• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.266-283
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• 2013

The goal of this study is to explore the characteristics of perceptual change among students majoring in arts on the nature of science and apply the results to science education. According to the study, it is important to consider the results of interaction between learners' aptitude and teaching method. Teaching the nature of science to first grade students explicitly, experimental inquiry strategy was applied to fine arts students, and teaching strategy of scientific history to music students. To find out which elements of the nature of science have come into view on modern philosophy of science, pre and post tests on the nature of science (VNOS-C) were conducted on the students. To find out specifically why views on the nature of science have changed, a case study was conducted focusing on students who showed changes in their views on the elements of the nature of science. In conclusion, this study suggests that by using experimental inquiry strategy and strategy of scientific history properly, it is possible to change students' viewpoints on the elements of the nature of science and on modern philosophy of science. Through explicit instruction, we were able to find some positive conceptual changes on the nature of science and the modern philosophy of science in terms of both quantity and quality. This shows that the students studying arts are experiencing a constructivist conceptual change on the nature of science, and that conceptual ecology and learning strategy are involved in this process. Therefore, it is thought that this study offers an important implication in organizing science education on the nature of science.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze the reading materials in 7th curriculum and 2009 revised high school chemistry I textbook for identifying the problems of reading material presented in science textbooks and to investigate science teachers' recognition about utilization reading materials in science textbook. For this purpose, each four 7th curriculum and 2009 revised high school chemistry I textbook were analyzed according to the number of reading materials, the type of contents and the type of students' activities. In addition, the secondary school science teachers' recognition about utilization reading materials in science textbook was investigated. The results were as follows: First, anylizing reading materials in chemistry I textbooks showed that and the rate of reading materials were presented from 7.9 to 17.1% in 7th curriculum and from 20.6 to 28.2% in 2009 revised curriculum textbook. It implies that the rate of reading materials in 2009 revised textbooks increases more than those in 7th curriculum textbook. The result of analyzing the type of contents, 'life sciences' was the largest proportion with 34.3 % in the 7th curriculum chemistry I, but 'enrichment and supplement of knowledge' was the largest proportion with 23.7% in 2009 revised curriculum. Analyzing the type of student activities, only 13% of the reading materials in 7th National Curriculum textbook was found to be inquiry type, but 35% of the reading materials in the 2009 revised curriculum. appears to be inquiry type. It suggested that the curriculum objectives was reflected in the textbook. Second, investigating recognition of teachers' perceptions of utilization science textbooks, 67% teachers responded that they used the reading materials in their science class, but teachers who didn't use the reading materials was almost 33%. A large number of teachers responded that the reading materials associated with the real-life needed for integrated education and thought that the reading materials about 'life and science' should be included in the science textbooks.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.317-330
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of science leading schools on primary and middle school students' positive experiences about science (PES) through in-depth interviews with teachers in charge of science leading schools. Science leading schools at the primary and middle school level such as Creative Convergent Science Labs and Student Participatory Science Classes were investigated and 11 teachers were participated in focus group interviews. Teacher in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the factors that led to the effectiveness of science leading schools in improving the student's PES in light of operational characteristics of science leading schools, characteristic factors of science leading schools on students PES, and improvement plans and requirements of science leading schools, as well as implications for general high schools. Science leading schools including Creative Convergent Science Labs and Student Participatory Science Classes applied for the leading school funding to secure supplies, equipments, and lab improvement for authentic science classes. In addition, reconstructed the curriculum more broadly than before, and emphasized and expanded student participatory classes and process-centered assessment at the teacher learning community level. Through student-participatory classes, the science leading schools stimulate students' interest in science, provide students with PES) through various instructions including projects, engage students in interesting science experiences in Creative Convergent Science Labs, and enhance inquiry skills and PES as well as science content knowledge. Based on the results, ways to spread the characteristics of science leading schools to general schools are suggested including expanding budget support, securing the space of science labs and improving spatial composition, providing diverse teaching and learning materials, diversifying assessment subjects and methods, and the necessity of teachers' continuous professional development, etc.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.341-358
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to develop performance assessment materials of scientific inquiry skills on sixty scientific activities in elementary science textbook for fifth and sixth grades. For this study, a total of 500 elementary teachers were sampled and surveys were carried out to examine the status of performance assessment of scientific inquiry skills in school. The classification system of assessment methods by Hart(1994) was also analyzed to create' assessment strategy of scientific inquiry skills' for elementary school students. Based on the quantitative data analysis and literature study, performance assessment materials were developed and applied to science classes for fifth and sixth grades. Teachers and students were interviewed after the classes for asking about merits and improvements and the performance assessment materials were revised. This study can provide elementary school teachers with reliable sources for performance assessment of scientific inquiry skills utilized in their science classes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is examine relationship of attribution styles and attitude toward Science and Science Process Skills of Science-gifted, to understand unique characteristics of the Science-gifted and to give useful information that can be use in develop special programs for the Science-gifted. The result of this study were as follows: First, there was no difference between genders. But there was a significant difference in attribution of luck. Second, there was a correlation between internal tendencies and Scientific attitude. Especially attribution of effort correlated with sub - constituent of Scientific attitude. Internal tendencies correlated with the Cognition in Scientific Professions that sub - constituent of the attitude toward Science. Third, There was a correlation between external tendencies and the interest activity in Science that sub - constituent of the attitude toward Science. There are correlations between sub - constituent of the attitude toward Science and sub - constituent of external tendencies that attribution of luck and interest in Scientific Professions, attribution of task difficulty and Cognition activity in Science. Fourth There was no correlation between Attribution styles and Science Process Skills. But Internal tendencies correlated with classification that sub - constituent of Science Process Skills. And classification correlated with attribution of ability that sub - constituent of external tendencies. Attribution of effort that sub - constituent of internal tendencies correlated with Science Process Skills.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.429-437
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• 2020

