• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-45
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• 2011

It is the aim of this paper to find the requisites for the target problem solving process in reference to the base problem and to search the roles of those. Focusing on the structural similarity, analytic activity and comparative activity in stage of similar mathematical problem solving process, we tried to find the roles of them. We observed closely how four students solve the target problem in reference to the base problem. And so we got the following conclusions. The insight of structural similarity prepare the ground appling the solving method of base problem in the process solving the target problem. And we knew that the analytic activity can become the instrument which find out the truth about the guess. Finally the comparative activity can set up the direction of solution of the target problem. Thus we knew that the insight of structural similarity, the analytic activity and the comparative activity are necessary for similar mathematical problem to solve. We think that it requires the efforts to develop the various programs about teaching-learning method focusing on the structural similarity, analytic activity and comparative activity in stage of similar mathematical problem solving process. And we also think that it needs the study to research the roles of other elements for similar mathematical problem solving but to find the roles of the structural similarity, analytic activity and comparative activity.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.371-388
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• 2007

This is a case study trying to understand from the view of affordance which certain three middle school students perceive an activation of previous knowledge in the course of problem solving when they solve algebra word problems with a previous knowledge. The results of this study showed that at first, every subjects perceived the text as affordance which explaining superficial similarities, that is, a working(painting)situation rather than problem structure and then activated the related solution knowledge on the ground of the experience of previous problem solving which is similar to current situation. The subject's applying process for solving knowledge could be arranged largely into two types. The first type is a numeral information connected with the described problem situation or a symbolic representation of mathematical meaning which are the transformed solution applied process with a suitable solution formula to the current problem. This process achieved by constructing a virtual mental model that indicating mathematical situation about the problem when the solver read the problem integrating symbolized information from the described text. The second type is a case that those subjects symbolizing a formal mathematical concept which is not connected with the problem situation about the described numeral information from the applied problem or the text of mathematical meaning, which process is the case to perceive superficial phrases or words that described from the problem as affordance and then applied previously used algorithmatical formula as it was. In conclusion, on the ground of the results of this case study, it is guessed that many students put only algorithmatical knowledge in their memories through previous experiences of problem solving, and the memories are connected with the particular phrases described from the problems. And it is also recognizable when the reflection process which is the last step of problem solving carried out in the process of understanding the problem and making a plan showed the most successful in problem solving.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

It is the aim of this paper to study the target problem solving process in reference to the base problem. We observed closely how students solve the target problem in reference to the base problem. The students couldn't solve the target problem, although they succeed to find the base problem. This comes from failing to discover the structural similarity between the target problem and the base problem. Especially it is important to cognize the proper corresponding of primary components between the base problem and target problem. And there is sometimes a part component of the target problem equivalent to the base problem and the target problem can't be solved without the insight into this fact. Consequently, finding the base problem fail to reach solving the target problem without the insight into their structural similarity. We have to make efforts to have an insight into the structural similarity between the target problem and the base problem to solve the target problem.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.219-240
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• 2013

It is the aim of this paper to suggest the method constructing abstract schema in similar mathematical problem solving processes. We analyzed closely the existing studies about the similar problem solving. We suggested the process designing a method for helping students construct an abstract schema. We designed the teaching method constructing abstract schema by appling this process to a group of similar problems chosen by researchers. We applied the designed method to a student. And we could check the possibility and practice of designed teaching method by observing the student's reaction closely.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.429-449
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the mathematical creativity of middle school mathematical gifted students is represented through the process of problem posing activities. For this goal, they were asked to pose real-world problems similar to the tasks which had been solved together in advance. This study demonstrated that just 2 of 15 pupils showed mathematical giftedness as well as mathematical creativity. And selecting mathematically creative and gifted pupils through creative problem-solving test consisting of problem solving tasks should be conducted very carefully to prevent missing excellent candidates. A couple of pupils who have been exerting their efforts in getting private tutoring seemed not overcoming algorithmic fixation and showed negative attitude in finding new problems and divergent approaches or solutions, though they showed excellence in solving typical mathematics problems. Thus, we conclude that it is necessary to incorporate problem posing tasks as well as multiple solution tasks into both screening process of gifted pupils and mathematics gifted classes for effective assessing and fostering mathematical creativity.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.271-287
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• 2018

