• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.618-632
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• 2008

Despite the rapidly growing body of research on science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), most of the research has mainly focused on the definition of PCK and its components. The main purpose of this research was to explore the operational definition of PCK and to suggest another form by re-conceptualizing PCK, with the newly defined and conceptualized PCK capable of being used as standards and/or criteria in selecting the curricular content of and deciding the subject area of science teacher education. In this research, the science teachers' PCK was defined as the "practical knowledge and skills that are acquired through the curriculum of science education and in the course of teaching experiences, and which are used in their teaching of secondary school science." The science teachers' PCK was further defined as consisting of two integrated and/or combined dimensions: subject matter and pedagogy, each of which comprises several components. In this paper, the PCK is called science education literacy. The paper also presents the ways to apply the operational definition of PCK and re-conceptualized PCK and a few suggestions for the research on science teachers' PCK.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.363-374
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the learning contents presented in high school science and in pre-service science textbooks of college of education, and to examine educational implications for pre-service science teachers by analysing their connection to each other. High school science is called as 'convergence science.' Seven high school science textbooks and eleven science textbooks related to physics, chemistry, biological science, and earth science for pre-service teachers were selected to analyse learning contents. The relationship between high school science with those of college-level science textbooks for pre-service science teachers was found when the learning contents were compared. Science textbooks for pre-service science teachers have the biggest number of learning contents on the chapter 'Energy and Environment' of high school science. About 86.6% of learning contents of high school science were introduced on textbooks on science, but pre-service teachers should learn the remainder. The part of learning contents presented in high school science textbooks was higher than the college-level for pre-service science teachers. Moreover, the part of learning contents was included in Engineering & Technology. And these required a special teacher education. Accordingly, the results suggested that learning contents for high school science should be optimized and reduced. Also, various educational programs should be developed and educational curriculum for pre-service science teachers should be revised.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.309-323
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• 2002

This qualitative study investigated preservice teachers' understandings of the ontology and epistemology underlying constructivist notions of learning through four in-depth interviews. Of the sixteen participants in a larger study, five significantly changed ontological and epistemological beliefs and eleven did not. This study focused on these eleven teachers who have hardly changed their philosophical beliefs throughout the teacher education program. Ten teachers who consistently maintained the scientific realist beliefs were presented as a composite case (Young's case). Among the eleven teachers, there was one outlier who had consistently maintained an idealist and relativist epistemological position from the beginning of the study and was subjected to another case analysis (Ben's case). These cases corroborated the assertion that each individual's deeply entrenched ontological and epistemological beliefs are very hard to change. For researchers, this study offers insights into the reasons that preservice teachers give for non-changes in their thinking about learning to teach. The study also examines preservice teachers' perceived constraints in implementing their ideal pedagogies and the influence of the teacher education program on their pedagogical beliefs changes. The benefits and influences of the M.Ed. program's theoretical coursework and the field experiences on these teachers' learning-to-teach experiences are addressed with rich data. The implications for teacher educators as well as for the instructional practices of preservice teacher education programs are discussed. This research emphasize necessity of the field-based teacher education program and the need of empowering experienced school teachers as teacher educators in teacher preparation and professional development.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.94-105
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• 2012

The purposes of this study is to identify the professional knowledge of the three elementary teachers for science-gifted students in teaching method. All teachers have received in-service program in gifted education, and have been recommended by their colleagues. Two teachers have instructed the gifted for more than five years, one teacher have instructed the gifted for one year and the general students for eleven years. For for this study, each teacher's lesson plans were collected, videotapes were recorded during lessons, and in-depth interview for each participant were conducted. All recoded data were transcribed and analyzed. Some unique characteristics of teaching method for the gifted were identified from the class instruction of participants. They had knowledge of teaching model for the gifted, especially Renzulli's three pod enrichment model. And they mainly used the materials developed by KEDI for the gifted. Also they had capability to be able to reconstruct them, but their lesson plans did not be realized well in their class. Some implications from findings of this study were suggested, such as teaching methods to improve the quality in the classes of the gifted in science.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.199-216
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to figure out how much gifted science education teachers in charge of the class realize the necessity of individualized curriculum and program for scientifically gifted, to find out the problems of the gifted science educational institutions from exploring them in depth in the light of the reality in the gifted science educational institutions, and to draw implications about the applicable direction of more aggressive individualized curriculum and program for scientifically gifted. I chose 15 people with the incumbent teachers who have ever taught scientifically gifted and have a degree in the gifted education or science subject education as study participants and had a depth interview with them. According to result of the study, 14 of 15 study participants recognized the necessity of individualized education in science should understand the personal requirements according to the tendency of the gifted students and should be a study led by students themselves. Of the problems in gifted science education, teachers regarded the reduction in the financial support as the biggest problem and the vocation and professionalism of teachers were referred as a very important factor. With constraints of time and space, there were plenty of opinions that can't ignore the influence of educational environment associated with the university entrance examination. There were many opinions that there is excessive expansion of the agencies and the target for gifted students, no standardized measurement tools and programs and the lack of the system for the coherent observation as a teacher. Also, the unified curriculum of gifted science education institutions were pointed out as the problem and the individualized programs which were already under way have a lot of weakness and being offered marginally. Thus, from now on, to apply for individualized education of gifted science, teachers demanded optimized education conditions and consistent policy support, and expressed the opinion that there needs of a possible continuous observation system. Besides, the curriculum and programs matched the needs of the students should be taken priority the most, and there were another answers that fellow learning within the cooperative learning can be an alternative of the individualized. Along with that, there were lots of opinions that the treatment to overcome an inferiority complex according to the individualized should be followed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 2005

