• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.569-591
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• 2022

This study aims to investigate the educational effects of the visualization of heat conduction using a thermal imaging camera on elementary school students through small group activities. It endeavors to explain the reason for why metal feels cold. The scholars conducted in-depth interviews before and after learning the unit "Temperature and Heat" for four students in fifth grade in Seoul. Recorded video and audio materials of the activities, their outputs, and journals of scholars were collected, reviewed, and analyzed. The result demonstrated that visualizing heat conduction using the thermal imaging camera aroused curiosity and provided an opportunity for sophisticated observation and integrated thinking. In addition, the visualization of the heat conduction phenomenon was used as the basis for interpretation and rebuttal for active communication during the small group activities of the students. Consequently, the students changed their non-scientific beliefs, refined their knowledge, and developed their mental models through a small group discussion based on a thermal image video.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.347-358
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to research on the professional development of pre-service chemistry teachers in terms of personal practical knowledge(PPK), and draw a discussion for pre-chemistry teacher education. A reflective discussion through a Community of Practice(CoP) activity has been conducted with 5 pre-service chemistry teachers studying in a college of education located in Seoul. The analysis of the results reveals that 'Subject-matter knowledge' is leaning toward massive chemical contents, 'Curriculum knowledge' is below the level of selecting, analyzing, and applying curriculum materials. 'Instruction knowledge', especially the knowledge of chemistry experiment and research, is not enough to lead secondary students' scientific experiment. 'Milieu of school knowledge' is stunted in growth for the reason of communication-deficiency between a college of education and a community, and among education- related groups. 'Self-knowledge' has been diminished not only because there is a bad influence from college classmates not wanting to be a teacher, but also a lack of communication in the chemistry-education department which can make pre-teachers' belief strong. In conclusion, it is especially needed for the chemistry-education department to strengthen pre-teachers' 'Self-knowledge' in order to develop PPK. This study suggests operating 'a professional community' that has a periodic meeting with pre-service teachers, teachers, professors, community people, education practitioners, and researchers. In addition, it would be effective for increasing pre-teachers' PPK to reconsider depth and direction of 'Subject-matter knowledge', to give an opportunity to examine curriculum materials critically and reorganize them, to improve the course of chemistry experimental subject to the way of improving pre-teachers' leadership in chemistry inquiry experiment, and to raise the quality of educational service activities.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.19-32
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• 2022

The need for polar education was further emphasized, depending on the importance of the pole, which is the best place for climate change detection and prediction, and treasure trove of future technology and resources. Therefore, this study analyzed the general cognitive and affective characteristics of elementary school students' polar literacy, and in addition, analyzed the cognitive and affective characteristics according to the level of diversity about polar experience. The items developed for the study were revised through a pilot survey of 43 fifth graders. They consisted of questions about gender, polar experience, scientific literacy, polar knowledge, polar literacy skills, polar literacy beliefs, and polar literacy attitudes. The types of questions used are selectable, reliable, and Likert (4 points), for a total of 66 questions. The students who participated in the study were 323 fifth grade elementary students. The study found that students were more interested in the dramatic consequences of polar changes than the scientific causes and processes associated with it. This is confirmed through the fact that they are more interested in and familiar with polar creatures suffering from polar changes than understanding ice, which is the main feature of and the central mechanism of polar changes. Students also recognized the issue of polar climate change as a global issue other than their own. They believe that what happens in the Arctic and Antarctica will affect the whole world, but not significantly to himself and his community. The level of knowledge about polar region and the ability to analyze and infer were not significantly related to each other, and students with a higher level of diversity of experience about polar region had a better understanding of polar science and technology. In this research, it is meaningful to check the characteristics related to the students' polar region and to use it as a basic data to show the direction in which polar literacy education should proceed in the future.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.381-404
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• 2009

The purpose of the study was to find out the usefulness of teachers' recommendation in selecting gifted students. For the study 87 teachers teaching 4th grade students from 20 elementary schools in the area of Incheon, 103 gifted students who were recommended by teacher, and 65 gifted students who were not recommended by teacher participated. To measure their cognitive ability, Raven intelligence test, creative problem solving test in science, and TTCT were used. In addition, learning methods, motives for achievement, faith in academic ability, problem solving tendency, and assignment preferences were assessed to find out their affective qualities. The results were as follows. First, the students who were recommended by teachers were highly advanced in both cognitive and affective aspects related to giftedness compared to non recommended students. Second, there were no significant differences both in the cognitive and affective aspects among the students recommended by teachers whether they passed the second step(test for giftedness) and the third step(test for academic aptitude) or not. Third, the discriminant analysis showed $70{\sim}80$ percent accuracy on teacher recommendation in identifying gifted students. The implication of the study related to teacher recommendation and future direction on identification of gifted students were discussed in depth.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.739-756
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is to reflect on 'myself' as a teacher educator of college of education in depth and to improve my instruction through self-study with three critical collaborators. 17 pre-service science teachers and I have participated in this study of a teacher educator's course since March 2016 after the preliminary practice in 2015. The video recorded the course for 11 weeks with about 40 hours of lessons. The data source also included teacher educator's reflective journals, lecture evaluations, online boards and so on. Questionnaires were distributed and answered both at the beginning and at the end of the course and pre-service teachers wrote their reflective journals. Four of them were in the focus group interviews. During the course, the weekly group meeting of critical collaborators analyzed the emerging issues based on the lesson clips and teacher educator's reflective journals with discussion for the course innovation. Four phases were revealed in the process and for the purpose of the course such as exploration, conflicts, challenges, and changes. The results showed that first, we identified tensions among the teacher educator's multiple identities as a lecturer, a faculty member, and a researcher. Second, there were differences between goals of teacher educator and pre-service teachers in the course, and this obstructed the success of the course sometimes. Third, these practices led to explore balanced alternative views and interpretations of the problem by critical views and to expand and improve our teaching practice and thinking. In addition, the self-study with critical collaborators helped to bring conflicts and issues below my practice to light for collaborative reflection and it gave a chance to understand ourselves as teacher educators in different ways.