the students in an RME-based differential equations course at a university in order to investigate the social transformation of the students' conceptual model of differential equations. The analysis focused on the change in the students' use of conceptual metaphor for differential equations and pedagogical factors promoting the change. The analysis shows that discrete and quantitative conceptual model was prevalent in the beginning of the semester However, continuous and qualitative conceptual model emerged through the negotiation of mathematical meaning based on the inquiry of context problems. The participation in the project class has a positive impact on the extension of the students' conceptual model of differential equations and increases the fluency of the students' problem solving in differential equations. Moreover, this paper provides a discussion to identify the pedagogical factors Involved with the transformation of the students' conceptual model. The discussion highlights the sociocultural aspect of teaching and learning of mathematics and provides implications to improve teaching of mathematics in school.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.159-170
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• 2002

The undergraduate curriculum in differential equations has undergone important changes in favor of the visual and numerical aspects of the course primarily because of recent technological advances. Yet, research findings that have analyzed students' thinking and understanding in a reformed setting are still lacking. This paper discusses an ongoing developmental research effort to adapt the instructional design perspective of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) to the teaching and learning of differential equations at Ewha Womans University. The RME theory based on the design heuristic using context problems and modeling was developed for primary school mathematics. However, the analysis of this study indicates that a RME design for a differential equations course can be successfully adapted to the university level.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.389-408
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• 2002

This paper is based on a teaching experiment research conducted in a differential equations course at Ewha Womans University. The purpose of this paper lies in seeking a new direction in the teaching and learning of college mathematics by applying RME's theoretical essence to the teaching of differential equations. For this purpose, the emergent procedure had to be carefully considered before to analyzing the existing problems in teaching differential equations and alternative access to reformed differential equations. Methods of developmental research, ideas concerning teaching procedure and instructional design are offered. This research demonstrates that a deeper understanding of differential equations by students can be achieved with the instructional design which reflects the RME theory.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.387-402
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• 2003

Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) focuses on guided reinvention through which students explore experientially realistic context problems to develop informal problem solving strategies and solutions. This research applied this philosophy of RME to design a differential equation course at a university level. In particular, the course encouraged the students of the course to use numerical methods to solve differential equations. In this context, the purpose of this research was to describe the developmental process in which the students constructed and reinvented Euler algorithm in the class. For the purpose, this paper will present the didactical principle of RME and describe the process of developmental research to investigate the inferential process of students in solving the first order differential equation numerically. Finally, the qualitative analysis of the students' reasoning and use of symbols reveals how the students reinvent Euler algorithm under the didactical principle of guided reinvention. In this research, it has been found that the students developed deep understanding of Euler algorithm in the class. Moreover, it has been shown that the experience of doing mathematics in the course had a positive impact on students' mathematical belief and attitude. These findings imply that the didactical principle of RME can be applied to design university mathematical courses and in general, provide a perspective on how to reform mathematics curriculum at a university level.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.135-149
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• 2003

We present an understanding about students' conceptual model of differential equations, based on the discourse data that were collected in a differential equations course at a university in Korea. An interpretive approach is taken to analyze classroom discourse. This paper consists of three main parts. First, we completely analyze the students' use of conceptual metaphor in a university differential equations class. Secondly, we identify conceptual metaphors representing students' conceptual model of differential equations. Finally, we describe the mathematical characteristics of the conceptual metaphors identified in detail. Among other things, this paper reveals that there exists dual aspects of the students' conceptual model of differential equations. In other words, in the differential equations course observed we found that the students very often used two kinds of conceptual metaphor,“machine metaphor”and“fictive motion metaphor”, that have contrastingly different mathematical characteristics. In order to interpret the duality, we take a sociocultural perspective, and this perspective suggests and helps us to realize the significance of understanding of cognitive diversity in mathematics classroom.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2004

