• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.335-352
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this research was to investigate the descriptive evaluation method that focuses on the problem solving process of the student. The goal was to evaluate the students' understanding of the subject rather than the students' ability to find the final answer. The descriptive evaluation is being suggested as a way of examining the thought process of the student by performing a structured analysis of the problem solving process. Today, there are not enough descriptive evaluation resources available for teachers to effectively carry out this alternative assessment method in the elementary school mathematics curriculum. This research is a case study on the development of resources for descriptive evaluation in grade 4 mathematics. We designed the development process for descriptive evaluation and its rubric for all 8 units of the 4-Na level of mathematics in the elementary school curriculum. Three descriptive problems were developed for each of the 8 units for a total of 24 problems. The rubric consisted of three areas of assessment, 1) understanding of the problem, 2) problem solving, and 3) mathematical communication. The problems were first pilot tested in two 4th grade classes. Modified problems were then tested in a different 4th grade classroom. The study showed that the three defined areas of evaluation framework (problem understanding, problem solving and mathematical communication) were measurable and analyzable using the developed grading rubric. We then conclude that he descriptive evaluation could be used as an effective tool for improving teacher performance in elementary school mathematics.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.487-503
• /
• 2008

In this paper, descriptive assessment method for middle school mathematics was evaluated by developing a framework for designing and grading problems for descriptive assessment and analyzing the effectiveness of the problems. The new descriptive assessment problems were developed by reviewing the current 7th National Mathematics Curriculum of Korea and aligned mathematics textbooks to define a set of problem design principles and evaluation framework for the assessment strategy. The developed problems were first pilot tested and then revised based on the feedback from the test. The final version was field tested by 100 students in 7th grade middle school. After the field test, the problems were graded by two middle school math teachers and one math education researcher to determine the overall correlation between graders and also to analyze effectiveness of the evaluation framework of the test. This result of this study is expected to assist in the further development of descriptive problems and grading framework by providing a reference work for teachers to better understand the process and the limitations of executing the new assessment strategy.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.125-136
• /
• 2001

This research is about how the adapted learning of descriptive assessment problems influence on the extension of the ability of the students. As a result, adapted learning of descriptive assessment problems totally led to positive effect, and according to the analyses of behavioral objectives divided into knowledge, comprehension and problem solving, they had more effect on the ability of students' problem solving. Learning attitude of the students were changed into self-centered learning attitude and interest on the subject of mathematics were highly increased since the research had started. If we adapt this research to the learning of mathematics after we develop various problems that can develop creativity, I'm sure that it will be a effective way for both extension of the ability and problem solving ability of the students.

• Journal of Science Education
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.121-149
• /
• 2022

Descriptive assessment is a meaningful assessment method in relation to problem solving ability, reasoning ability, and communication ability as emphasized in mathematics curriculum. In Korea, as performance assessment has been emphasized since the 7th mathematics curriculum, descriptive assessment is being conducted as a method of performance assessment in schools. However, descriptive assessment has not been introduced in the university scholastic ability test for various reasons. Considering that descriptive assessment is emphasized in the mathematics classroom and has sufficient educational value, a serious discussion on the implementation of descriptive assessment in the university scholastic ability test will be necessary. In this study, we analyzed the descriptive assessment of Russia's unified state examination (USE) in the mathematics, which corresponds to Korea's university scholastic ability test. Through a literature review, we investigated how mathematics examination problems were structured in the USE and which mathematical abilities were required for the examination. In particular, the outer structure of the problems was analyzed focusing on the mathematics problems of the USE 2021, and the scoring method of the descriptive problems was also analyzed. The results of this study are expected to provide a variety of information on the possibility of introducing descriptive assessment in the Korean university scholastic ability tests.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.93-104
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between pre-service elementary teacher's prior knowledge and processes of observations and hypotheses generation via analysis of descriptive fault patterns during observation, problem generation and hypotheses generation processes. For the purpose of this study, thirty-four undergraduate students were participated and descriptions of participants' responds were analyzed. As the result, four patterns of descriptive fault on the process of generating hypothesis were classified; 1) descriptive fault from the causalities, 2) descriptive fault from repetition of observational facts, 3) descriptive fault from the priority of prior knowledge, and 4) descriptive fault from negation of the observational facts. From the result, the researcher was able to explore the faults caused by pre-service elementary students' prior knowledge through the observational descriptive analysis with hypothetical descriptive analysis.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.401-422
• /
• 2008

