초등학생의 전기 회로 이해에 따른 자연 교과서 전기 단원에 대한 분석과 제안

Analysis and suggestions for elementary textbooks based on the elementary students' understanding of electric circuits

The units about electricity in 5th and 6th science curriculum for elementary school was analyzed and the elementary students' understanding of related concepts was investigated. This study was to make connection between the research about alternative concepts and writing textbooks. It was found that students' response had following characteristics. They had strong belief that the + and - ends of battery should be connected. However this belief was not complete because students did not understand that the other circuit elements had to be connected properly. When the circuit involve more than one bulbs or batteries, they counted the number of batteries or bulbs only and paid little attention to the connection of them. In explaining circuits and the brightness of the bulbs in the circuits. students tried to explains the circuit using scientific terms but failed to used them properly. Although the concept of resistance was not dealt explicitly. student had reasonable qualitative understanding about resistance. According to response of students, several suggestions might be made for the curriculum. The structure and the circuit elements and the proper connection needs to be taught. Also more emphasis is necessary to pay attention to the connection in addition to the numbers of bulbs or batteries. Finally, it needs to be investigated carefully if it is better to introduce some qualitative model to explain the amount of current through bulb depending on the connection and the number of bulbs. It might also be better to introduce some terms, such as current and resistance with the model.