• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.13-33
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to clarify the possibility of the character education and the concrete implementation process in the field of science education in accordance with the social demand for character education. Based on this purpose, the researchers tried to understand the specific character elements appearing in various science learning situations and to understand the qualities of each specific character elements that can be emphasized through science learning and the aspect of expression process in related learning situations. The researchers selected 11 students from the 7th and 8th graders in Seoul and developed and applied the 'Become a Science Teacher' mentor program in 2014 and 2015. Data collection was conducted through class recordings, mentor teachers' and assistant teacher's journal, artifacts, student journals, student portfolios, class listeners' essays for science class and analyzed qualitative data collected through constant comparison method. According to the result, we extracted 11 character elements and reorganized them into 16 specific character elements revealed in various learning situations based on the relationship between each character elements. The results of the study are eight specific character elements that can be emphasized through science learning and related learning situations. The eight specific character elements are 'responsibility for teaching behavior due to hierarchy of scientific knowledge structure, communication for forming scientific concept, empathic concern based on science learning experience, cooperation for promoting rationality of inquiry method, positive perception of scientific endeavor, respect for scientists' attitudes toward research, confidence in future scientific research, persistence in trial and error'. Based on the results of this study, we proposed the research methods of character in the field of science education in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.417-428
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• 2022

This study analyzed the frequency and level of scientific practices presented in secondary science textbooks. A total of 1,378 student activities presented in 14 middle school science textbooks and 5 high school integrated science textbooks were analyzed, using the definition and level of scientific practice suggested in the NGSS. Findings show that most student activities focus on three practices. Compared to the textbooks for the previous science curriculum, the practice of 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information' was more emphasized, reflecting societal changes due to ICT development. However, the practice of 'asking a question', which can be an important element of student-led science learning, was still rarely found in textbooks, and 'developing and using models', 'using math and computational thinking' and 'arguing based on evidence' were not addressed much. The practices were mostly elementary school level except for the practice of 'constructing explanations'. Such repeated exposures to a few and low level of practices mean that many future citizens would be led to a naïve understanding of science. The findings imply that it is necessary to emphasize various practices tailored to the level of students. In the upcoming revision of the science curriculum, it is necessary to provide the definition of practices that are not currently specified and the expected level of each practice so that the curriculum can provide sufficient guidance for textbook writing. These efforts should be supported by benchmarking of overseas science curriculum and research that explore students' ability and teachers' understanding of scientific practices.