• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.175-192
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in perceived importance of mathematical education (perceived importance) and mathematical interaction of 5-year-olds' mothers according to contents of mathematical education. Second, we intended to examine whether mothers' understanding of purpose of mathematical education predicted on their perceived importance and mathematical interaction. Third, we analyzed relative influence between mothers' perceived effectiveness of concrete materials and worksheets on their perceived importance and mathematical interaction. The subjects consisted of 151 mothers of 5-year-olds lived in D city and K province in Korea. The results were as follows: First, mothers' perceived importance and mathematical interaction were higher in 'number and arithmetic'. Second, mothers' understanding of purpose of mathematical education predicted their perceived importance in all contents and mathematical interaction in 'number and arithmetic', 'geometry', and 'algebra'. Third, mothers' perceived effectiveness of concrete materials predicted better in most contents of mathematical education. Meanwhile, in 'number and operation', mothers' perceived effectiveness of worksheets did a predictive role in their importance awareness. These results were discussed in terms of necessity of a parent education program to provide practical information about contents and methods of mathematical education for their 5-year-old children.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.267-286
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• 2024

This study investigates the perceptions toward prospective elementary teachers regarding the revised 2015 elementary mathematics curriculum. The aim is to understand the importance and implementation of the revised curriculum and provide implications for curriculum improvement in elementary teacher education institutions, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The research findings are as follows: Firstly, prospective elementary teachers perceived that the areas of the revised 2015 elementary mathematics curriculum that require particular focus are number and operations and data and probability. Secondly, they identified the specific elements within these areas that demand dedicated attention as follows: numbers up to four digits in number and operations, mixed calculations with natural numbers, shapes of solid figures, spatial sense of solid figures, comparison of quantities in measurement, etc. These findings can inform the improvement of the curriculum in elementary teacher education institutions.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.607-633
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• 2016

Teachers and students tend to perceive mathematics irrelevant with character education. Since there has been no teaching of cross-curriculum characters education in mathematics classrooms, this research was to look for the possibility of teaching the character education in mathematics. Through the pilot study, trying to rebuild character factors based on Moon, et al,(2011), the researcher applied them to developing 8 lesson plans and carried them to 12th graders of the high school in March and April, 2014 using pre and post tests. Based on statistically significant difference with the level of p<.05, in "relation with me", for 'appointment' in the pretest, the students of natural science(SNS) exceeded, but in the posttest the students of humanities(SH) exceeded. In "relation with the other", in the posttest, for 'forgiveness' and 'responsibility' SNS, but for 'ownership' SH exceeded. In 'relation with a group' in the pretest for 'community spirit' SNS, and in the posttest SH exceeded. In the pretest in this study SNS naturally perceived the value of character education in math classes since they were closer to mathematics but after the experience through character education with cross-curriculum factors, SH perceived its importance expecially 'appointment', 'ownership', and 'community spirit' more than SNS so that we could predict the possibility of teaching cross-curriculum character factors in mathematics even after they had preconception as a high school student.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.532-540
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• 2012

This research investigated the motivation and interests of a sample of predominately-underrepresented populations to better understand whether informal STEM learning experiences offer support for developing STEM identities. A valid and reliable three-section self-reporting survey was administered to 169 secondary students as the primary data source. Identity was used as a theoretical lens along with descriptive statistics to reveal students' perceived benefits of the informal STEM learning experience, a Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program in the western U.S., for improving their understanding of science, mathematics, and engineering concepts, increasing their interest in science, mathematics, and engineering careers, and increasing their belief of the importance of these STEM disciplines. In summary, the findings emerging, considered alongside current identity research, suggest that informal STEM learning experiences offer students from underrepresented STEM populations the space needed for successful STEM identity bids, either for future career pursuits or participation in a STEM literate populace as a non-STEM professional societal member.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.629-639
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• 2010

This paper shows that mathematics and statistics are not only a necessity but a strategic element in contributing for the competitiveness of field of S/W and H/W. First, a survey was conducted to investigate the perceived importance of mathematics and statistics to the specialists of the field. Second, computer programming was implemented in university mathematics courses to understand the educational effect related to problem solving ability. Third, a educational case in which mathematics and statistics in S/W and H/W subject were combined was analyzed. Lastly, an effective plan for mathematics and statistics education in the field of S/W and H/W will be presented.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6477-6480
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• 2015

