• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.635-652
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• 2023

This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the curricular progression of the concepts and learning sequences of 'lines', specifically, 'line segments', 'straight lines', and 'rays', at the elementary school level. By examining mathematics curricula and textbooks, spanning from 2nd to 7th and 2007, 2009, 2015, and up to 2022 revised version, the study investigates the timing and methods of introducing these essential geometric concepts. It also explores the sequential delivery of instruction and the key focal points of pedagogy. Through the analysis of shifts in the timing and definitions, it becomes evident that these concepts of lines have predominantly been integrated as integral components of two-dimensional plane figures. This includes their role in defining the sides of polygons and the angles formed by lines. This perspective underscores the importance of providing ample opportunities for students to explore these basic geometric entities. Furthermore, the definitions of line segments, straight lines, and rays, their interrelations with points, and the relationships established between different types of lines significantly influence the development of these core concepts. Lastly, the study emphasizes the significance of introducing fundamental mathematical concepts, such as the notion of straight lines as the shortest distance in line segments and the concept of lines extending infinitely (infiniteness) in straight lines and rays. These ideas serve as foundational elements of mathematical thinking, emphasizing the necessity for students to grasp concretely these concepts through visualization and experiences in their daily surroundings. This progression aligns with a shift towards the comprehension of Euclidean geometry. This research suggests a comprehensive reassessment of how line concepts are introduced and taught, with a particular focus on connecting real-life exploratory experiences to the foundational principles of geometry, thereby enhancing the quality of mathematics education.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.249-267
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• 2017

The unit of multiplication in the mathematics textbook for third graders deals with two-digit number multiplied by one-digit number. Students tend to perform multiplication without necessarily understanding the principle behind the calculation. Against this background, we designed the unit in a way for students to explore the principle of multiplication with cuisenaire rods and array models. The results of this study showed that most students were able to represent the process of multiplication with both cuisenaire rods and array models and to connect such a process with multiplicative expressions. More importantly, the associative property of multiplication and the distributive property of multiplication over addition were meaningfully used in the process of writing expressions. To be sure, some students at first had difficulties in representing the process of multiplication but overcame such difficulties through the whole-class discussion. This study is expected to suggest implications for how to teach multiplication on the basis of the properties of the operation with appropriate instructional tools.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.793-818
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to explore in detail $5^{th}$ grade students' understanding on the big ideas related to addition of fraction with different denominators: fixed whole unit, necessity of common measure, and recursive partitioning connected to algorithms. We conducted teaching experiments on 15 fifth grade students who had learned about addition of fractions with different denominators using the current textbook. Most students approached to the big ideas related to addition of fractions in a procedural way. However, some students were able to conceptually understand the interpretations and algorithms of fraction addition by quantitatively thinking about the context and focusing on the structures of units. Building on these results, this study is expected to suggest specific implications on instruction methods for addition of fractions with different denominators.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.303-320
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• 2024

This study presents the development and performance evaluation of a custom GPT-based chatbot tailored to provide solutions following Polya's problem-solving stages. A beta version of the chatbot was initially deployed to assess its mathematical capabilities, followed by iterative error identification and correction, leading to the final version. The completed chatbot demonstrated an accuracy rate of approximately 89.0%, correctly solving an average of 57.8 out of 65 image-based problems from a 6th-grade elementary mathematics textbook, reflecting a 4 percentage point improvement over the beta version. For a subset of 50 problems, where images were not critical for problem resolution, the chatbot achieved an accuracy rate of approximately 91.0%, solving an average of 45.5 problems correctly. Predominant errors included problem recognition issues, particularly with complex or poorly recognizable images, along with concept confusion and comprehension errors. The custom chatbot exhibited superior mathematical performance compared to the general-purpose ChatGPT. Additionally, its solution process can be adapted to various grade levels, facilitating personalized student instruction. The ease of chatbot creation and customization underscores its potential for diverse applications in mathematics education, such as individualized teacher support and personalized student guidance.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2014

