• 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 Association For Science Education
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.325-341
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• 2024

This study examined how specific aspects of epistemic cognition are developed in elementary students during modeling activities, using the Apt-AIR framework. The study focused on a class unit titled 'Shall We Find Out What the Landscape of a Riverside Looks Like?' which is part of the land chapter in the third-grade Korean elementary science curriculum. Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) was applied as a teaching strategy to enhance students' model construction. Seven science classes were conducted in line with the core practices of AST, with 29 elementary school students participating in the study. The classes were organized into four stages: initial model composition, inquiry activity, group model composition-sharing, and final model construction. The class activities at each stage were analyzed using both the AIR model, i.e., epistemic aim and value (A), epistemic ideals (I), and reliable epistemic processes (R), and the multi-faceted framework for epistemic thinking from the Apt-AIR framework. The results of the study revealed that in science classes emphasizing modeling activities based on the core practices of AST, the elementary students progressively developed more sophisticated explanatory models that included causal relationships explaining the topographic differences between the upstream and downstream sections of a river. This result was due to their engagement in constructing initial models to describe phenomena, supplementing the initial models using data collected in the model experiment, and participating in discussions to share and evaluate group models. Additionally, from the perspective of the Apt-AIR framework, the aspects of epistemic cognition demonstrated by the elementary students in their modeling activities were appropriate for engaging with cognitive processes related to epistemic aims and values, epistemic ideals, and reliable processes. The other four aspects of the Apt-AIR framework, however, were not performed as effectively. In particular, the application of reliable epistemic processes for knowledge construction required more improvement.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.586-603
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• 2012

This study is a survey conducted to explore what art high school students specifically see as nature of science. Third-year students of a high school of arts in Gyeonggi-do participated in the survey. The questionnaire was classified into three categories - the formative arts in the fine arts, the sound arts in music, the performing arts in dance, and drama and play. The study analyzed what they think of as similar aspects of science and art respectively according to their majors, with focus on the extracts. As a result, they mentioned 'creative imagination', 'correlation with technology', 'social and cultural relation', 'subjectivity', 'variability', and 'inquiring attitude' as similarities between science and art. The results are almost the same as the elements of the nature of science as agreed on by scientists. From the result, we can assume that students majoring in art, indeed, need an education on the nature of science. Also, while the fine arts students have more tendency to perceive inquiring attitude than others, music students are more likely to perceive variability than others. Therefore, teaching strategy in experimental inquiring context for the former is more helpful in understanding the nature of science, and teaching strategy in the context of scientific history for the latter.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.353-364
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to develop 'the problem situations' for the Problem Based Learning(PBL) and to examine it's effects on the science achievement and the attitude towards science learning. Also the students' perception on the PBL model was examined. The topics of the problem situations developed were 'the future energy for reducing the green house effect' and 'the Indonesian forest fire and the El Nino'. The coaching strategies for the PBL were designed and implemented to 10th grade high school students in the science classes, the results are follows; First, the science achievement of the group of PBL is significantly higher than those of group of traditional teaching. Second, the scores of the test of attitude toward science learning of the group of PBL is significantly higher than those of group of traditional teaching. Third, the students' perception of the PBL was positive. Many students have interests and motivations in PBL, some students have difficulties in learning on the PBL. In the students' personal reflection notes the step of a problem statement is the hardest one of the PBL model. Therefore, this study suggests that developing the problem situations based on real context is of great importance for implementing a problem based learning model continuously.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.487-500
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• 1999

Observation is one of the important aspects in science and science education. However. observation has so many varieties that the purpose and the meaning of scientific observations used in science education are different in persons, contexts, and subjects. In this study, we tried to understand the natures of scientific observation and investigated students' observational activities using four observation tasks: candle, double pendulum, iron filings around bar magnet, two electric bulbs connected in series. We required the subjects to observe the given tasks and described what did they observe. Based on students' observational descriptions, students' observational activities could be classified in four categories: primitive, interpretive, operational, and interfered observation. Also, we could find that some of the descriptions were non-observational activities such as predicting and questioning and so on. Finally, implications for the teaching of observation in science education are suggested.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.210-235
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable assessment tool for measuring scientific creative problem solving ability for middle school students. To achieve this aim, an assessment framework, four assessment items, and detailed rubrics for scientific creative problem solving were developed. The assessment framework had three dimensions (i.e. science contents, inquiry process, and thinking skills) and sub-elements for each dimension. The assessment items were tested with 320 middle school students in order to determine reliability, difficulty, and item discrimination. Science teachers and experts in science education checked the validity of the items and the rubrics. The results proved that the assessment tool was reliable enough to evaluate students' scientific creative problem solving skills.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.61-77
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• 2011

