Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.14697/jkase.2014.34.6.0535

Study on Korean Science Teachers' Perception in Accordance with the Trends of Core Competencies in Science Education Worldwide  

Koh, Eun Jung (Seoul National University)
Jeong, Dae Hong (Seoul National University)
Publication Information
Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education / v.34, no.6, 2014 , pp. 535-547 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study analyzed the characteristics of National Science Curricula in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Korea with respect to core competencies. In the case of overseas countries, literature review on their curricula was conducted, and four common features were extracted: 'association of cross-curricular competencies with science-specific competencies', 'a combination of science contents and scientific practices', 'an emphasis on communication skills', and 'representation of an achievement level of competency'. In addition, the common core competencies of science education were 'critical thinking', 'creative thinking', 'problem solving', 'inquiry skills', 'communication skills', 'cultural literacy', 'ability to integrate discipline', 'application skills', and 'personal/social competency'. In relation to these features, this study also investigated Korean science teachers' perceptions of core competencies in science education. A survey was conducted on 135 teachers in elementary, middle, and high school in Korea. Teachers were not well aware of what core competencies are, and after introduction, they thought that they wanted to and needed to teach core competencies to their students. Teachers claimed that critical core competencies in science education are 'creative thinking', 'problem solving', and 'inquiry skills'. Teachers thought that core competencies-based science class would help develop students' scientific literacy and communication skills. However, they have difficulties in conducting core competencies-based science class because they are not familiar with how to conduct the class and they expect that it will take a long time to prepare such a class.
Keywords
core-competencies; cross-curricular competencies; science-specific competencies; science class;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Yoon, H. G., & Park, S. J. (2000). The change of middle school students' motivation for investigation through the extended science investigations. Journal of the Korean Association for Research in Science Education, 20(1), 137-154.   과학기술학회마을
2 Yoon, H. J., Kim, Y. J., Lee, K. W., & Jeon, J. C. (2007). A study on developing a key competence in the primary/secondary school curriculum for the future of Koreans. KICE Research Report, RRC 2007-1.
3 Yoon, H. J., Yoon, Y. J., & Woo, A. J. (2011). High school science teachers' perceptions of the 2009 revised science curriculum and the science textbook. Journal of Research in Curriculum Instruction, 15(3), 757-776.   DOI
4 Powell, J. & Anderson, R. D. (2002). Changing teachers' practice: Curriculum materials and science education reform in the USA. Studies in Science Education, 37, 107-135.   DOI   ScienceOn
5 QCA(2007). The national curriculum: UK lower secondary (ks3) curriculum; Science. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
6 Schweingruber, H. A., Duschl, R. A., & Shouse, A. W. (Eds.). (2007). Taking science to school: Learning and teaching science in grades K-8. Washington, D. C. National Academies Press.
7 Singapore Ministry of Education. (2007). Singapore lower secondary curriculum: Science. Singapore: Singapore Ministry of Education.
8 Spektor-Levy, O., & Eylon, B. (2008). Teaching communication skills in science: Tracing teacher change. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24, 462-477.   DOI
9 So, K. H. (2007). "Competency" in the context of schooling: It's meaning and curricular implications. The Journal of Curriculum Studies, 26(3), 1-21.
10 So, K. H. (2006). An investigation on new approaches to curriculum design for the knowledge-based society. The Journal of Curriculum Studies, 24(3), 39-59.
11 So, K., Lee, S., & Park. J. (2007). Review on curriculum reform in the Canadian province of Quebec: The possibilities and limitations of competency-based curriculum. Korean Journal of Comparative Education, 17(4), 105-128.
12 So, K. H., Lee, S. E., Lee, J. H., & Heo, H. I. (2010). Review on curriculum reform in the New Zealand: Implementation of key competencies-based curriculum. Korean Journal of Comparative Education, 20(2), 27-50.
13 Yates, L., & Collins, C. (2008). Australian curriculum 1975-2005: What has been happening to knowledge? Paper presented at symposium: Australian Curriculum as 'Really Useful' Educational Research. Brisbane, Australia.
14 Kwak, Y. S., Goo, J. O., Kim, M. Y., Son, J. W., & Noh, D. K. (2013). An analysis of the current issues of the national curriculum in science and some suggestions for the principles and methods of science curriculum development. KICE Research Report, CRC 2013-23
15 Lee, K. E. (2011). Direction of discussions on the key competence in developing the music curriculum. Journal of Music Education Science, 13, 1-15.
