• Journal of Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.99-112
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• 2015

This study aimed at investigating elementary teachers' stages of concerns and its changes about STEAM education. The participants of this study were 90 elementary school teachers implementing STEAM education in their schools. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) was administered after the permission was granted by Hall. Data were collected three times from April, June, and December in the year of implementing the exemplary STEAM school. The results indicated that elementary school teachers' concerns toward STEAM education, the differences of the percentile scores of each stages of concerns, showed slightly low. The SoC of teachers in April showed that Awareness(Stage 0) was relatively very high and Consequences(Stage 4) was very low. However, in December, both Awareness(Stage 0) and Management(Stage 3) were very low. In particular, the percentile scores of Consequence(Stage 4) showed the big difference from 54.7 to 74.3. In addition, teachers who took science track in their high schools showed the relatively low score in the stage of Management(Stage 3). Teachers having the degree of Master of Arts presented the relatively low percentile score in the stage of Management(Stage 3). Teachers who majored in STEM related areas at the university presented the relatively low score in the stage of Management(Stage 3). The findings of this exploratory study may provide the useful insights into the integrative approaches of STEAM education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.603-609
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• 2005

Students obtain most concepts through textbooks, and teaching-learning activities between teachers and students. Accordingly, if science teachers already have misconceptions they will inevitably affect students' scientific concept. This study found many problems in teachers' cognition on the concepts of nuclear radiation. Because 12th grade physics II is classified as an optional subject in the 7th curriculum, teachers have few chances to teach it and, more importantly, have difficulty in teaching it because of the need to prepare students for the university entrance examination. The concept of radiation must be taught correctly because of its emergence in the 'environment' unit of 10th grade Science. Finally, results from this study can help science teachers teach these difficult concepts more correctly. In addition, results can also be useful in in-service retraining programs.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.358-375
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• 2015

The purposes of this study were to investigate the value, necessity and legitimacy of STEAM Education and to propose practical approaching methods for STEAM Education to be applicable in Korea through a variety of literature review, case studies and collecting suggestions from domestic and international educational experts. The research questions are as follows: (1) To investigate the perception, understanding and recognitions of domestic and foreign professionals in STEAM education. (2) To analyze policy implications for an improvement in STEAM. The following aspects of STEAM were found to be challenges in our current STEAM policy after analyzing multiple questionnaires with the professionals and case studies including their experiences, understanding, supports and directions of the policy from the governments. The results indicate that (1) there was a lack of precise and conceptual understanding of STEAM in respect to experience. Training sessions for teachers in this field to help transform their perception is necessary. Development of practical programs with an easy access is also required. It is important to get the aims of related educational activities recognized by the professionals and established standards for an evaluation. The experts perceived that a theme-based learning is the most preferred and effective approaching method and the programs that develop creative thinking and learning applicable to practice are required to promote. (2) The results indicate that there was a lack of programs and inducements for supporting outstanding STEAM educators. It is shown that making an appropriate environment for STEAM education takes the first priority before training numbers of teachers unilaterally, thus securing enough budget seems critical. The professionals also emphasize on developing specialized teaching materials that include diverse inter-related subjects such as science technology, engineering, arts and humanities and social science with diverse viewpoints and advanced technology. This work requires a STEAM network for teachers to link up and share their materials, documents and experiences. It is necessary to get corporations, universities, and research centers participated in the network. (3) With respect to direction, it is necessary to propose policy that makes STEAM education ordinary and more practical in the present education system. The professionals have recommended training sessions that help develop creative thinking and amalgamative problem-solving techniques. They require reducing the workload of teachers and changing teachers' perspectives towards STEAM. They further urge a tight cooperation between departments of the government related with STEAM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.995-1009
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits, behaviors, and food consumption frequency according to gender and obesity level among middle school students in the Jeonju area. Subjects for the questionnaire were 450 middle school students (male 255, female 195) and were classified as either obese students (n=150 or non-obese students (n=299) by the obesity assessment method. The results were analyzed with SAS program (Version 9.1), and were as follows. 1. Dietary behaviors were significantly different in the rate of 'Skipping breakfast (p<0.05)', 'Duration of meal time (min) (p<0.05)' and 'Unbalanced diet (p<0.01)' between males and females. Dietary habits and behaviors also differed significantly for the rate of ‘Taste preferences (p<0.05)’, and 'Unbalanced diet (p<0.01)' between obese students and non-obese students. 2. Food consumption frequency per week was as follows. First, males were significantly higher than females in 'Instant noodle (p<0.05)', 'Milk (p<0.01)', and 'Soda pop (p<0.01)'; on the other hand females were significantly higher than males in 'Chocolate, Candy (p<0.01)'. Second, non-obese students were significantly higher than obese students in 'Instant noodle (p<0.05)', 'Hamburger, Pizza (p<0.05)', and 'Chocolate, Candy (p<001)'. Especially, non-obese male students were higher in 'Instant noodle (p<0.05)' and 'Hamburger, Pizza (p<0.05)'; non-obese female students were higher in 'Chocolate, Candy (p<0.01)'. In conclusion, an action program is needed to encourage healthful dietary behaviors, increased physical activity, and forming good lifelong habits.