This study investigates science teachers' perceptions of science practices for science assessment. Science practices have information about students' ability to understand scientific knowledge and to perform scientific inquiry. For this study, seven science teachers, who have served for more than five years in secondary schools in Seoul, were chosen. A structured questionnaire consisting of twenty-seven items were used in National Assessment of Educational Achievement. And then, in-depth interviews followed. Co-workers analyzed and discussed the questionnaire and interviews. As results show, science teachers tend to determine science practices based on materials and way to present materials included in questions. Science teachers tend to recognize science practice as different, depending on information and thinking process, which is expected in solving them. In addition, they have a variety of the level of definition and understanding about science practices.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.641-656
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• 2014

This study aimed at analyzing visual materials included in school science textbooks, specifically the textbooks for first semester courses of 3rd to 6th graders. The purpose was to provide directions for future textbooks by understanding the functions of the images in both pedagogical and social perspectives as well. The study was conducted by investigating the types, roles and socio-semiotic features of the images in science textbooks. The results were as follows. Firstly, the most used types of images in 2007 curriculum textbooks were photographs and drawn pictures. Uses of other visual aids than above were extremely rare. It was also found that as the educational level rises, the use of images for decorative functions drastically declined. The majority of the images were used in providing supplementary explanations or examples. This implies that the images effectively play the role of helping science education. In addition, more use of worksheets images was found, indicating that as educational level increases, students participate more actively in research sessions or data analysis. In socio-semiotic perspective, visual images showed high accessibility to students in 'Type of visual image', 'Function of visual image', 'Distance of shot', 'Horizontal angle of shot', 'Color moduation'. It was implied that there will a close correlation between the type, role and the socio-semiotic characteristics of visual images in textbooks. For example, photograph-type visuals were mostly used as supplementary references. And when applying the socio-semiotic analysis to photograph-type visuals, they showed 'real type', 'narrative-metaphor type', and 'shadow effect' among socio-semiotic features. Such correlations implied that knowing the type of the visual image may help determining the role of the image in the textbook to some extent, and also corresponding socio-semiotic characteristics. As a result, it was possible to infer how accessible certain visual images are to students. The above results have implications for the effective use of visual images in future textbooks.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.897-908
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• 2009

Inscriptions are integral parts of the current science textbooks, and become medium that makes sense of scientific concepts effectively. This study analyzed the inscriptions from five science textbooks at the secondary level in terms of its type, function, and structures. Analyzing types of inscriptions resulted that the ratio of frequently used photographs and illustrations were much higher than that of graphs and tables used. In case of function analysis, illustrative and complementary functions were dominant in terms of frequency and ratio, whereas explanatory, decorative and inquisitive functions were relatively rare. Inscriptions of single structure was much more than multiple structure. Multiple structure of pair and series were mainly used for representing contrast and sequence, respectively. The proportion of inscriptions in type, function and structure across the textbooks was significantly different. Based on the results, it was suggested that semiotic study about the function and the structure of inscriptions need to be carried out in earth science area to better understand the pedagogical implications of inscriptions in school science.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1241-1250
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate core competencies of science-gifted students based on teachers' and students' perceptions. Based on a literature review and focus group interview, 16 core competencies of science-gifted students were drawn. The results of this study were as follows. First, there are significant differences in self-control, self-directed learning, knowledge in one's academic area, research, English, writing, leadership, communication skill, cooperation, and spirit of services between teachers and students. Second, teachers perceived self-directed learning, thinking skills, interests in one's academic area, motivation as the most important core competencies among the 16. Also, teachers perceived the educational program to raise self-control, cooperation and self-directed learning. Further discussion was reviewed.