Purpose: Given the importance of sun protection in the prevention of skin cancer, this study was designed to determine predictors of sun-protective practices among a sample of Iranian female college students based on protection motivation theory (PMT) variables. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 201 female college students in Iran University of Medical Sciences were selected. Demographic and PMT variables were assessed with a 67-item questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to identify demographic and PMT variables that were associated with sun-protective practices and intention. Results: one percent of participants always wore a hat with a brim, 3.5% gloves and 15.9% sunglasses while outdoors. Only 10.9% regularly had their skin checked by a doctor. Perceived rewards, response efficacy, fear, self-efficacy and marital status were the five variables which could predict 39% variance of participants intention to perform sun-protective practices. Also, intention and response cost explained 31% of the variance of sun-protective practices. Conclusions: These predictive variables may be used to develop theory-based education interventions to prevent skin cancer among college students.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 2000

This paper presents cross-national perspectives on challenges in implementing current mathematics education reform ideals. This paper includes detailed qualitative descriptions of mathematics instruction from unevenly successful second-grade classrooms both in Koran and in the U. S with regared to reform recommendations. Despits dramatic differences in mathematics achivement between Korean and the U.S student. problems in both countries with regard to mathematics education are perceived to be very similar. The shared problems have a common origin in teacher-centered instruction. Educational leaders in both countries have persistently attempted to change the teacher-centered pedagogy to a student-centered approach. Many teachers report familiarity with and adherence to reform ideas, but their actual classroom teaching practices do not reflect the full implications of the reform ideals. Given the challenges in implementing reform, this study explored the breakdown that may occur between teachers adoption of reform objectives and their successful incorporation of reform ideals by comparing and contrasting two reform-oriented classrooms in both countries. This comparison and contrast provided a unique opportunity to reflect on possible subtle but crucial issues with regard to reform implementation. Thus, this study departed from past international comparisons in which the common objective has been to compare general social norma of typical mathematics classes across countries. This study was and exploratory, qualitative, comparative case study using grounded theory methodology based on constant comparative analysis for which the primary data sources were classroom video recordings and transcripts. The Korean portion of this study was conducted by the team of four researchers, including the author. The U.S portion of this study and a brief joint analysis were conducted by the author. This study compared and contrasted the classroom general social norms and sociomathematical norms of two Korean and two U.S second-grade teachers who aspired to implement reform. The two classrooms in each country were chosen because of their unequal success in activating the reform recommendation. Four mathematics lessons were videotaped from Korean classes, whereas fourteen lessons were videotaped from the U.S. classes. Intensive interviews were conducted with each teacher. The two classes within each country established similar participation patterns but very different sociomathematical norms. In both classes open-ended questioning, collaborative group work, and students own problem solving constituted the primary modes of classroom participation. However in one class mathematical significance was constituted as using standard algorithm with accuracy, whereas the other established a focus on providing reasonable and convincing arguments. Given these different mathematical foci, the students in the latter class had more opportunities to develop conceptual understanding than their counterparts. The similarities and differences to between the two teaching practices within each country clearly show that students learning opportunities do not arise social norms of a classroom community. Instead, they are closely related to its sociomathematical norms. Thus this study suggests that reform efforts highlight the importance of sociomathematical norms that established in the classroom microculture. This study also provides a more caution for the Korean reform movement than for its U.S. counterpart.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.57-71
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• 2010

This paper is a study on the perception of current competency and expected competency of engineering freshmen by extracting core competencies acquired from university education. It also aims to suggest proper way for engineering university education. This study extracts competencies in the following five areas as core competencies: 'knowledge on major area', 'cultural ability', 'foreign language ability', 'basic learning ability', 'intercommunication ability'. To achieve this purpose, this study surveyed 'C' university engineering department freshmen (584 students) with questionnaires about their perception of core competencies. The results are as follows. First, engineering freshmen perceived current competencies were weak in every area, especially their capacities in 'foreign language ability' area were perceived to be weakest. Their demand for education is the highest in 'foreign language ability' area, and the second higher in 'knowledge on major area'. Secondly, there exists meaningful difference between perception of current competency and expected competency depending on the gender, high school department (science/liberal arts), high school location, types of college admissions, and types of mathematics in NAST. According to these results, this study suggests enhancement of foreign language (English) education in engineering department, design and implementation of various educational program to overcome individual difference, promoting importance of competencies in the 'cultural abilty' and 'intercommunication abilty', necessity of continuous adjustment and complementation for engineering educational program through accumulation of feedback processes, activation of career education through engineering education and special programs.