• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.269-283
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• 2024

This study compared the characteristics of an experiment f or determining whether gas occupies space presented in elementary school science textbooks to examine the validity of the experiment, identify and improve problems in its presentation, and verify its effectiveness. This study interviewed third-year elementary school teachers who had experience teaching this experiment to students. Based on teachers' opinions and observations, this study identified issues with the current experiment, developed an improved experiment, and determined its effectiveness. Through this analysis, three key findings emerged. First, the study found that the original experiment on gases was presented in the same or highly similar manner in 5 of 7 textbooks (71.4%). Thus, while various textbooks have been developed with the aim of promoting diversity and creativity in scientific literature, most experiments presented in these books are identical. Second, the existing experiment was not suitable for its target audience (third-year elementary school students) and was difficult to observe directly. The interviewed teachers also deemed the validity of the experiment to be considerably low. Finally, the original experiment was improved; this improved version was determined to be highly valid, showing a statistically significant difference compared with the original experiment. The improved experiment was effective for students as it involved activities suitable for their intellectual level and was directly observable through the senses. Thus, the study analyzed and improved an existing science experiment f or elementary students, providing insights into the 2022 revised science authorized textbooks and implications for future textbook development.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2022

This study examines the propositional connections and markers for connecting propositions in the texts of the 3^rd- and 6^th-grade science textbooks developed under the 2015 Revised Science Curriculum. A selection of texts from Korean and social science textbooks were analyzed and compared to those from science textbooks as well. The propositional connections were classified into emphasis, elaboration, exemplification, listing, addition, order, correspondence, causal relation, condition, and purpose types. The markers for the relationship of propositions were classified as demonstrative, using conjunctive, using a comma, using distinctive linguistic elements, and no marker types. The results showed that the frequency of propositional connections in the texts of the 6^th-grade textbooks was lower than that of Korean and/or social science textbooks. However, the frequency of the propositional connections in the texts of the 3^rd-grade textbooks was found to be lower than that of the social science textbook but higher than that of the Korean textbook. The types of order, listing, condition, and causal relation were dominant in science as well as Korean and social science textbooks. Over 40% of the markers for the relationship of propositions were found to be the no marker type, with the ratio of the no marker type being especially higher in the categories of order and causal relation.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.221-238
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to analyze the introduced contents and the nature of science on the history of science in elementary school science textbooks according to the 2009 revised curriculum. For this purpose, first of all, the frequency of contents of history of science in 8 kinds of science textbooks in elementary school is analyzed by grade cluster and content part. Analysis framework for analyzing the introduced contents on the history of science was characterized with three-dimensional combination of the context, the role and the types(Park, Lee, & Lee, 2011). Analysis framework for the nature of science on the history of science was developed by Leite(2002) and revised by Choi (2005) and Kim(2010) and complemented under one expert in science education. The results of this study are as follows: First, the frequency of contents of history of science in textbook is 26 and it were not equally distributed into science textbooks in elementary school as a result of the analysis by grade cluster and content part. Second, with three-dimensional combination framework only 13 kinds were used in all 48 different types through analyzing the textbooks. It implies that ways of introducing contents of history of science into textbooks were limited to certain types. Third, the nature elements of science were not equally distributed on the history of science in elementary school science textbooks. In conclusion, in order to understand the nature of science through the history of science and to foster scientific literacy ultimately, it implicates that it is need to present various kinds of the history of science for one theme in consideration about the grade cluster and content part. Also more multilateral approach is need to introduce equally distributed into textbooks to reflect the elements of the nature of science.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.317-325
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the readability of the 2015 revised elementary science textbooks at the vocabulary and sentence levels, and to provide an opportunity to use vocabulary and sentences with an appropriate level of readability for writing textbooks in the future. To do this, the readability of the 2015 revised elementary science textbook was analyzed and the vocabulary and sentence level the readability of sentences defining scientific terminology were analyzed. The results were then compared to the readability of previous curriculum textbooks. The results are as follows: first, the grade average of vocabulary remained at 1.5-2.1, with vocabulary appropriate to the elementary school level being used on average. However, grades 4 to 5 vocabulary are distributed at a relatively high rate. Second, the sentence-level analysis shows that the sentence lengths for the third and fifth grades were relatively long and the percentage of simple sentences was low. Third, compared to other curriculum textbooks, it was confirmed that the proper level of readability was maintained at the vocabulary level, but that the sentence lengths and the percentage of simple sentences could adversely affect the readability of third-grade science textbooks.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1121-1144
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• 2011