Recent studies say that informal learning is influential to students as much as formal teaming. Nowadays we can see various informal teaming inside and outside of the country. In 2004, it was the first attempt in Korea that engineer had gone to the elementary school fur activity that included scientific experiment and engineering work with students. National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK) progressed activity with companies and elementary schools for students' making sense of engineer and what they are doing. To do that, NAEK had developed the network that company could support its local school's science education circumstance by engineers' visiting program. In 2004, seventeen companies including both large and small ones took part in the program called' Korea Junior Engineering Achievement (KJEA)'. In this program, engineers played the role of teacher (we call them company teacher), elementary school teachers played the role of organizing classes as a mediator. Elementary school teachers and company teachers' recognition is very important to make students' activity meaningful. The aim of this study was to give implication for informal science education activity for which engineers visit their local school. We got the result by survey and interview of company teachers and elementary school teachers. This study's result shows that almost company teachers and school teachers were in favor of purpose of this informal science education activity and satisfied with their participation. But some company teachers were not satisfied with worksheets, materials provided and relationship between school and company). Elementary school teachers and company teachers, both of them believed students' program as the key factor of success of informal science education activity. To make informal science education grow, school administrator and teacher need to have a will to utilize the activities more actively.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.970-985
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• 2011

In this study, we analyzed secondary science teachers' needs for mentoring programs improving their professionalism in science-gifted education. A survey was administered to 111 teachers who had experience in teaching science-gifted secondary students in Seoul. Analyses of the results indicated that most teachers needed the mentors' support in science content knowledge, knowledge of beliefs about science-gifted education, knowledge of science-gifted students, knowledge of instructional strategies for science-gifted education, knowledge of curriculum for science-gifted education, knowledge of assessment in science-gifted education, and knowledge of external factors influencing in implementing science-gifted education. Most teachers, especially having the perceptions of lower levels of professionalism, relatively needed more mentors' support in the knowledge of the instructional strategies for science-gifted education and the knowledge of assessment in science-gifted education. Most teachers wanted the mentors' supports for all subcategories of professionalism at the planning stage of the classes, and some did the support for some subcategories at the performance stage and the reflection-evaluation stage of the classes. They also relatively wanted more mentors' support for all subcategories of professionalism through lectures and/or group discussions, some did the support through face-to-face interviews and/or real-time or non real-time online interviews. They variously responded in the suitable ratio of mentors and mentees, and perceived positively the qualities required to mentor as well as the necessary factors for the effective use of mentoring.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.30-45
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• 2012

Educational communities around the world have concentrated on integrative efforts among science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: STEM) subjects. Korea has focused on integrative education among STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) school subjects to raise talented human resources in the fields of science and technology. The purpose of this study was to analyze secondary school science, technology, and mathematics teacher's perceptions and needs toward integrated education and integrative STEM education. A total of 251 secondary school teachers from all areas of the country who have taught science, mathematics, and technology were surveyed by using a self-reported instrument. The findings were as follows: First, teachers have used little integrated education in their classes due to insufficient time in the actual preparation of the integrated education and the lack of expertise, teaching experience, and teaching-learning materials for the integrated education, while they have positive thoughts about the need of integrated education. Second, they presented several needs to facilitate the integrated education: development of a variety of integrated programs, school administrative and financial support, and in-service teachers' training. Third, overall perception toward integrated STEM education was not sufficient, but most teachers perceived the need toward integrated STEM education due to students' development in their creativity, thinking skills, and adaptability. Fourth, they perceived that it was imperative to develop the various integrated STEM education programs, distribute the materials, and help STEM teachers' understanding toward integrated STEM education. Fifth, they perceived that the most relevant method to integrate STEM subjects was the problem solving approach. In addition, they appreciate that the integrated STEM education is highly efficient in not only developing integrated problem solving skills and STEM related literacy, but also in positively impacting the rise of talented human resources in the fields of science and technology. In order to increase the awareness of STEM-related secondary school teachers and vitalize the integrated STEM education, it is necessary to develop and spread a variety of programs, effective teaching and learning materials, and teachers' training programs.

• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.190-197
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• 2005

이 연구에서는 지구과학교육과가 지구과학을 연구하는 곳이자 지구과학을 교육하게 될 교사를 양성하는 곳이라는 두 가지 특징을 갖는다는 점에서 그에 적절한 천체관측 프로그램을 개발하고자 한다. 이 프로그램은 크게 4가지로 구성이 되어 있으며, 연구 대상은 서울대학교 지구과학교육과 2학년생 18명으로, 천체지구과학 및 실습을 수강하고 있는 학생들이다. 이 학생들에게 본 연구자가 개발한 천체관측프로그램 수업을 진행하고, 수업을 하기 전과 수업을 한 후에 천체 관측에 대한 인식 및 과학에 대한 태도 검사를 수행하고자 한다. 또한 수업의 끝부분에서는 학생들의 소감문 및 프로그램에 대한 평가 설문지를 수집하여, 개발한 관측 프로그램의 효과를 알아보고자 한다.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to research pre-service chemistry teachers' inquiry ability and perception on inquiry by analyzing their argument structure. Nine graduating senior students have participated in this study. They have experimented with mass change during state change, which is included in 7th grade science textbook. We have analyzed pre-service teachers' experimental reports using Toulmin's argument model. Also, we have researched their views on science and experiments through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. As results show, various factors have affected pre-services' argument structures; lack of science knowledge and inquiry ability, belief about error, and additive data. This study shows that pre-service teachers' inquiry abilities is insufficient, and it is necessary to review rearrangement of pre-service science teacher curriculum in order to offer inquiry experiments in teacher education program.