This study investigated a total of 529 integrated science teachers' implementation and changes to apply the curriculum-instruction-assessment. Data was collected through online survey on scientific competencies and skills, teaching-learning and assessment methods, changes of teacher's preparation, topics/materials, teaching-learning, and assessment to apply the curriculum-instruction-assessment as teaching integrated science. The results of the study were as follows: first, in the integrated science class, teachers implemented more on scientific communication and scientific inquiry among scientific core competencies, and analysis and interpretation of data collection and communication among scientific skills. Teachers often taught in lectures and used multiple choice items and short essay for evaluation. Teacher groups with less than 10 years of teaching experience appeared to be less active in teaching scientific core competencies and skills than those with more than 10 years. Second, Teachers have increased more time and efforts to search and to organize various materials in addition to textbooks, and try to integrated concepts in various fields to prepare learning topics and textbooks. Third, even though teachers made little change in implementing the process-oriented assessment, they used instructional strategies to increase student engagement in the integrated science class, restructured the instruction to provide immediate feedback after conducting the assessment. It is necessary to build a system that ensures fairness and credibility of evaluation while respecting the autonomy and professionalism of teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1084-1096
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• 2010

In this study, class criticism by elementary school teachers was analyzed on the subject of science classes by beginner teachers. And then the viewpoints and characteristics of the class criticism were investigated. Teachers for class criticism consisted of six members, including two each of low- and high-career teachers. The viewpoints were analyzed in comparison with all the teachers. The subject of class criticism was 'Activity of leaves in plants', which is in the seventh unit of the science textbook for fifth grade elementary students of the first semester. The result of this study was as follows. Teachers criticized the science class mainly with three codes of viewpoints: motivation, inquiry focused on student, and summary of the results, where viewpoints consisted of 18 codes. They criticized the class by factors on a standard checklist and their criticism was characterized by partial situation and context. Low-career teachers criticized the class with the viewpoint in sympathy with the beginner teachers and criticized the class with the viewpoint of recollecting their teaching experience as beginners. While high-career teachers criticized the class mainly overall situations rather than specific matters. The result of this study can be used as basic data for a program of professional development and teacher education for science classes.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.430-453
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to explore how an elementary school teacher developed PCK by utilizing her knowledge domains in teaching practice, regarding the specific science topic of 'animals:' A case study approach was adopted with the participation of a 1st grade teacher, in a poor urban neighborhood elementary school in NYC. Data was collected through interview and the participant observation method in order to investigate: a) the teacher's existing knowledge base in terms of subject matter knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and contextual knowledge; b) how she develops PCK during classroom practice, centering on the relationship between knowledge domains. The findings illustrate the ways in which the three knowledge domains are closely related and developed as PCK through the whole teaching process. In particular, the findings indicate that the teacher's contextual knowledge plays a critical role in shaping and developing PCK. Before instruction, her contextual knowledge regarding the administrative policies and the school test system in the district enabled her to make decisions and plans about teaching science. During classroom teaching, her knowledge of students' sociocultural backgrounds and living conditions in the urban setting helped her to identify specific teaching strategies and resources suitable to the students' needs and interests. The study results imply that science instruction can be more feasible in meeting the demands of particular groups of students if teachers make an effort to become knowledgeable about their own teaching context and utilize it in developing their PCK.

• 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 The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.825-833
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• 2017

The Korean Ministry of Education has emphasized human resource development with creative and convergent ability for future science and technology development. Korean STEAM Education aims to enhance students' interest and their understanding of science and technology as well as to develop students' creative problem-solving skills. Through STEAM R&E project, students experience self-directed research in order to solve the problem in the context of everyday life. In this study, we aim to find out whether the creative leader competency of high school students changed after they experienced the STEAM R&E project. The creative leader competency consisted of three domains: cognitive, affective, and societal domain. We measured the creative leader competency using the questionnaire scales. The questionnaire was administered to 612 high school students who participated in the 2016 STEAM R&E project. Pre- and post- test scores were collected, and we analyzed it. We compared the mean difference between pre- and post- test scores as well as the mean differences among science high school, gifted school, science core school, and general high school. From the result, we found that all student' creative leader competency improved after participating in the STEAM R&E project in all three domains. The result also showed that students' test scores of science high school and gifted school showed no significant mean differences, while student's scores of both science core school and general high school improved significantly. From the results, we concluded that STEAM R&E activities could be an effective tool in cultivating creative leader competency, especially for general high school students and science core school students. We also suggested that further researches are needed to find how we could enhance students' creative leader competency.