16 Lee, K. H., Kwak, Y. S., Lee, S. M., & Choi, J. S. (2012). Design of the competencies-based national curriculum for the future society. KICE Research Report, RRC 2012-4.
17 Lee, K. W., Min, Y. S., Jeon, J. C., Kim, M. Y., & Kim, H. J. (2008). A study on developing a key competence in the primary/secondary school curriculum for the future of Koreans(II). KICE Research Report, RRC 2008-7-1.
18 National Research Council. (2012). A framework for K-12 science education: practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. Committee on Conceptual Framework for the New K-12 Science Education Standards. Washington, D. C.: The National Academies Press.
19 Lee, K. W., Jeon, J. C., Huh, K. C., Hong W. P., & Kim, M. S. (2009). Redesigning elementary and secondary school curriculum for developing future Koreans' core competences. KICE Research Report, RRC 2009-10-1.
20 Lee, S. M. (2012). A case study on the competency-based curriculum development in Hessen. The Journal of Curriculum Studies, 30(1), 151-174.   DOI
21 New Zealand Ministry of Education. (2007). New Zealand primary and secondary (Level 1-8) curriculum. Wellington: New Zealand Ministry of Education.
22 OECD (2003). Definition and selection of competencies: Theoretical and conceptual foundation. OECD Press.
23 OECD (2005). Definition and selection of key competencies: Executive summary. DeSeCo Project, OECD Press.
24 Gyeonggi Instutute of Education (2012). 2012 Gyeonggi innovation education plan. Gyeonggi Instutute of Education.
25 Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education (2014). 2014 Creative-intelligence education plan. Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.
26 Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. (2012). 2012 Gyeonggi curriculum in Korea. Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.
27 Hodson, D. (1994). Redefining and reorienting practical work in school science. Teaching Science, 159-163.
28 Kim, H. N. & Lee, Y. J. (2012). A Study on core competencies of science-gifted students based on teachers' and students' perspectives. Journal of the Korean Association for Research in Science Education, 32(7), 1241-1251.   과학기술학회마을   DOI
29 Hong, W. P., Lee, K. H, & Lee, E. Y. (2010). Exploring how to implement competence-based curriculum in Korean schools: Based on foreign cases. KICE Research Report, RRC 2010-2.
30 Jung, Y. R. (2008). Science curricula from the perspective of competemcies (Master's thesis). Seoul National University, Seoul.
31 Klieme, E., Avenarius, H., Blum, W., Dobrich, P., Gruber, H., Prenzel, M., Reiss, K., Riquarts, K., Rost, J., Tenorth, H., & Vollmer, H. (Eds.) (2004). The development of national educational standards. Berlin: BMBF.
32 Kwak, Y. S. (2012a). Research on ways to improve science teacher education to develop students` key competencies. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 33(2), 162-169.   과학기술학회마을   DOI   ScienceOn
33 Kwak, Y. S. (2012b). Research on ways to improve science teaching methods to develop students` key competencies. Journal of the Korean Association for Research in Science Education, 32(5), 855-865.   과학기술학회마을   DOI
34 Choe, S., Kwak, Y., & Noh, E. (2011). Research on teaching and learning and teacher education to improve learners' key competencies: Centering on mother tongue, mathematics and science. KICE Research Report, RRI 2011-1
35 Australian Curriculum Assessment, and Reporting Authority (2011). Australia primary, lower and secondary (1-10) curriculum. Australia: ACARA.
36 Boyd, S., & Watson, V. (2006). Shifting the frame: Exploring integration of the key competencies at six normal school. New Zealand Council for Education Research.
37 Canadian Ministry of Education. (2008). The Ontario curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Science. Queens' Printer for Ontario.
38 Choi, Y. H., Yoo, T. M., Moon, D. Y., Choi, J. Y., & Kang, K. K. (2009). A study on the model restructure of practical arts (technology and home economics) curriculum to develop Korean's key competencies in the future. KICE Research Report, RRC 2009-10-2.
39 Garvey, W. D., & Griffith, B. C. (1972). Communication and information processing within scientific disciplines: Empirical findings for psychology. Information Storage and Retrieval, 8, 123-126.   DOI   ScienceOn
40 British Department of Education and Employment. (1999). History: The national curriculum for England. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.