• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.257-275
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of multiple representations on students' understanding of fractions, decimals, and percent. The instructional approach integrating multiple representations was compared to traditional algorithmic instruction, a form of direct instruction. To examine and compare the impact of multiple representations instruction with traditional algorithmic instruction, pre and post tests consisting of five similar items were administered with 87 middle school students. Students' scores in these two tests and their problem solving processes were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative results indicated that students taught by traditional algorithmic instruction showed higher scores on the post-test than students in the multiple representations group. Furthermore, findings suggest that instruction using multiple representations does not guarantee a positive impact on students' understanding of mathematical concepts. Qualitative results suggest that the limited use of multiple representations during a class may have hindered students from applying their use in novel problem situations. Therefore, when using multiple representations, teachers should employ more diverse examples and practice with multiple representations to help students to use them without error.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

The flow of computer education in modern knowledge and information society contains the computer science courses to cultivate the higher-level thinking abilities such as logical thinking skills, creativity, and problem-solving ability of learners. The purpose of this study is to recognize the need to promote the algorithmic thinking power to improve the problem solving ability of learners, to design the algorithm class based on the anchored instruction strategy for elementary school students and to verify the effectiveness. Anchored instruction model and cases are added to the class. Elementary school students were subjects and divided into a control group in which the traditional algorithm teaching method was conducted and an experimental group in which algorithm class was conducted applying anchored instruction. As results, an experimental group has shown improvements on problem solving compared to a control group.