This research is an investigation of difficulties encountered by authors of 5th and 6th grade science textbooks. The aim is to assist authors in creating more easily understandable textbooks in the future. In-depth interviews were conducted with 6 teachers who have previously taken part in the development of 5th and 6th grade texts. The responses given during these interviews were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding as suggested by Strauss and Corbin (1998). The results are as follows: In open coding, related concepts were extracted and classified into 15 main categories and 46 sub-categories. In axial coding, the main categories were arranged into causal conditions, main phenomenon, context, intervening conditions, action and interactional strategies, and consequences wherein they were consistently related to each other based on Grounded theory. Finally, in selective coding, core categories were instilled whereby the texts being developed were categorized into conservative, progressive, and innovative to allow for easier interpretation. This was done to improve the overall quality of Science textbooks.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.480-497
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• 2021

This study intends to explore the content and organization characteristics of elementary school science textbooks in the astronomical domain from the perspective of understanding the astronomical spatial concept. This study analyzed the relevant unit of the achievement criteria in the 2015 revised science curriculum for the 'space' domain in elementary school science textbooks in comparison with that in secondary school textbooks according to the spatial concept analysis criteria by texts, illustrations, and inquiry activities. As a result, elementary school science textbooks were found to be organized around phenomena rather than concepts, targeting observable celestial bodies linked to real life in order to optimize the amount of learning content. However, the learning contents of astronomical observation related to observation and phenomena-centered real life should stimulate the curiosity and imagination of elementary school students and encourage their intellectual participation. Students need to be supported for understanding of the spatial concept to find an answer to the question of 'why'. The content organization for core concepts should be organized around the transferable spatial concept rather than simply focusing on presenting results by accurately describing the phenomena observed by students through scientific practice in order for students to answer various questions that arise in the course of scientific practice.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.240-251
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• 2002

In this study, we analyzed differences of explanation on gas pressure and atmospheric pressure in elementary and secondary school science textbooks and general chemistry and general earth science textbooks based on three types of explanation criteria: first, explanation of mass; second, explanation of air pressure on unit area; third. explanation of molecular motion. The results were as follows. Elementary science textbook belonged to the first type. All of the secondary school chemistry textbooks belonged to the third type. But most of the general chemistry textbooks belonged to the first and second type. Most of the earth science textbooks for secondary school and most of the general earth science textbooks belonged to the first type. Therefore, the differences of explanation could disturb students' understanding on gas pressure and atmospheric pressure.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

The illustrations in elementary science textbooks and experimental workbooks based on the 7th national curriculum were analyzed for gender-role stereotyping, and compared with those of the 6th curriculum. The frequencies of men and women who appeared on text illustrations were counted and the types of roles assigned to males and females were investigated. The results were as follows. 1) The 7th national curriculum textbooks contained double the numer of illustrations in the textbooks based on the 6th curriculum. 2) Boys and girls were illustrated in 'learning activities' with equal frequency, but boys were more frequently represented than girls in illustrations of 'other' activities. 3) Both boys and girls were generally depicted in 'active' processes and the ratio of 'passive girl' illustrations decreased as compared with the 6th national curriculum. 4) Male adults were more frequently represented than female adults in both textbooks and experimental workbooks. 5) 40% of female adults were illustrated doing housework, while male adults were rarely illustrated in such a role.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data that can be appropriately used for teaching and learning activities by comparing questions presented in the 2009 curriculum elementary science textbooks and questions presented in the elementary science textbooks of the 2015 revised curriculum, I would like to suggest some implications that may help. Therefore, questioning types of elementary science textbooks in 2009 curriculum and 2015 revised curriculum were compared and analyzed. First, in the present curriculum, it is necessary to increase the percentage of applied question as it aims to cultivate creative and convergent talent. Second, the increase in the percentage of open-ended questions that provide an opportunity for learners to think freely is a desirable change. Finally, it is necessary to increase importance of the question that can be applied to content learned and can be thought of as diffusive and evaluative.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.167-175
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• 2016

This study aims to find out the meaning of characters used in science textbooks by analyzing the roles of the characters on the 2009 revised science textbooks and the extracted sentences and see if there are indications referable to compiling future science textbooks by finding out where the characters are efficiently used and where supplement is needed. Target textbooks among those developed for the 2009 revised elementary school science textbooks are the first and second semester of the 4th-grade. Methods used include analysis on the roles of character-containing questions using character role analysis whose illustration analysis frame is more supplemented/adjusted than those used in the foregoing studies, analysis on character-containing questions using the existing analysis frame, analysis/survey on good cases and cases needing supplement through consultation with a science education expert, two teachers, etc. The result shows that among types of character roles, motivation and material provision are more used than experiment guide, experiment, and observation results. Result of analyzing in-textbook characters by field shows that life sphere is more used than free exploration, energy, material, and earth. Result of analyzing question types shows the order of expanding, anticipatory, transferable and personal questions and there were no reminiscent and evaluative questions. Based on the result of this study, indications on how to use in-science textbook characters more efficiently and developmentally are needed.