Rina Kim

DOI: Vol.22(No.4) 245-259, 2019

I examine the discussions of studies related to feminist mathematics education and the implications of mathematics education in South Korea. In particular, I attempt to answer the following questions through literature reviews on feminist mathematics: What is the epistemological background of feminist mathematics education? How is feminist mathematics education defined and implemented? What does feminist mathematics education suggest in South Korea's mathematics curriculum? From the analysis of the literatures, I found that feminist mathematics education reflects not just the rights of female's rights but also a paradigm shift in epistemology of mathematics and philosophy of mathematics education. In this regard, feminist mathematics questions the existing mathematics education related to the female students who were marginalized in the composition and delivery of mathematics. Feminist mathematics education points out that in the course of the transfer of mathematical knowledge in schools, female students understand unilateral information procedurally without understanding the concept. Mathematics educators should consider alternative curricula that reflect the views of female students regarding the nature of mathematics. Students should be able to receive equal mathematics education in a school regardless of their gender. In this case, equal mathematics education refers to education methods that are suitable for both male and female students. The existing mathematics content and its teaching methods were designed based on the learning experiences of male students, which made them relatively difficult for female students to understand.

Feminist Mathematics Education, Feminism Mathematics Education, Constructivism, Mathematics Curriculum

Milica D. Antic , Olivera J. Đokic

DOI: Vol.22(No.4) 261-283, 2019

The research related to testing pupils’ achievement in the field of Measurement and Measure in initial teaching of geometry points to an insufficient adoption of the basic components of the length measurement concept among pupils. In order to discover the cause, we looked at the basic components on which the procedure of measuring length using a ruler is based, highlighted the possibilities of introducing the procedure in measuring length, and determined pupils’ achievement during the procedure of measuring length using a ruler. The research sample consisted of 145 pupils, out of which 72 were the 2^nd grade pupils and 73 were the 4th grade pupils. A descriptive method was applied in the research. The technique we used was testing, and for the statistical data processing we used a χ² test. The results of the research show that, when drawing a straight line of a given length using a ruler, there is no statistical difference in achievement between the 2^nd and 4^th grade pupils, nor in the pupils’ knowledge regarding drawing a ruler independently, while drawing a straight line of a given length using a “broken” ruler 4^th grade pupils are statistically better. The results of the research indicate that pupils’ achievement is better in doing standard tasks than in non-standard ones, given that the latter require conceptual knowledge. The components of the concept of length measurement using ruler have not been sufficiently developed yet, and these include: zero-point, partitioning a measured object in a series of consecutive measurement units and their iteration. We shed more light on the critical stage in the procedure of length measurement - the transition from non-standard to standard units and the formation of the length measurement scale. For further research, we propose to look at the formation of the concept of length measurement using the ruler through all its components and their inclusion in the mathematics curriculum, as well as examining the correlation of pupils’ achievement in the procedure of measuring length with their achievement in measuring area (and volume).

measuring length, ruler, components of length measurement, initial geometry teaching, Serbia

Sheunhyun Yeo

DOI: Vol.22(No.4) 283-304, 2019

This paper investigates what informal knowledge and strategies fifth-grade students brought to a classroom and how much they had potential to solve fraction division story problems. The findings show that most of the participants were engaged to understand the meaning of fraction division prior to their formal instruction at school. In order to solve the story problems, the informal knowledge related to fractions as well as division was actively utilized in student’s strategies and justification. Students also used various informal strategies from mental calculation, direct modeling, to relational thinking. Formal instructions about fraction division at schools can be facilitated for sense-making of this complex fraction division conception by unpacking informal knowledge and thinking they might bring to the classrooms.

fraction division, informal knowledge, story problems

Hai-xia Si , Li-jun Ye , Yan-fang Zheng

DOI: Vol.22(No.4) 305-318, 2019

To improve students’ classroom engagement is not only the demand of curriculum revolution, but also the reflection of learning democracy. Students' responses and thinking are the main manifestations of students' participation in classroom learning. To reduce the amount of questions and increase the opportunities and time for students to think, this study, by employing SPSS, makes attempts to analyze the data by using multivariate GLM analysis to explore the effects of students' responses and thinking on learning results. The results indicated the students learning effect will be promoted through reducing the quantity and increasing the quality of question and adding the thinking opportunities.

Experimental study, Thinking, Learning effect