• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.271-294
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to explore the meanings of science classes to elementary school teachers from a phenomenological perspective. Participants were twenty-eight elementary teachers who majored in elementary science education in a graduate school of education. The study revealed that meanings of science classes were not consistent but rather varied with what the teachers experienced. In their early career years, when the teachers were filled with enthusiasm, they devoted themselves to doing science-related school works as well as science lessons. But, the teachers were gradually concerned about good science teaching, and this concern became more severe as they realized the characteristics of science experiments and elementary school students. The teachers' concern did not actually develop into good science teaching practices because of such constraints as lots of school works, accidents in science labs, and household affairs. Despite these difficulties, the teachers revitalized their interest in science and resumed their effort for good science teaching. However, for "unfillable cups" to the elementary school teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.307-320
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• 2019

This study explores how an elementary school homeroom teacher who continued to lecture, can use diversified science teaching methods for learner-centered instruction. Using an auto-ethnographic approach over the course of a year, self-memory data, facebook diaries, class diaries, and interview data of an elementary teacher's day-to-day preparations and practice of elementary science, in the context of a Korean elementary school, were collected. The data was analyzed through cultural historical activity theory, examining how the interplay of key elements (i.e., the subject as a homeroom teacher with instructional expertise, norms, community, division of labor, tools, and goals) was characterized within and across distinct two-activity systems, and how these elements shaped the teacher's teaching methods into either lecture format or diversified teaching. The study revealed that a non-cooperative community, lack of division of labor, and norms that neglect preparation for science class were the elements that perpetuated the lecture format, and that a contradiction between goals and tools occurred in the activity system. However, these elements were able to be transformed into a cooperative community, shared labor, and norms that saved preparation time for both science class and diversified teaching methods, and those changed elements facilitated the teacher in using diversified teaching methods (e.g., experiments, subject-integrated classes, field work), thereby mitigating the contradiction. This study also discusses that diversified teaching methods can be facilitated when dealing with norms, community, and division of labor elements in an elementary school context as well as improving individual teachers' instructional expertise.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.591-604
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• 2023

This study investigated the impact of elementary science classes using metaverse on the academic achievement, positive experience in science, and digital literacy of elementary school students. In addition, we examined their perceptions. The respondents were derived from two classes in the sixth grade at an elementary school in Gyeonggi-do, who were selected designated as the experimental (n=29 students) and comparative (n=29) groups, respectively. Across five lessons under the "Plant Structure and Function" unit, the experimental group conducted science classes using the metaverse, whereas the comparative group conducted general textbook-based classes. To investigate instructional effects, the study performed ANCOVA using the pre-test score as a covariate, a survey on the perception of students about science classes using metaverse, and conducted interviews with a number of subjects. The result demonstrated that science classes using metaverse exerted no significant effect on scientific academic achievement and digital literacy. However, the study observed a statistically significant effect on science learning emotion which is a sub-element of positive experiences in science. The students were positively aware of science classes using metaverse in terms of interesting and diverse activities, and free expression of inquiry results and perceived the instability of smart devices and network connections as regrettable. Finally, the study posed the implications of the use of metaverse in science classes.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.509-520
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• 2022

This study investigated the impact of elementary school science classes based on collaborative problem-solving on the character competency of students. For this purpose, students from 2 classes in 5^th grade at an elementary school in a metropolitan city were targeted, and elementary science classes based on collaborative problem-solving were developed and applied to the 5 topics selected from the 'dissolution and solution' unit in the elementary science curriculum. In order to investigate the effect of science class based on collaborative problem-solving on the character competency of students, results of the character competence test before and after the class, reflective writing activity sheets filled out by the students in the experimental group, and questionnaires regarding their changes in character competency after the class were analyzed. The results showed that elementary science classes based on collaborative problem-solving were effective in cultivating the character competence of elementary school students.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.237-254
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in the science teaching professionalism self-perception of pre-service elementary teacher as shown in science education lesson course. The subjects of this study were 25 pre-service elementary teachers enrolled in the second year at G National university of education. And the scale of this study were derived and applied by modifying and supplementing the scale of previous studies. The results of this study are as follows: it was found that science teaching professionalism and self-perception of pre-service elementary teachers are improving. In short, it was found that there are significant changes in all sub-domains such as professionalism development efforts, educational contents, instructional method, educational environment and atmosphere, assessment and science teaching preference. As a result of examining the related contents in detail along with the combustion-related science lesson plan, Padlet, and post-test descriptive question responses, there were some good categories and some categories that needed to be supplemented. Based on these results, a plan for enhancing the science teaching professionalism of pre-service elementary teacher needs to be considered.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.533-547
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• 2023

