Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5467/JKESS.2015.36.6.591

An Analysis of Systems Thinking Revealed in Middle School Astronomy Classes: The Case of Science Teachers' Teaching Practices for the Unit of Stars and Universe  

Oh, Hyunseok (Middle School, Seoul National University)
Lee, Kiyoung (Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University)
Park, Young-Shin (Department of Earth Science Education, Chosun University)
Maeng, Seungho (Department of Science Education, Seoul National University Education)
Lee, Jeong-A (Department of Earth Science Education, Seoul National University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean earth science society / v.36, no.6, 2015 , pp. 591-608 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze system thinking revealed in science teachers' teaching practices of middle school astronomy classes. Astronomy lessons were video-taped from four eighth grade science teachers. The video recordings were all transcribed and analyzed by employing a framework for systems thinking analysis after modifying an existing frame of hierarchial structure used in relevant previous studies. In addition, four participants were interviewed in order to uncover their orientation toward teaching using video stimulated recall method. Findings are as follows: All participating teachers were not able to employ the four levels of system thinking appropriately and only utilized the low level of systems thinking. They also demonstrated teacher-centered practices for employing system thinking despite their student-centered orientation toward teaching. The main reason for these results may be that teachers focused more on spatial thinking, than on system thinking as well as the lack of teacher's knowledge about the content and formative assessment of non-earth science teachers. Implications on how to effectively employ the system thinking in astronomy class are discussed in this paper.
Keywords
system thinking; framework for systems thinking analysis; astronomy class; astronomical thinking;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 9  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1991, Professional standards for teaching mathematics, Inc. Reston: VA. 196 p.
2 National Research Council, 2012, A framework for k-12 science education: Practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. Committee on a Conceptual Framework for New K-12 Science Education Standards. Board on Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. The National Academies Press., Washington, DC, USA, 358 p.
3 NGSS Lead States, 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA. 533 p.
4 Oh, H. S., Kim, J. H., Yu, E. J. and Kim, C. J., 2009, An analysis of students' cognitive characteristics through a drawing activity in teaching module of the earth systems education. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 30, 96-110. (in Korean)   DOI
5 Oh, P. S., Lee, S. K., Lee, K. H., Kim, C. J., Kim, H. B., Jeon, C. H. and Oh, S. D., 2008, Methodological review of research literature on the expertise of science teachers. Journal of the Korean Association for Research in Science Education, 28, 47-66. (in Korean)
6 Orion, N. and Basis, T., 2008, Characterization of High School Students' System Thinking Skills in the Context of Earth Systems. Presented in the 2008 NARST Annual Meeting. March, 2008. Baltimore, U.S.A.
7 Plummer, J. D., 2014, Spatial thinking as the dimension of progress in an astronomy learning progression. Studies in Science Education, 50, 1-45.   DOI
8 Richmond, B., 2004, An introduction to systems thinking. Isee Systems. Lebanon, USA 165 p.
9 Senge, P. M., 2006, The fifth discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization, New York: Crown Business.
10 Senge, P. M., 2012, Schools that lwarn (Updated and Revised): A fifth discipline fieldbook for educators, parents, and everyone who cares about education, New York: Doubleday.
11 So, K. H., 2003, Reconceptualization of teacher professionalism: Exploration of new directions. Curriculum Studies, 21, 77-96. (in Korean)
12 Wilson, M., 2005, Constructing measures; An item response modeling approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 213 p.
13 Yoon, M. and Kim, H.. 2010, Hierarchical analysis of astronomical space concepts based on the knowledge space theory. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 31, 259-266. (in Korean)   DOI
14 Briggs, D. C., Alonzo, A. C., Schwab, C. and Wilson, M., 2006, Diagnostic assessment with oredered multiplechoice items. Educational Assessment, 11, 33-63.   DOI
15 American Geological Institute, 2012, EarthComm., Second Edition: Project-based Space and Earth System Science (2nd Ed.); Teacher's Edition, Volume 1, Chapters 1-4, Its-About-Time. NY, USA, 1018 p.
16 Ben-Zvi Assaraf, O. and Orion, N., 2005, Development of system thinking skills in the context of Earth System education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 42, 518-560.   DOI
17 Ben-Zvi Assaraf, O. and Orion, N., 2010a, System thinking skills at the elementary school level. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 47, 540-563.
