• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.406-418
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• 2015

This study was designed to enhance preservice teachers' self-efficacy beliefs and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) through scientific investigations based on current science education reforms. To do so, a science methods course was revised to include modeling effective scientific inquiry practices as well as designing and teaching scientific investigations in the K-5 practicum classrooms (Revised Science Methods Course). This study assessed the following research questions: (1) What level of PCK do preservice teachers have before and after the completion of RSMC; (2) To what extent do participants change their self-efficacy in science teaching after completing RSMC; and (3) Is there any correlation between participants' changes in self-efficacy and the level of PCK. Participants were 76 preservice teachers enrolled in a science methods course offered at a medium-sized university in the midwestern United States. This study employed the STEBI-B survey and the PCK rubric. There result of the study indicated that there was significant increase in Personal Science Teaching Efficacy (PSTE) of the participant preservice teachers after the completion of the course. Based on the PCK rubric analysis, there was a significant increase in mean scores of the post-RSMC lesson compared to those of the pre-RSMC lesson. The correlational analysis of participants showed a positive correlation between changes in self-efficacy and the level of PCK. Thus, it may be concluded that the reform-based science methods course had a positive impact on participants' self-efficacy in science teaching through correcting misconceptions, developing higher level of PCK, and modeling scientific investigation in their practicum schools.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.696-702
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• 2008

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate earth science pre-service teachers' perceptions and educational utilization of geoparks. It is intended to provide implications of geopark education in the current curriculum and effective geopark education. Education using geoparks has the effect of helping students cultivate inquiry and learning skills, enhancing students' participation in classes. To provide education with these results, it is necessary to deliver meanings of the geopark education to of earth science pre-service teachers who will educate future generations. However, despite the advantages and needs of geopark education, earth science pre-service teachers lack an understanding of geoparks. In this study, 56 pre-service teachers enrolled in earth science education at a university in Gyeongsangbuk-do were investigated for: their perception levels of geoparks, experience, necessity, and learning method of geopark education. As a result, earth science pre-service teachers were well aware of the geoparks, but they lacked knowledge of domestic and global geoparks, confirming the need for geopark education. Currently, the degree of geopark education in the secondary curriculum is insufficient, and earth science pre-service teachers feel the need for it. However, since the understanding of geopark is lacking, support for geopark education is needed. Earth science pre-service teachers being positive about the need for geopark education, it is expected that geopark education will be active in the field of earth science, social, and comparison education when they become teachers in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.236-247
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• 2021

This study is to investigate the effect of pre-primary teachers' gender and earth science completion while attending high school on the diversity of concepts, the level of conceptual understanding, and misconceptions about seasonal changes. This study was conducted with 71 pre-primary teachers. The conclusion of this study is as follows. First, the area of concepts used by pre-primary teachers to explain seasonal changes showed a greater difference depending on whether or not they completed earth science while attending high school, rather than depending on gender. Second, although there was no significant gender difference in the conceptual level of pre-primary teachers for seasonal change, the group who completed earth science while attending high school had a statistically significantly higher level of conceptual understanding than the group that did not complete it. Third, the ratio of misconceptions related to seasonal change of pre-primary teachers by gender was not significant, but the group who did not complete earth science while attending high school had a statistically significantly higher percentage of misconceptions than the group that completed it. As a result of the above examination, it is judged that the area of concepts, the level of conceptual understanding, and the misconceptions about seasonal changes of pre-primary teachers are more affected by the completion of earth science courses during high school than by gender differences.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.352-362
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• 2008

This study explored pre-service teachers' mental models about eclipse phenomena to investigate their understandings on the earth science concept needed f3r an integrated approach. We conducted in-depth interviews with two different contexts on 30 secondary and 36 primary pre-service teachers participants, and analyzed phenomenological primitives (p-prims) and facets of causal explanations about eclipses. Based on this study, we identified four different levels of mental models about eclipses. Four mental models were categorized as (1) Screening model, (2) Orbital plane model, (3) Hybrid model, and (4) Shadow cast model. Screening model is a flawed mental model, orbital plane model is an incomplete correct mental model, and shadow cast model is a scientifically correct mental model. Hybrid model, composite of two or more mental models, use multiple mental models simultaneously. Orbital plane model was the most widespread mental model in secondary pre-service teachers group, whereas screening model was used frequently in primary group. It was found that the level of mental model could be determined by the level of facet and p-prims. We confirmed context sensitivity of the mental models and perceived the necessity of integrated approaches to promote progression of mental models. Implications of our findings for enhancing pre-service science teachers' topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) associated with eclipse phenomena are also discussed here.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2023