This study is an action research aimed at improving the instruction of a teacher educator who teaches science teaching methods to elementary preservice teachers. After identifying the cause of their low levels of curiosity and interest in physics, teaching plans addressing this problem were explored, applied to classes, and reflected upon. Through this process, ways to improve teaching practice in science classes for elementary preservice teachers and pique their scientific curiosity and interest were proposed. A spiral implementation structure that repeats implementation and reflection a total of three times was designed for the prospective preservice teachers who participated in elementary science textbook research physics classes. Self-reports, student participation data, and results from both peer and self-evaluations were collected and analyzed. The reasons for the preservice teachers' low levels of curiosity and interest in science were identified as their inability to recognize and express information gaps and their low levels of willingness to resolve this. Practice expressing information gaps, raising the level of knowledge to be able to recognize information gaps, and a strategy to have the will to resolve information gaps were introduced into the class. To the extent that changes can be made by improving unit classes, elementary preservice teachers can express their curiosity and interest in science through this process.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.389-403
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• 2019

This study aims to analyze criteria and characteristics for preservice elementary teachers' critiques of their peers' inquiry-based instruction. This study reviews critiques written by 31 preservice elementary teachers enrolled in an elementary school science inquiry methods course wherein the teachers designed and implemented inquiry-based instruction. These preservice teachers participated in inquiry-based instruction as if they were elementary students and then evaluated their peers' instruction. Analysis of the critiques reveals that preservice teachers evaluated their peers' instruction on the following criteria: instruction context, science content, teaching strategies, students, instructional goals, non-verbal attitude, and assessment. Their beliefs about teaching science inquiry were reflected in the critiques. Additionally, it was found that four orientation for teaching inquiry-didactic, academic rigor, activity-driven, inquiry orientation-reflected in critiques; some of critiques held more than one of these orientations. And they did not merely criticize but suggested alternatives to general teaching strategies; furthermore, of inquiry-instruction specific teaching strategies. They showed higher epistemic understanding of inquiry-based instruction after mid-term demonstrations. The evidence demonstrated that the proportion of critiques specifically about inquiry-based instruction increased after the mid-term demonstrations. Moreover, the post mid-term critiques emphasized interaction between students as well as understanding of the nature of science. These findings could provide implication for teaching inquiry and criticizing others' instruction as part of elementary school science courses in preservice elementary teacher education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1007-1020
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• 2013

This study investigated the perceptions and the characteristics of elementary teachers on teaching science-arts integrated activities. Twelve elementary teachers who have taught in the third to sixth grade science lessons participated in this study. Data was collected by individual interviews lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Interview questions were composed of three aspects: 1) how elementary teachers perceive science-arts integrated activities, 2) in what ways elementary teachers address science-arts integrated activities, and 3) what difficulties elementary teachers experienced in addressing science-arts integrated activities. The results showed that, first, elementary teachers agreed that science-arts integrated activities have educational value in science learning. Second, most teachers focused on improving understanding of science knowledge through teaching science-arts integrated activities, while several teachers put emphasis on having experience of arts as well as understanding of science knowledge. And third, teachers experienced difficulties due to insufficient teaching materials and time to prepare for teaching science-arts integrated activities. Based on the results, we suggested educational implications for utilization of science-arts integrated activities in elementary education.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.270-285
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore what a science lesson using a digital textbook looked like and what kinds of implications could be drawn from the lesson. The study qualitatively described a 4th grade science lesson in the unit of Earth and Moon, analyzed the structure of the lesson, and critically interpreted the meaning of it. It was revealed that the introduction of a digital science textbook did not bring about changes in the already patternized structure of elementary science instruction as well as in the manner of classroom interaction. The result was followed by discussion concerning the ways the use of a digital textbook could change elementary science instruction and enable new types of classroom interaction. It was suggested that negotiations should be reached about the nature of digital science textbooks and their developments and that the teacher's own pedagogical roles in the science classroom should be improved.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.78-95
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• 2014

Students' interest and motivation of a lesson can be deeply influenced by how their teacher starts his or her lesson. So the introduction part of math classes should be very carefully and thoughtfully designed. The goal of this study is to serve the foundation for developing the practical types of introduction part of math classes and to draw the implications for planning and teaching math classes. For these, 19 lesson plans titled by 'volume of cylinders' composed by elementary teachers and 2 lesson videos on the internet are analyzed. Finally, seven types of introduction parts of math class are probed and several implications are suggested.