Education Commons^™

Can 3d Visualization Assist In Young Children’S Understanding Of Sun-Earth-Moon System?, Zeynep Isik-Ercan, Beomjin Kim, Jeff Nowak

Zeynep Isik-Ercan

This research-in-progress investigates how the usage of technology, specifically three dimensional (3D) stereoscopic vision, might support astronomy learning in primary grades. 3D stereoscopic vision might be an effective means to observe the relationships among space objects through simulations. In order to explore this presumption, this pilot study examines how 3D stereoscopic vision might enhance urban second graders’ understanding of (a) the shape of Sun, Moon, and Earth, (b) how day and night alternate, and (c) how Moon appears in different shapes. Currently, Indiana state standards for science do not suggest the teaching of these astronomical concepts explicitly before fourth grade. …

A Reliable Treatment Of Homotopy Purturbation Method For Solving Second Painleve Equations, Esmail Hesameddini, Habibolla Latifizadeh

H. L. Zadeh

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Engineering Students' Understanding Of Heat, Temperature, And Radiation, Katharyn Nottis, Michael Prince, Margot Vigeant, Sarah Nelson, Kathryn Hartsock

Michael J. Prince

Difficulty understanding heat and temperature concepts has been recognized in engineering education. Confusion has been shown to persist after instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether undergraduate engineering students’ knowledge of four heat transfer concept areas significantly changed with instruction and whether this varied by major and GPA. Two hundred twenty-eight undergraduate engineering students from six institutions were assessed prior to and after instruction. Results showed significant improvement in most concept areas but mean scores were below mastery. Previously documented misconceptions persisted after instruction. Significant differences were found by major and GPA. Suggestions for future research provided.

Embedding Lifelong Learning Skills Into A First-Year Engineering Course Through Introduction Of An Independent Research Project And Information Literacy Skills, Chris Plouff, Debbie Morrow

Chris Plouff

This paper reports on a work in progress to address ABET program outcome ‘i’ (“graduates have a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, lifelong learning”) in the Bachelor of Science in Engineering programs (mid-size, undergraduate engineering program) at a large Master’s-granting university in the mid-western United States. One performance criterion used by the programs to assess program outcome ‘i’ is the ability to find, evaluate, and effectively use information independently. This concept is introduced in the first-year of the programs, and is reinforced in an intentional thread throughout the curriculum, culminating with the senior capstone …

Peer Review In An Undergraduate Biology Curriculum: Effects On Students’ Scientific Reasoning, Writing And Attitudes, Briana Timmerman

Briana Eileen Timmerman

Scientific reasoning and writing skills are ubiquitous processes in science and therefore common goals of science curricula, particularly in higher education. Providing the individualized feedback necessary for the development of these skills is often costly in terms of faculty time, particularly in large science courses common at research universities. Past educational research literature suggests that the use of peer review may accelerate students’ scientific reasoning skills without a concurrent demand on faculty time per student. Peer review contains many elements of effective pedagogy such as peer-peer collaboration, repeated practice at evaluation and critical thinking, formative feedback, multiple contrasting examples, and …

Addressing The Multiplication Makes Bigger And Division Makes Smaller Misconceptions Via Prediction And Clickers, Kien Lim

Kien H Lim

This article presents a lesson that uses prediction items, clickers and visuals via PowerPoint slides to help prospective middle-school teachers address two common misconceptions: multiplication makes bigger and division makes smaller (MMB–DMS). Classroom research was conducted to explore the viability of such a lesson. Results show that the lesson was effective in creating awareness that multiplication does not always make bigger and division does not always makes smaller, uncovering students’ misconceptions, and providing opportunities for students to learn from mistakes. Students liked the activity for various reasons, such as getting to learn certain mathematical ideas, to think about the problems, …

The Role Of Prediction In The Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics, Kien Lim, Gabriela Buendía, Ok-Kyeong Kim, Francisco Cordero, Lisa Kasmer

Kien H Lim

The prevalence of prediction in grade-level expectations in mathematics curriculum standards signifies the importance of the role prediction plays in the teaching and learning of mathematics. In this article, we discuss benefits of using prediction in mathematics classrooms: (1) students’ prediction can reveal their conceptions, (2) prediction plays an important role in reasoning and (3) prediction fosters mathematical learning. To support research on prediction in the context of mathematics education, we present three perspectives on prediction: (1) prediction as a mental act highlights the cognitive aspect and the conceptual basis of one’s prediction, (2) prediction as a mathematical activity highlights …

Addressing Impulsive Disposition: Using Non-Proportional Problems To Overcome Overgeneralization Of Proportionality, Kien Lim, Osvaldo Morera