In this study, in order to strengthen the AI utilization competency of pre-service secondary science teachers, a project activity in which pre-service teachers directly create an 'AI-based molecular structure customized learning support tool' by using Google's teachable machine was developed and applied. To this end, the program developed for 26 third-grade pre-service teachers enrolled in the Department of Chemistry Education at H University in Chungcheongbuk-do was applied for 14 sessions during extracurricular activities. Then, the perceptions of 'understanding how AI works', 'efficacy of using AI in science classes', and 'plans to utilize AI in science classes' were investigated. As a result of the study, it was found that the program developed in this study was effective in helping pre-service teachers understand the operating principle of AI technology for machine learning at a basic level and learning how to use it. In addition, the program developed in this study was found to be effective in increasing the efficacy of pre-service teachers for the use of AI in science classes. And it was also found that pre-service teachers recognized the aspect of using AI technology as a new teaching·learning strategy and tool that can help students understand science concepts. Accordingly, it was found that the program developed in this study had a positive impact on pre-service teachers' AI utilization competency reinforcement and perception improvement at the basic level. Implications of this were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1087-1102
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to find out the influence of reflective thinking facilitation program on reflection areas and its levels that pre-service science teachers present in the class teaching practice during the student-teaching period. Seven pre-service science teachers participated in this study and only four pre-service science teachers among them were additionally trained with the reflective program. Reflections of pre-service science teachers were mostly shown on class management, including attention and motivation, reflection and improvement for teaching activities, and interactions. However, the understanding of the science curricula and their reconstruction, and advance notice about the next class were not mentioned in their reflections. Pre-service science teachers who participated in the additional reflective program have shown more frequent reflections than those who only participated in the traditional student-teaching program. Pre-service science teachers, not trained with the reflective program, mostly showed descriptive reflection. However, those who participated in the reflective program have shown higher levels of reflections such as dialogic as well as the descriptive reflection. Therefore, pre-education program, reflective journal-writings, and science teachers' assessments on class and their feedback seem to improve the frequency and level of reflection for the pre-service science teachers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-135
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• 2021

In this study, we apply a lesson design process using an argumentation structure to preservice earth science teachers and analyzed argumentation levels displayed in the lesson plans written by preservice teachers in the process. As a result of the study, the preservice teachers designed a logically structured lesson by reflecting more argumentation components in the final lesson plan than the first one. In addition, in the case of lesson topics in which all argumentation elements were not explicitly presented in textbooks or curriculum, preservice teachers could not clearly reflect some argumentation components in the lesson plan. The conclusions and implications based on the results are as follows: First, it is necessary to use the argumentation structure as a tool to design logical science lessons, considering that argumentation levels of lesson plans written by preservice science teachers were improved by using argumentation structures in instructional design. Next, it is necessary to cultivate the preservice science teacher's ability to reconstruct the curriculum for science lesson design using the argumentation structure since argumentation levels of lesson plans written by preservice science teachers were limited to the argumentation components presented in the textbook and curriculum. Additionally, it is necessary to develop and apply a preservice teacher education program that uses the argumentation structure in the context of actual teaching activities so that preservice science teachers can not only understand argumentation but also improve their class expertise.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.729-737
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• 2016

Natural selection is the core idea of evolution that pre-service biology teachers need to understand to solve diverse biological problem. This study aims to investigate the level of Korean pre-service biology teachers' understanding of natural selection by comparing their knowledge with their Chinese, American, and German biology major undergraduate counterparts. In particular, this study focuses on two conceptual components of natural selection (i.e., ecology and genetics). This study used a total 1226 pre-service biology teachers and biology majors' data. The instrument measuring the understanding of natural selection concepts was Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection, which consists of ten ecology concept items and ten genetics concept items. The Rasch model analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, and univariate analysis of variance were used for the statistical tests. The result reveals that the level of Korean pre-service biology teachers' understanding of natural selection were similar with Chinese undergraduates' understanding and significantly lower than American and German undergraduates.' In the first year student data, the level of genetics concept of Korean pre-service biology teachers were significantly lower than Chinese and German students. In the fourth year student data, the level of ecology concept of Korean pre-service biology teachers were significantly lower than American and German students. Based on these results, the ecology concept education and balanced natural selection concept education are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.467-483
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the classification ability with naked eyes according to the understanding level about rocks of pre-service science teachers. We developed a questionnaire concerning misconception about minerals and rocks. The participants were 132 pre-service science teachers. Data were analyzed using Rasch model. Participants were divided into a master group and a novice group according to their understanding level. Seventeen rocks samples (6 igneous, 5 sedimentary, and 6 metamorphic rocks) were presented to pre-service science teachers to examine their classification ability, and they classified the rocks according to the criteria we provided. The study revealed three major findings. First, the pre-service science teachers mainly classified rocks according to textures, color, and grain size. Second, while they relatively easily classified igneous rocks, participants were confused when distinguishing sedimentary and metamorphic rocks from one another by using the same classification criteria. On the other hand, the understanding level of rocks has shown a statistically significant correlation with the classification ability in terms of the formation mechanism of rocks, whereas there was no statistically significant relationship found with determination of correct name of rocks. However, this study found that there was a statistically significant relationship between the classification ability with regard to formation mechanism of rocks and the determination of correct name of rocks.