• Education of Primary School Mathematics
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.95-111
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between metacognition and math creative problem solving ability. Specific research questions set up according to the purpose of this study are as follows. First, what relation does metacognition has with creative math problem-solving ability of mathematically gifted elementary students? Second, how does each component of metacognition (i.e. metacognitive knowledge, metacognitive regulation, metacognitive experiences) influences the math creative problem solving ability of mathematically gifted elementary students? The present study was conducted with a total of 80 fifth grade mathematically gifted elementary students. For assessment tools, the study used the Math Creative Problem Solving Ability Test and the Metacognition Test. Analyses of collected data involved descriptive statistics, computation of Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis by using the SPSS Statistics 20. The findings from the study were as follows. First, a great deal of variability between individuals was found in math creative problem solving ability and metacognition even within the group of mathematically gifted elementary students. Second, significant correlation was found between math creative problem solving ability and metacognition. Third, according to multiple regression analysis of math creative problem solving ability by component of metacognition, it was found that metacognitive knowledge is the metacognitive component that relatively has the greatest effect on overall math creative problem-solving ability. Fourth, results indicated that metacognitive knowledge has the greatest effect on fluency and originality among subelements of math creative problem solving ability, while metacognitive regulation has the greatest effect on flexibility. It was found that metacognitive experiences relatively has little effect on math creative problem solving ability. This findings suggests the possibility of metacognitive approach in math gifted curricula and programs for cultivating mathematically gifted students' math creative problem-solving ability.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.79-91
• /
• 1999

The aim of this study focused on student-centered learning not teacher-centered teaching in middle school math classes. This study was performed to check the growth of students' problem-solving abilities, learning attitudes and changes in learning motivation among affective characteristics. The results of this study is as followings: 1) The controlled group a heterogeneous group which had classes in a math room, had more meaningful growth than the uncontrolled group. The results of the study show that the problem-solving abilities of the high-leveled group were better than those of the low-leveled group. 2) The controlled group has shown meaningful difference in their mean in learning aptitude test and attitude test converted their score into 100 points than uncontrolled group, and various kinds of learning materials suitable for problem solving are proved as a good learning factor to induce students' motivation and interest. 3) Students prefer to have classes in a math room to the small-sized and large-numbered classrooms. The atmosphere in a math room is more suitable to improving their problem-solving abilities. In this context, the classes performed in a math room are fairly positive. Consequently, students' leveled learning activities performed in a math room can get their learning motivation and attention from those who are lack of interest and think math is difficult and be effective to increase their problem-solving abilities as a learning method for acquiring the whole course of solving the problems.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.10 no.1 s.25
• /
• pp.55-70
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop math creative problem solving test in order to identify the mathematically gifted on the basis of their math creative problem solving ability and evaluate the goodness of the test in terms of its reliability and validity of measuring creativity in math problem solving on the basis of fluency in producing valid solutions. Ten open math problems were developed requiring math thinking abilities such as intuitive insight, organization of information, inductive and deductive reasoning, generalization and application, and reflective thinking. The 10 open math test items were administered to 2,029 Grade 5 students who were recommended by their teachers as candidates for gifted education programs. Fluency, the number of valid solutions, in each problem was scored by math teachers. Their responses were analyzed by BIGSTEPTS based on Rasch's 1-parameter item-response model. The item analyses revealed that the problems were good in reliability, validity, difficulty, and discrimination power even when creativity was scored with the single criteria of fluency. This also confirmed that the open problems which are less-defined, less-structured and non-entrenched were good in measuring math creativity of the candidates for math gifted education programs. In addition, it discriminated applicants for two different gifted educational institutions and between male and female students as well.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.199-220
• /
• 2013

The main objective of this study is to explore the relationship between psychological factors (i.e. math anxiety, attention, attitude, Working Memory Capacity (WMC), and Field dependency) and students' mathematics problem solving based on Revised Bloom Taxonomy. A sample of 169 K11 school girls were tested on (1) The Witkin's cognitive style (Group Embedded Figure Test). (2) Digit Span Backwards Test. (3) Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS). (4) Modified Fennema-Sherman Attitude Scales. (5) Mathematics Attention Test (MAT), and (6) Mathematics questions based on Revised Bloom Taxonomy (RBT). Results obtained indicate that the effect of these items on students mathematical problem solving is different in each cognitive process and level of knowledge dimension.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.165-174
• /
• 1998