This is a case study that defined collaborative utterances and analyzed how they appear in the problem-solving process when 5th-grade students solved problems in groups. As a result, collaborative utterances consist of an interchange type and a deliver type and the interchange type is comprised of two process: the verification process and the modification process. Also, in groups where interchange type collaborative utterances were generated actively and students could reach an agreement easily, students applied the teacher's help to their problem-solving process right after it was provided and could solve problems even though they had some mathematics errors. In interchange-type collaborative utterances, each student's participation varies with their individual achievement. In deliver-type collaborative utterances, students who solved problems by themselves participated dominantly. The conclusions of this paper are as follows. First, interchange-type collaborative utterances fostered students' active participation and accelerated students' arguments. Second, interchange-type collaborative utterances positively influenced the problem-solving process and it is necessary to provide problems that consider students' achievement in each group. Third, groups should be comprised of students whose individual achievements are similar because students' participation in collaborative utterances varies with their achievement.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.361-384
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate students' problem solving process based on the model of IDEAL if they learn to solve word problems of simultaneous linear equations through structure-representation instruction. The problem solving model of IDEAL is followed by stages; identifying problems(I), defining problems(D), exploring alternative approaches(E), acting on a plan(A). 160 second-grade students of middle schools participated in a study was classified into those of (a) a control group receiving no explicit instruction of structure-representation in word problem solving, and (b) a group receiving structure-representation instruction followed by IDEAL. As a result of this study, a structure-representation instruction improved word-problem solving performance and the students taught by the structure-representation approach discriminate more sharply equivalent problem, isomorphic problem and similar problem than the students of a control group. Also, students of the group instructed by structure-representation approach have less errors in understanding contexts and using data, in transferring mathematical symbol from internal learning relation of word problem and in setting up an equation than the students of a control group. Especially, this study shows that the model of direct transformation and the model of structure-schema in students' problem solving process of I and D stages.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.255-279
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• 2014

This study is to investigate the change of intelligent and affective domains through the student self-evaluation to identify causes of wrong answers. Through this evaluation, students could have opportunities to solve the given mathematical problems basically and to reflect their problem-solving process, and further to recognize which mathematical content(concepts or expressions, symbols, etc.) led them to solve the problems incorrectly or wrong. Through this process, they would correct their wrong process and answers and to reinforce the prerequisite knowledges relevant to the problems, and furthermore, to enhance problem-solving abilities. To accomplish this, this study was executed as a case study on the subject of four tenth graders. The subject consisted of two boys and two girls. In this study, three essay types of mathematical problems in tenth grade level were chosen from several domestic tests in Korea. Based on the original three essay type of problems, three types of similar problems, namely equivalent problem, similar problem, and isomorphic problems were reconstructed, respectively by the researchers. The subjects were guided to solve the original three problems, and they corrected their wrong parts of the first problem of the three problems. They solved an equivalent problem of the first problem and executed self evaluation and also corrected wrong parts. Next, they dealt with a similar problem of the first problem and executed self evaluation and also corrected wrong parts. Next, while dealing with an isomorphic problem of the first problem, the subjects did the same things. Thus, for the second and third original problems, the study was implemented in the same way. To explore their intelligent and affective domains through student self-evaluation in-depth, the subjects were interviewed formally before and after conducting the experiment and interviewed informally two times, and the recordings were audio-typed.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.563-581
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• 2016

Studies on meta-affect in problem solving tried to build similar structures among affective elements as the structure of cognition and meta-cognition. But it's still need to be more systematic as meta-cognition. This study defines meta-affect as the connection of cognitive elements and affective elements which always include at least one affective element. We logically categorized types of meta-affect in problem solving, and then observed and analyzed the real cases for each type of meta-affect based on the logical categories. We found the operating mechanism of meta-affect in mathematical problem solving. In particular, we found the characteristics of meta function which operates in the process of problem solving. Finally, this study contributes in efficient analysis of meta-affect in problem solving and educational implications of meta-affect in teaching and learning in problem solving.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.139-150
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• 2003

The purpose of this paper is to review the gifted education from a reflective perspective. Especially, this research touches upon the issues of selection process from a critical point of view. Most of the problems presented in the mathematics competition or in the programs for preparing such competitions share the similar characteristic: the circumstances that are given for questions are too artificial and complicated; problem solving processes are superficially and fragmentally related to mathematical knowledge; and the previous experience with the problem very much decides whether a student can solve the problem and the speed of problem solving. In contrast, the problems for selecting students for Gifted Education Center clearly show what the related mathematical knowledge is and what kind of mathematical thinking ability these problems intend to assess. Accordingly, the process of solving these problems can be considered an important criterion of a student's mathematical ability. In addition, these kinds of problems can encourage students to keep further interest, and can be used as tasks for mathematical investigation later. We hope that this paper will initiate further discussions on issues derived from the mathematically gifted student selection process.