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http://dx.doi.org/10.21796/jse.2019.43.3.284

An Investigation of Elementary School Students' Conception on Energy  

Lim, Soo-min (Kyungpook National University)
Yoon, Heojeong (Chuncheon National University of Education)
Bang, Dami (The Catholic University of Korea)
Publication Information
Journal of Science Education / v.43, no.3, 2019 , pp. 284-299 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate elementary school students' conceptions about the energy represented in the integrated theme 'Energy and life' of the 2015 revised science curriculum. The instruments were developed to grasp students' understanding about 'the concepts of energy,' 'forms of energy,' 'conversion of energy,' and 'energy use of plants and animals.' The surveys were conducted on 92 elementary school students in Seoul. The students' answers were analyzed by descriptive statistics, clouds and semantic network analysis. The results are as follows: 'Electricity' and 'electric energy' were most frequently mentioned as the associated concepts to energy and forms of energy, respectively. Also, the daily use of energy was mixed to the use in science. According to conceptual hierarchy, understanding of energy conversion was dependent on the understanding of energy forms. Although students have basic concepts about the energy use of plants and animals, they had some misconceptions and lack of understanding. The educational implications were discussed to teach 'Energy and Life' as integrated theme in new elementary school curriculum.
Keywords
energy; forms of energy; use of energy; energy conversion; elementary school students;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 5  (Citation Analysis)
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