This is the study on a teaching method for improving problem-solving ability in mathematics. If this method is performed step by step in solving problems, learners can approach problems in a variety of ways. This step-by-step teaching method will create some changes among learners. The purpose of this experiment was to determine what effects resulted from this method, especially which effects arose in the affective areas of learning math. For the experiment, learning materials were divided into 73 parts. And the subjects, who are low-leveled and have negative attitudes towards mathematics, were divided into two groups. One group was exposed to this method for four months (treatment group), and the other group(control group) was not. According to the result, though there were few changes, the treatment group came to be more interested in math than before and also negative attitudes towards math were reduced gradually, as compared with the control group. In this study, three factors were investigated: interest in math, attitudes toward math, and learning -achievement in math. Significant changes were found in two factors: interest in math and learning-achievement in math. No significant changes were found in the area of attitudes towards math. In conclusion, if this method is adopted and performed regularly, it is likely that the problem-solving skills will be improved and the negative attitudes towards math will be reduced.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.193-204
• /
• 2017

This study examines the effect of 5-year-old children's mathematical problem solving ability and their self-esteem based on the Havruta method using math storybooks. The subjects of this study were 40 5-year-old students attending a kindergarten in the Incheon area: 20 students comprised the treatment group and 20 students comprised the control group. An instrument originally created by Ward (1993) but adapted by Hwang (1997) and later modified by Ryu (2003) was used to test the children's mathematical problem solving abilities. A modified version (Kim, 1997) of an instrument developed by Harter and Pike (1984) was used to measure children's self-esteem. Test results were analyzed using SPSS ver. 18.0 for Windows. The findings are as follows. First, the treatment group that had Havruta classes utilizing math story books was found to improve significantly more than the control group in their mathematical problem solving ability. Havruta classes had positive effects on children's mathematical problem solving abilities. Second, there was no significant difference found between the two groups in terms of self-esteem when the children's self-esteem was compared after Havruta classes that utilize math storybooks. It may not be possible to see immediate changes in children's self-esteem because positive parent and teacher feedback had the strongest influence on 5-year-old children's self-esteem, as opposed to self-learning. The results of this study provide meaningful basic data for Havruta classes that focus on questions and discussions through math story books to increase children's mathematical problem solving abilities in the child education field.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-26
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to develop a math test for identification of the mathematically gifted on the basis of their math creative problem solving ability and to evaluate the goodness of the test. Especially, testing reliability and validity of scoring method on the basis of fluency only for evaluation of math creative problem solving ability was one of the main purposes. Ten closed math problems and 5 open math problems were developed requiring math thinking abilities such as intuitive insight, organization of information, inductive and deductive reasoning, generalization and application, and reflective thinking. The 10 closed math test items of Type I and the 5 open math test items of Type II were administered to 1,032 Grade 7 students who were recommended by their teachers as candidates for gifted education programs. Students' responses were scored by math teachers. Their responses were analyzed by BIGSTEPS and 1 parameter model of item analyses technique. The item analyses revealed that the problems were good in reliability, validity, item difficulty and item discriminating power even when creativity was scored based on the single criteria of fluency. This also confirmed that the open problems which are less-defined, less-structured and non-entrenched were good in measuring math creative problem solving ability of the candidates for math gifted education programs. In addition, it was found that the math creative problem solving tests discriminated applicants for the two different gifted educational institutions.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.455-467
• /
• 2009

During problem solving, "mathematical thought process" is a systematic sequence of thoughts triggered between logic and insight. The test questions are formulated into several areas of questioning-types which can reveal rather different result. The lower level questions are to investigate individual ability to solve multiple mathematical problems while using "mathematical thought." During problem solving, "mathematical thought process" is a systematic sequence of thoughts triggered between logic and insight. The scope of this case study is to present a desirable model in solving mathematical problems and to improve teaching methods for math teachers.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
• /
• v.14B no.1 s.111
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2007

This study proposes design of courseware based on scaffolding for teaching math word problem solving of students with intellectual disabilities. This courseware not only offer various technological supports to solving difficult problems of students with intellectual disabilities but also systematically withdraw that supports. Compared with previous related softwares, this courseware has potential that can adapt math strategies to meet different needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities, increase independent learning ability of learners and maintain high level of motive through successful problem solving experience.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.161-181
• /
• 2018

This study involved an investigation of prospective elementary teachers' preconceptions and experiences of diagrams and their ability to draw diagrams in solving math word problems. A questionnaire and two math word problems were administered to prospective elementary teachers who began to taking an introductory mathematics education course. The results from the analysis of their responses to the questionnaire items indicate that prospective elementary teachers appreciate the value of diagrams as tools for problem solving and communication. In addition, prospective elementary teachers have the will not only to teach their future students how to use diagrams but also to encourage them to draw diagrams in solving math word problems. However, the results also indicates that prospective elementary teachers neither use diagrams spontaneously in their math problem solving activities nor have confidence in drawing useful diagrams. Prospective elementary teachers also manifested low scores on the questionnaire items asking whether they were taught how to draw useful diagrams or encouraged by their teachers to use diagrams in their previous learning experiences. The results from the analysis of the diagrams that prospective elementary teachers drew in solving math word problems showed that most of them had difficulty drawing diagrams that represent their reasoning and solving process.