In the current school curriculum, an alternative assessment method which focuses more on the problem solving process rather than the final solution is being investigated. The goal is to evaluate students' understanding of the subject. A descriptive evaluation is being suggested as a way of examining the thought process of the students by a structured analysis of the problem solving process. But currently, there are not enough descriptive problems available for teachers to effectively carry out the alternative assessment method in the elementary school mathematics curriculum. In this research, we surveyed 197 elementary school teachers in Seoul to determine the status of descriptive evaluation in elementary school mathematics and to understand the teachers perception about the new assessment method. The goal of the survey was to find an effective implication of the new assessment method in elementary mathematics classes. The research showed that the elementary teachers use this assessment method about 4 to 7 times per month in their classes. They give descriptive problem test anytime they think it is appropriate during the Instruction of the topic. More than 90% of the teachers were using this assessment method to improve students' creativity and mathematical thinking. The teachers in the survey also commented that the teachers' administrative responsibility should be reduced and that the school environment in general should be improved for the new assessment method to be successful. Finally the study also showed that development of more descriptive problems in each grade level is needed to progress the new assessment method.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the critical thinking disposition, problem solving ability, and clinical competence of nursing students in a 4-year baccalaureate university program. Methods: In this study, a descriptive survey design was used with convenience sample of 228 nursing students at a University in Chungbuk Province. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple stepwise regression. Results: The mean scores for critical thinking disposition, problem solving ability, and clinical competence were at the intermediate level. Significant positive correlations among critical thinking disposition, problem solving ability, and clinical competence were found. The regression model explained 46.8% of clinical competence. Problem solving confidence was the most significant predictor of clinical competence, other variables were intellectual fairness, intellectual eagerness/curiosity, and prudence. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that nursing students with higher levels of critical thinking disposition and problem solving ability will have a higher level of clinical competence. Furthermore, problem solving confidence might be the most important predictor in clinical competence. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the new teaching strategies in nursing education, strategies that will improve critical thinking disposition, problem solving ability, and clinical competence.

• East Asian mathematical journal
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.207-239
• /
• 2013

This research is a study on student's understanding fundamental concepts of mathematical curriculum, especially in geometry domain. The goal of researching is to analyze student's concepts about that domain and get the mathematical teaching methods. We developed various questions of descriptive assessment. Then we set up the term, procedure of research for the understanding student's knowledge of geometric figures. And we analyze the student's understanding extent through investigating questions of descriptive assessment. In this research, we concluded that most of students are having difficulty with defining the fundamental concepts of mathematics, especially in geometry. Almost all the students defined the fundamental conceptions of mathematics obscurely and sometimes even missed indispensable properties. And they can't distinguish between concept definition and concept image. Prior to this study, we couldn't identify this problem. Here are some suggestions. First, take time to reflect on your previous mathematics method. And then compile some well-selected questions of descriptive assessment that tell us more about student's understanding in geometric concepts.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.125-134
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors of college adjustment in nursing students. A quantitative descriptive design was used to study 400 nursing students in Busan and Ulsan, recruited from May 1 to 30, 2011. The instruments used were the clinical stress scale, stress coping scale and college adjustment problem checklist. The data were analysed SPSS program, using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simultaneous multiple regression. Findings of the study can be summarized as follows; First, the average of clinical stress was 3.68 points, the problem-solving coping was 2.85 points, the emotional-focused coping was 2.48 points, and college adjustment was 3.03 points. Second, The correlation of the clinical stress and college adjustment relations showed negative correlation in all areas. The correlation of problem-solving and emotional-focused coping and college adjustment showed positive correlation. Third, The significant predictors of college adjustment were satisfaction in major, psychological factors, problem-solving coping, perceived health status, emotional-focused coping, knowledge, skills, assignment/reports. These variables showed explanatory power of 43.2%. The study suggested to help reduce clinical stress and to strengthen problem-solving coping for college adjustment in nursing students.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.197-213
• /
• 2018

Descriptive problems can be used to grow student's ability of thinking logically and creatively, because it shows if the students had a reasonable way of thinking. Rate of descriptive problems is increasing in middle and high school exams. However, students in middle and high schools are generally used to answering multiple-choice or short-answer questions rather than describing the solving process. The purpose of this paper is to gain a theoretic ground to increase the rate of descriptive problems. In this study, students were to solve some multiple-choice problems, and after a few weeks, to solve the problems of same contents in the form of descriptive problems which requires the students to write the solving process. The difference of the scores were measured for each problems to each students, and students were asked what they think the reason for rise or fall of the score is. The result is as follows: First, average scores of 7 of 8 problems used in this study had fallen when it was in descriptive form, and for 5 of them in the rate of 11.2%~16.8%. Second, the main reason of falling is that the students have actual troubles of describing the solving process. Third, in the case of rising, the main reason was that partial scores were given in the descriptive problems. Last, there seems a possibility gender difference in the reason of falling. From these results, followings are suggested to advance the learning, teaching and evaluation in mathematics education: First, it has to be emphasized enough to describe the solving process when solving a problem. Second, increasing the rate of descriptive problems can be supported as a way to advance the evaluation. Third, descriptive problems have to be easier to solve than multiple-choice ones and it is convenient for the students to describe the solving process. Last, multiple-choice problems have to be carefully reviewed that the possibility of students' choosing incorrect answer with a small mistake is minimal.