This research applies the discursive approach to investigate the social transformation of students' conceptual model of differential equations. The analysis focuses on the students' use of metaphor in class in order to find kinds of metaphor used, their characteristics, and a pattern in the use of metaphor. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that the students' conceptual model of differential equations gradually becomes transformed with respect to the historical and cultural structure of the communal practice of mathematics. The findings suggest that through participating in the daily practice of mathematics as a historical and cultural product, a learner becomes socially transformed to a certain kind of a cultural being with historicity. This implies that mathematics education is concerned with the formation of historical and cultural identity at a fundamental level.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.44 no.3 s.110
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• pp.375-396
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• 2005

This paper reports on the main results of 3 study that compared students' beliefs, skills, and understandings in an innovative approach to differential equations to more conventional approaches. The innovative approach, referred to as the Realistic Mathematics Education Based Differential Equations (IODE) project, capitalizes on advances within the discipline of mathematics and on advances within the discipline of mathematics education, both at the K-12 and tertiary levels. Given the integrated leveraging of developments both within mathematics and mathematics education, the IODE project is paradigmatic of an approach to innovation in undergraduate mathematics, potentially sewing as a model for other undergraduate course reforms. The effect of the IODE projection maintaining desirable mathematical views and in developing students' skills and relational understandings as judged by the three assessment instruments was largely positive. These findings support our conjecture that, when coupled with careful attention to developments within mathematics itself, theoretical advances that initially grew out research in elementary school classrooms can be profitably leveraged and adapted to the university setting. As such, our work in differential equations may serve as a model for others interested in exploring the prospects and possibilities of improving undergraduate mathematics education in ways that connect with innovations at the K-12 level

• Bulletin of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.309-318
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• 1994

The approach presented in this paper is based on the transformation of the Stefan problem in one space dimension to an initial-boundary value problem for the heat equation in a fixed domain. Of course, the problem is non-linear. The finite element approximation adopted here is the standared continuous Galerkin method in time. In this paper, only the regular case is discussed. This means the error analysis is based on the assumption that the solution is sufficiently smooth. The aim of this paper is the existence of the solution in a finite Galerkin system of ordinary equations.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.19 no.4 s.24
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• pp.733-767
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• 2005

During the past decades, there has been a fundamental change in the objectives and nature of mathematics education, as well as a shift in research paradigms. The changes in mathematics education emphasize learning mathematics from realistic situations, students' invention or construction solution procedures, and interaction with other students of the teacher. This shifted perspective has many similarities with the theoretical . perspective of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) developed by Freudental. The RME theory focused the guide reinvention through mathematizing and takes into account students' informal solution strategies and interpretation through experientially real context problems. The heart of this reinvention process involves mathematizing activities in problem situations that are experientially real to students. It is important to note that reinvention in a collective, as well as individual activity, in which whole-class discussions centering on conjecture, explanation, and justification play a crucial role. The overall purpose of this study is to examine the developmental research efforts to adpat the instructional design perspective of RME to the teaching and learning of differential equation is collegiate mathematics education. Informed by the instructional design theory of RME and capitalizes on the potential technology to incorporate qualitative and numerical approaches, this study offers as approach for conceptualizing the learning and teaching of differential equation that is different from the traditional approach. Data were collected through participatory observation in a differential equations course at a university through a fall semester in 2003. All class sessions were video recorded and transcribed for later detailed analysis. Interviews were conducted systematically to probe the students' conceptual understanding and problem solving of differential equations. All the interviews were video recorded. In addition, students' works such as exams, journals and worksheets were collected for supplement the analysis of data from class observation and interview. Informed by the instructional design theory of RME, theoretical perspectives on emerging analyses of student thinking, this paper outlines an approach for conceptualizing inquiry-oriented differential equations that is different from traditional approaches and current reform efforts. One way of the wars in which thus approach complements current reform-oriented approaches 10 differential equations centers on a particular principled approach to mathematization. The findings of this research will provide insights into the role of the mathematics teacher, instructional materials, and technology, which will provide mathematics educators and instructional designers with new ways of thinking about their educational practice and new ways to foster students' mathematical justifications and ultimately improvement of educational practice in mathematics classes.