Kien H Lim

Impulsive disposition is an undesirable way of thinking where one spontaneously applies the first idea that comes to mind without checking its relevance. In this research, we explore (a) the possibility of helping pre-service teachers improve their disposition, from being impulsive to being analytic, in one semester, and (b) the effect of using non-proportional situations. This study involves two sections of a mathematics course for pre-service teachers for Grades 4-8. The lessons were designed whenever possible to elicit students’ impulsive disposition so that they could become cognizant of it and make conscious attempts to overcome it. Some test items were …

Mathematical Communication And Its Relation To The Frequency Of Manipulative Use., Karl Kosko, Jesse Wilkins

Karl W Kosko

Many studies on manipulatives describe communication in mathematics as a component for properly implementing manipulatives in the classroom. However, no empirical research is available to support this relationship. Secondary analysis of data collected by the National Center for Educational Statistics from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study was used to examine whether a relationship between students’ manipulative use and communication in mathematics learning exists. Correlational analyses found a significant relationship between students’ verbal and written communication and manipulative use.

An Optimal Choice Of Initial Solutions In The Homotopy Perturbation Method, Habibolla Latifizadeh

H. L. Zadeh

This paper proposes a reliable modification of the homotopy perturbation method which can serve as a promising tool for solving a large class of differential equations. In this approach only the highest order derivative is considered in the solution procedure, and the initial solution which can be obtained by the standard procedure is decomposed to optimally match the solution procedure. Some examples are given, showing that only one or few iterations lead to exact solutions using the new technology, while the standard HPM algorithm yields infinite series converging to the exact solutions.

Developmental Students' Perceptions Of Unsuccessful And Successful Mathematics Learning, Laurel Howard

Laurel Howard

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe what experiences, attitudes, and learning strategies developmental mathematics students believed contributed to their failure to gain basic math skill proficiency in the past and what experiences, attitudes, and learning strategies these students now believed were most likely to enhance the successful learning of basic math skills. To gain an understanding of the lived experiences of successful developmental mathematics students who were previously unsuccessful, structured, open-ended interviews were conducted, classroom observations were made, and formative and summative assessments for the students were collected. Fourteen students from a western 4-year college were selected …

Reconstruction Of Variational Iteration Algorithms Using The Laplace Transform, Habibolla Latifizadeh

H. L. Zadeh

The variational iteration method is a very efficient tool for solving various kinds of nonlinear equations. The variational iteration algorithms are derived based on general Lagrange multipliers and variational theory, this paper suggests an alternative approach to derivation of the variational iteration formulations using the Laplace transform. Some illustrative examples are given to show the validity of this method.

Mathematical Habits Of Mind: A Working Group At The 2009 Pme-Na Conference, Kien Lim, Annie Selden

Kien H Lim

The objectives of this working group are: (a) to discuss various views and aspects of mathematical habits of mind, (b) to explore avenues for research, (c) to encourage research collaborations, and (d) to interest doctoral students in this topic. To facilitate the discussion during the working group meetings, we provide an overview of mathematical habits of mind, including concepts that are closely related to habits of mind—ways of thinking, mathematical practices, knowing-to act in the moment, cognitive disposition, and behavioral schemas. We invite mathematics educators who are interested in habits of mind, and especially those who have conducted research related …

Supply, Demand And Approaches To Employment By People With Postgraduate Research Qualifications In Science And Mathematics: Final Report, Daniel Edwards, T Smith

Dr Daniel Edwards

This is the final report bringing together knowledge and understanding of issues relating to the supply, demand and employment outcomes for people with higher degree research (HDR) qualifications in science and mathematics. The report highlights a number of key findings from the overall project. They are: * Australia has a growing supply of people with HDR science and mathematics qualifications. However, university completions in the science and mathematics fields is below that in non-scientific disciplines. * Consultations and case studies suggest that the demand for HDR qualifications in science and mathematics fields is low within private industry. * There is …

Supply, Demand And Approaches To Employment By People With Postgraduate Research Qualifications In Science And Mathematics: Case Studies, Daniel Edwards, T Smith

Dr Daniel Edwards

This is the third report of a research project which examines the supply and demand of people with postgraduate research qualifications in science and mathematics. In the report, four organisations showcase examples of good employment practices which cover issues associated with recruitment, retention, staff development and career paths. The report was completed in November 2008. To gain an overall perspective of the factors influencing supply and demand for this group it is important to consider all the reports in this project.

Supply, Demand And Approaches To Employment By People With Postgraduate Research Qualifications In Science And Mathematics: Stakeholder Consultations, Daniel Edwards, T Smith

Dr Daniel Edwards

This is the second report of a research project which examines the supply and demand of people with postgraduate research qualifications in science and mathematics. Consultations were conducted with key employers of the target group to identify levels and patterns of demand and their views about issues associated with employing these postgraduates. Key factors relating to salary levels, facilitators and barriers to employment were also considered.