Recently a student's mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills are emphasized. Nevertheless, the students solved the problem associated with a given type of problem solving using mechanical algorithms. With this algorithm, It's hard to achieve the goal that are recently emphasized. Furthermore It may be formed error or misconception. However, consistent errors have positive aspects to identify of the current cognitive state of the learner and to provide information about the cause of the error. Thus, this study tried to analyze the error happening in the process of solving gearwheel-involved problem and to propose the correct teaching method. The result of student's error analysis, the student tends to solve the gear-wheel problem with proportional expression only. And the student did not check for the proportional expression whether they are right or wrong. This may be occurred by textbook and curriculum which suggests only best possible conditioned problems. This paper close with implications on the discussion and revision of the concepts presented in the curriculum and sequence related to the gearwheel-involved problem as well as methodological suggested of textbook.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to make more reliable researches on the tendency of shirking from the mathematics by including those of the students in the other country, and there are a series of researches such as 'math-camp to raise the mathematical tendency of the students who make little progress in the study', 'establishment of factors causing the shirking tendency from the mathematics and development of the analyzing instruments for it' and 'study on the preference to each category of the school mathematics.' For this purpose, I used a test developed by the shirking tendency research team. I compared the average score and standard deviation between the Korean and the Australian students. As for the average score, that of the Australian elementary school students is about one point higher than the Korean students, and there was no remarkable difference in the deviation. Comparing the math-shirking tendency of the two groups, they show higher shirking tendency in the aspects of emotional and mathematical recognition that belong to the psychological and environmental sphere. And, as for an extent of association in difficulties according to each school grades, its degree of the Australian students is comparatively lower than that of the Korean students, therefore, the shirking tendency of the Australian students is intermediate level whereas that of the Korean students is the lowest. They show us a peculiar result in teacher factor. It is noteworthy in that the Korean students show a positive reaction in that factor, however, the Australian students show a comparatively weak reaction. It might be caused by a cultural difference. I also have compared the accumulated percentage according to each shirking tendency factors. It will not only be very efficient for teachers to establish a teaching plan but also a good data to understand the shirking tendency of each student. This will be a very good data for the planners of teaching policy to remedy the causes of shirking tendency. And, it will also be used effectively to write a new textbook. It has been uncommon that a psychological test is used in the research for the improvement of teaching and learning mathematics. In this aspect, I am sure that this study including the preceding research will be a good in studying the shirking tendency factors by using a psychological test. I believe that this research will be a help to grasp the outline of the shirking tendency and I will have to try continuously to make it be a reasonable and reliable study.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.47-62
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of classes using AlgeoMath on fifth grade elementary students' mathematical problem-solving skills and mathematical attitudes. For this purpose, the 'cuboid' section of the 5th grade elementary textbook based on AlgeoMath was reorganized. A total of 8 experimental classes were conducted using this teaching and learning material. And the quantitative data collected before and after the experimental lesson were statistically analyzed. In addition, by presenting instances of experimental lessons using AlgeoMath, we investigated the effectiveness and reality of classes using engineering in terms of mathematical problem-solving ability and attitude. The results of this study are as follows. First, in the mathematical problem-solving ability test, there was a significant difference between the experimental group and the comparison group at the significance level. In other words, lessons using AlgeoMath were found to be effective in increasing mathematical problem-solving skills. Second, in the mathematical attitude test, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the comparison group at the significance level. However, the average score of the experimental group was found to be higher than that of the comparison group for all sub-elements of mathematical attitude.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.401-417
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• 2005

Skemp supposed that it is effective to use both examples and non-examples when new concepts which are upper level than learner's schema are introduced. The purpose of this research is to develop a practical process of teaching geometrical concepts based on Skemp's assumption. For this, the related literatures are reviewed and the Korean textbooks(4-ga, 4-na) are analyzed with respect to method of concept formation. The analysis to]Is that the textbook just explains Properties of concepts or present definitions, instead of giving the chance of inquiry. So we design and apply six step process of teaching geometrical concepts to 4th graders focused on students' inquiry using both examples and non-examples.'rho result turns out that using examples and non-examples is highly positive to concept formation.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inquiry oriented instruction on the learning of area formulas. For this purpose, current elementary mathematics textbook(2007 revised version) which deal with area formulas was reviewed and then the experimental research on inquiry oriented instruction in area formulas was conducted. The results of this study as follow; First, there was no significant effect of inquiry oriented instruction on the mathematical achievement in area formula problems. Second, there was no significant effect on the memorization of area formulas. Third, there was significant effect on the generalization of area formulas. Forth, there was significant effect on the methods of generalization of area formulas. Fifth, through inquiry activities, the students can learn mathematical ideas and develop creative mathematical ideas. Finally, implications for teaching area formulas through inquiry activity was discussed. We have to introduce new area formula through prior area formulas which had been studied, and make the students inquire the connection between each area formulas.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.123-145
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• 2013

This study was expected to yield the meaningful conclusions from the experimental group who took lessons based on inductive activities using GeoGebra at the beginning of proof learning and the comparison one who took traditional expository lessons based on deductive activities. The purpose of this study is to give some helpful suggestions for teaching proof to mathematically gifted elementary students. To attain the purpose, two research questions are established as follows. 1. Is there a significant difference in proof abilities between the experimental group who took inductive lessons using GeoGebra and comparison one who took traditional expository lessons? 2. Is there a significant difference in proof attitudes between the experimental group who took inductive lessons using GeoGebra and comparison one who took traditional expository lessons? To solve the above two research questions, they were divided into two groups, an experimental group of 10 students and a comparison group of 10 students, considering the results of gift and aptitude test, and the computer literacy among 20 elementary students that took lessons at some education institute for the gifted students located in K province after being selected in the mathematics. Special lesson based on the researcher's own lesson plan was treated to the experimental group while explanation-centered class based on the usual 8th grader's textbook was put into the comparison one. Four kinds of tests were used such as previous proof ability test, previous proof attitude test, subsequent proof ability test, and subsequent proof attitude test. One questionnaire survey was used only for experimental group. In the case of attitude toward proof test, the score of questions was calculated by 5-point Likert scale, and in the case of proof ability test was calculated by proper rating standard. The analysis of materials were performed with t-test using the SPSS V.18 statistical program. The following results have been drawn. First, experimental group who took proof lessons of inductive activities using GeoGebra as precedent activity before proving had better achievement in proof ability than the comparison group who took traditional proof lessons. Second, experimental group who took proof lessons of inductive activities using GeoGebra as precedent activity before proving had better achievement in the belief and attitude toward proof than the comparison group who took traditional proof lessons. Third, the survey about 'the effect of inductive activities using GeoGebra on the proof' shows that 100% of the students said that the activities were helpful for proof learning and that 60% of the reasons were 'because GeoGebra can help verify processes visually'. That means it gives positive effects on proof learning that students research constant character and make proposition by themselves justifying assumption and conclusion by changing figures through the function of estimation and drag in investigative software GeoGebra. In conclusion, this study may provide helpful suggestions in improving geometry education, through leading students to learn positive and active proof, connecting the learning processes such as induction based on activity using GeoGebra, simple deduction from induction(i.e. creating a proposition to distinguish between assumptions and conclusions), and formal deduction(i.e. proving).