• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.565-574
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the features of science classes of Science Core Schools (SCSs) perceived by students. 654 students from 14 SCSs were surveyed with two open-ended questions on the features of science classes. The students' responses were analyzed with NetMiner 4.5, in terms of the centrality (of betweenness and of degree) analysis and the community analysis. The results of the research are as follows: (1) the science classes of SCSs were perceived by students to be of the environment of free questioning, active participation and communication, caring teacher, more science experiments and advanced contents, and knowledge sharing; (2) science classes in SCSs were perceived to be different from those of ordinary high schools because SCSs provide more opportunities for science-related special courses (like project work, advanced science subjects), extra-curricular activities, inquiry and research activities, school supports, hard-working classroom environment, longer studying hours, R&E and club activities. The students' perceptions of SCS science classes appear to be in line with the characteristics of 'good' science lessons from previous studies. The SCS project itself and the features of SCS science classes would help us to see how we introduce educational innovations into actual schools.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.525-534
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of Science Core schools on students' positive experiences about science (PES) through in-depth interviews with teachers in charge of science core schools. In-depth interviews with teachers were conducted to explore the factors that led to the effectiveness of science core schools in improving the student's PES in light of operational characteristics of science core schools as leading schools, characteristic factors of science core schools on students PES, and improvement plans and requirements of science core schools as leading schools, as well as implications for general high schools. In the case of science core schools, the teacher's enthusiasm for science teaching encouraged students' participation in science classes, promoted students' interest in science other than science-core classes, improved students' inquiry and research skills, increased students' competencies such as communications and collaboration by improving science instructions, and affected career search and exploration based on interests in science experiences. Based on the results, ways to spread the characteristics of science core schools to general schools' curriculum implementation are suggested including providing opportunities to experience the value of science study, to experience science and engineering careers through senior students, to participate in team projects and self-regulated science inquires, and so on.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 2017

The Ministry of Education selected and implemented 'science core school' since 2009 as a policy to strengthen science education to produce talented science students. This study judged that it is necessary to examine the current management practice and diagnose problems to propose improvement measures for more successful management of science core school in the future. To this end, we interviewed and observed teachers and students at a high school specialized in science based in Gyeonggi province which was selected as a science core school, as qualitative study methods such as interview and observation to survey and analyze the current management practice of the school. The management outcome was that the school contributed to fostering talented students in natural sciences and engineering because more varied activities were implemented at the school to develop scientific knowledge of students including experiment, excursion, and circle activity. Identified problems were increased amount of private education due to intense competition over school achievement, negligence of extracurricular activities, burdensome workload for teachers of specific subjects, and lack of expertise of math and science teachers. In conclusion, the following improvement measures are suggested for sustainable management of science core schools: greater liberty should be granted to science core schools; more training opportunities should be given to teachers; college admission program should be improved for science core school students; and it is necessary to introduce courses taught by external teachers, and provide systematic support such as increasing administration staff.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.169-179
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to see school science education from the perspective of CoP (Community of Practice) and to explore the possibility of strategic CoP in Korean school settings. To do this, we conducted a survey using SCaCoP instrument with more than 1600 students from 14 science core schools (SCSs), which were selected across the country, and analyzed their school curriculum, which can be summarized as follows: First, compared to other tracks in SCSs, like the Nature and the Humanity Classes, students of the Science Core Class (SCC) showed significantly higher scores of CoP features for all five factors of SCaCoP (i.e. responsibility of learning, common interest, mutual relationship, open participation, and practice). Second, students of SCC considered activities that require interaction and collaboration among community members (like experiments, hands-on activities, club activities, project works, R&E) to be very positive. Third, SCC students thought that the educational activities of SCSs were not only effective to CoP aims (i.e. self-driven learning, sharing learning outcomes, peer collaboration) but also positive to general aims of science education (i.e. acquiring knowledge, understanding scientific concepts, science-related attitudes). In other words, it appears that educational activities that were effective in vitalizing the CoP have positive effects on ordinary science education, too. These features of SCSs illustrate its possibility of forming strategic COPs in the context of often government-driven Korean education and of bringing in the innovations of school science education.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.318-330
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• 2020

This study has been conducted to identify the types and longitudinal changes in the career values of students in science core school. Data collected from 174 students in science core school were analyzed using 11 career value items. First, this study found that there are three types of career value shown in students in science core schools. Second, the career value of students in science core school did not differ by their track. Third, many students of science core high schools have little or no change in their career value values depending on the time of collecting data. However, some students show rapidly changing career values. These findings suggest the need for individualized career education based on the changing trend of students' career values.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.971-987
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• 2015