Pisa Mathematics - An Insider's View, Ross Turner

Ross Turner

New Approach To Mixture Of The Adomian Decomposition And Homotopy Perturbation Method For Approximate And Analytical Solution Of Integral Equations And Fractional Differential Equations, Habibolla Latifizadeh

H. L. Zadeh

No abstract provided.

Burning The Candle At Just One End: Using Nonproportional Examples Helps Students Determine When Proportional Strategies Apply, Kien H. Lim

Kien H Lim

Solutions Of The Zakharov-Kuznetsov, Helmholtz And One-Dimensional Nonhomogeneous Parabolic Partial Differential Equations Using Differential Transformation Method (Dtm), Habibolla Latifizadeh

H. L. Zadeh

No abstract provided.

Helping Students Develop Mathematical Habits Of Mind: A Joint Panel Session At The 2009 Jmm Conference, Kien Lim, Kristin Camenga

Kien H Lim

Cuoco, Goldenberg, and Mark advocate habits of mind as an organizing principle for a mathematics curriculum where students learn to be “pattern sniffers, experimenters, describers, tinkerers, inventors, visualizers, conjecturers, and guessers.” Harel regards habits of mind as interiorized ways of thinking—conceptual tools that are necessary for constructing mathematical objects. Presenters for this session offer various perspectives and strategies for helping students develop mathematical habits of mind, including examples from different content areas and at different levels.

通过数学任务提高美国职前教师的数学成熟性 (Advancing Pre-Service Teachers’ Mathematical Sophistication Via Mathematical Tasks), Kien Lim, 庞雅丽, 赵锐

Kien H Lim

2008年5月22日，香港数学教育学会在香港浸会大学举行了研讨会。本文以该研讨会上的发言为蓝本，区分了以下四种差异：（1）约定俗成的数学与学校数学之间的差异；（2）理解方式与思维方式之间的差异；（3）成熟的学习者与被动的学习者之间的差异；（4）知识传授与知识参与这两种教学模式之间的差异。文章还讨论了Harel提出的教学原则以及数学任务的设计与它们在课堂中的使用，并呈现了具体的案例来说明如何设计数学任务以实现特定的学习与教学目标，如激发学生学习某一特定概念的需要，促进理想的思维方式，阻止不合适的思维方式以及评估学生的概念性理解。

General Educators’ Inservice Training And Their Self- Perceived Ability To Adapt Instruction For Special Needs Students., Karl Kosko, Jesse Wilkins

Karl W Kosko

Recent research has suggested that the professional development general educators receive is not adequately preparing them to properly implement inclusion-based practices. In this study, data from the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education was used to investigate the relationship among teachers’ years of experience teaching students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), the amount of professional development received over the past 3 years, and teachers’ self-perceived ability to adapt instruction for students with IEPs. Results indicate that any amount of professional development in a 3-year period significantly predicts teachers’ perceived ability to adapt instruction; however, at least 8 hours of …

Learning About Students' Mathematical Literacy From Pisa 2003, S Mccrone, J Dossey, Ross Turner, M Lindquist

Ross Turner

Four Ways Of Seeing: Art Looks At Science, And Vice Versa, Peter Adams

Peter C.S. Adams

From the mythmaking of primitive cave painters and the rigorous observations of Renaissance painters sprang the two great ways of seeing the world: science and art. Until modern times, the two were often at odds, as each felt the other was trying to stifle it and dominate the conversation. But as the left and right hemispheres of the brain represent rationality and creativity and cannot function normally without massive interconnectedness, so can science and art only give us a complete picture of our world by working together. This paper will explore various ways in which science and art have interacted.

Developing Mathematical Habits Of Mind, Selden Annie, Kien Lim

Kien H Lim

A Project NeXT panel on “Helping Students Develop Mathematical Habits of Mind without Compromising Key Concepts from the Syllabus” was held at the San Diego Joint Mathematics Meetings 2008. This article summarizes the main points presented by four panelists: Al Cuoco, Harel Guershon, Hyman Bass, and Annie Selden.

Pisa 2003—Mathematical Literacy And Learning In The Americas, John Dossey, Sharon Mccrone, Ross Turner, Mary Lindquist

Ross Turner

Developing Mathematical Literacy, Ross Turner, L Steen, H Burkhardt

Ross Turner

The Roles Of Modelling In Learning Mathematics, Malcolm Swann, Ross Turner, Caroline Yoon, E Muller

Ross Turner

Modelling And Applications In Pisa, Ross Turner

Ross Turner