18 Ben-Zvi Assaraf, O. and Orion, N., 2010b, Four case studies, six years later: developing system thinking skills in junior high school and sustaining them over time. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 47, 1253-1280.   DOI
19 Briggs, D. C. and Alonzo, A. C., 2012, The psychometric modeling of ordered multiple-choice item responses for diagnostic assessment with a learning progression. In A. C. Alozo and A. W. Gotwals (Eds.), Learning progressions in science: Current challenges and future directions. Sense Publishers, Rotterdan, The Netherlands, 293-316.
20 Calderhead, J., 1981, Stimulated recall: A method for research on teaching. British Journal of Education Psychology, 51, 211-217.   DOI
21 Choi, J., Lee S., Kim, C., Yu, E., Kim, J. and Oh, H., 2009, A case study on reflection-in-practice in Science Teachers' Teaching Changes. Journal of the Korean Association for Science Education, 29, 793-811. (in Korean)
22 Cowie, B. and Bell, B., 1999, A model of formative assessment in science education, Assessment in Education, 6, 101-116.   DOI
23 Frank, M., 2000, Engineering Systems Thinking and Systems Thinking, Systems Engineering, 3, 163-168.   DOI
24 Lee, H., Kwon, Y. Oh, J. and Lee, H., 2011, Development and application of the educational program to increase high school students' systems thinking skills - focus on global warming. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 33, 784-797. (in Korean)
25 Johnson, D. R., 2006, Earth system science: A model for teaching science as state, process and understanding? Journal of Geoscience Education, 54, 202-207.   DOI
26 Kauffman, D. L., 1980, Systems one: An introduction to systems thinking. Future Systems, Minneapolis, USA, 44 p.
27 Kali, Y., Orion. N. and Eylon, B. S., 2003, Effect of knowledge integration activities on students' perception of the earth's crust as a cyclic system. Journal of Research in science teaching, 40, 545-565.   DOI
28 Lee, K., Maeng S., Park, Y., Lee, J. and Oh, H., 2014, A case study of middle school science teachers' topicspecific pedagogical content knowledge on the unit of stars and universe. Journal of the Korean Association for Science Education, 34, 393-406. (in Korean)   DOI
29 Lee, H., Kwon, Y., Oh, H. and Lee, H.. 2011, Development and application of the educational program to increase high school students' systems thinking skills-focus on global warming. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 32, 784-797. (in Korean)   DOI
30 Lee, J., Lee, K., Park, Y., Maeng S. and Oh, H., 2015, A case study on spatial thinking revealed in elementary school science class on solar system and stars. Journal of the Korean Association for Science Education, 34, 179-197. (in Korean)
31 Lee, Y., Kwak, Y. and Kim, D.. 2005, Analysis and evaluation of the earth science content relevance in the 7th national science curriculum. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 26, 759-770. (in Korean)
32 Maeng, S., Seong, Y. and Jang, S., 2013, Present states, methodological features, and an exemplar study of the research on learning progressions. Journal of the Korean Association for Science Education, 33, 161-180. (in Korean)   DOI
33 Lim, C. and, Kim, H., 1994, Analysis of middle school students' conception on atmospheric pressure and lunnar motion. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 15, 157-169. (in Korean)
34 Liu, L. and Hmelo-Silver, C. E., 2009, Promoting complex systems learning through the use of conceptual representations in hypermedia. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 46, 1023-1040.   DOI
35 Maeng S., Lee, K., Park, Y., Lee, J. and Oh, H., 2014, Development and validation of a learning progression for astronomical systems using ordered multiple-choice items. Journal of the Korean Association for Science Education, 34, 703-718. (in Korean)   DOI
36 Mayer, V. J., 1993, Earth systems Science. The Science Teacher, 58, 34-39.
37 Meade, P. and McMeniman, M., 1992, Stimulated recall: An effective methodology for examining successful teaching in science. Australian Educational Researcher, 19, 1-18.
38 Meadows, D. H., 2008, Thinking in systems, Washington, DC: Chelsea greeen. 240 p.
39 Moon, B., Jeong, J., Krung, J., Koh, Y., Youn, S., Kim, H. and Oh, K., 2004, Related conceptions to earth system and applying of systems thinking about carbon cycle of the preservice teachers. Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 25, 684-696 (in Korean).
40 Moon, B. and Song, J., 2012, The effects of teaching and learning strategy for systems thinking education in elementary students. Korean System Dynamics Review, 13, 81-99. (in Korean)