This paper aims at analyzing SW club acitivities on the science core high school using information disclosure. Targeting 103 schools across the nation science core high schools, the factors influencing the SW Club was analyzed. And science core high school education plans, business plans and management reports were analyzed in SW club activities. It was the most influencing on the SW club in Creative-Experiential activities organization of computer courses. So computer curriculum reform is urgently needed. SW extra subject activities and funding was having a positive effect. Tuition reimbursement rates was having a negative effect. But academic achievement did not significantly affect. Therefore as many students as possible should be able to assist the SW extra subject activities. And it is required Programs and budget support that reflect the characteristics of local and school. Also, as science core high schools have STEAM education, science, mathematics and technology home economics teachers etc were leading the SW club activities by fusing the their curriculum and SW education. As these activities are consistent with the purpose of SW education, research should be more active autonomic consisting of various teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2021

The purpose of the study is to explore the personal experiences and efforts of science teachers, who have worked in science core schools over the years, in order to evaluate the educational effects and implications of science core school policies. To achieve this purpose, we conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve individual science teachers who have operated programs and curriculum at science core schools. The results provided three case studies presenting how the teachers operated curriculum and how they perceived the benefits of science core schools and identified some commonalities in their experiences and perceptions through cross-case discussions. Three teachers in case studies presented different teaching orientations for science core schools, but they positively perceived its benefits and were very satisfied with the school environment and financial supports from government even though they had more burdens on work. In cross-case analysis among 12 teachers, the teachers commonly presented their passion and enthusiasm for organizing and implementing various extra-curriculum science activities. They believed that such efforts contributed to encouraging their students to consider their careers in science and engineering fields in college. And the differentiated school program has increased reputation and preference for the school from local parents and students. In addition, they felt that these efforts brought their own growth and professional development as science teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.799-807
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• 2019

The study was conducted to identify if the first-year program of science-focused school improved students' scientific core competency and science learning motivation. The first-year program of the science-focused school consisted of basic education in scientific inquiry, investigation, advanced experiment, and basic education in small research. There were a total of 262 participants in the program, and 169 students took three survey tests. Through the analysis of a group-based trajectory modeling, students were differentiated based on similarity of score changes. This study showed that the first-year program of the science-focused school significantly improved students' scientific core competency and science learning motivation. A group-based trajectory modeling found that about 40~60% of students saw the effects of the program. The students who chose the humanity track showed effects, while some students who chose the science-focused track did not show effects. A group-based trajectory modeling showed the methodological effects of identifying the change process of individual students. This study identified the positive effects of science-focused school policy statistically and is a meaningful example for analyzing the effectiveness of science-focused school programs.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
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• v.68 no.12
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• pp.1347-1355
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• 2018

This study aimed at investigating the physics curriculum implemented in science core schools. Thus, the researchers analyzed the science curriculum articulated in the annual reports of science core schools and interviewed some teachers in the schools to identify the features of the physics curriculum. The research findings were as follows: First, with respect to the teaching units by subjects, general science had the largest proportion, as much as 6.7 hours in average, and physics I and II were 4.2 and 4.4 hours, respectively, which were similar to other subjects such as chemistry, life science, and earth science. Second, most of schools opened the courses of physics I and II with two hours for two semesters. Fourteen schools taught physics I as an intensive unit whereas nine schools taught physics II intensively. In the case of specialized subjects, the most frequent one was independent research, and advanced physics was taught in 7 schools whereas physics experiments were done in 34 schools. Based on the findings, this study gives some implications about how to organize the physics curriculum in science core schools according to the 2015 revised science curriculum.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.835-849
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• 2016

The purpose of the present study is to analyze the trajectory of science core school students' STEM career motivation and to examine the relationship between the trajectory patterns and students' tracks. Longitudinal STEM career motivation data with seven constructs were collected from 256 students for five semesters and the data were analyzed by using group-based trajectory modelling analysis. In order to examine the relationship between trajectory pattern groups and the tracks, chi-square tests were conducted. Based on our findings, we found that students are likely to have similar trajectory patterns in STEM career education experience and in their perception towards STEM career value. In terms of parents' support, academic self-efficacy and STEM career motivation aspects are divided into two distinctive trajectory groups ('high' and 'low' group), while two other variables, STEM career self-efficacy and STEM career interest, are divided into three trajectory groups ('moderate declining', 'high declining', 'increasing' group). Most of the trajectory groups are shown the pattern that the level of each constructs increase until their second academic year, then after that, the patterns started going down. Moreover, there are significant relationship between track and each trajectory groups. Science track and science-core track students have similar trajectory patterns. In contrast, humanities track students have different trajectory groups in some constructs. Based on these findings, we suggest that STEM career education environment should consider various patterns of students' STEM career development.