• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.213-222
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• 2007

In this study, science history program was developed to enhance student's concepts toward the particulate nature of matter and the understanding about the nature of science. And the effects of its application was investigated in the lesson of ‘Composition of Matter' in middle school science class. This science history program was based on genetic approach and included the contents from the old Greek natural philosophers to Avogadro. Before instruction, the test of understanding about nature of science was administered, and the science scores of the previous course were obtained, which were used as covariates. During 24 class hours, this study was conducted with two classes(experimental and comparison group) in a middle school in Seoul. The experimental group was received lessons by science history programs and the comparison group was received traditional lessons. After instruction, the scientific concept test, the test of understanding about nature of science were administered. The result of this study indicates that the scientific concept scores of experimental group were significantly higher than comparison group at p <.01 level of significance. It means that the students in experimental group has more sound conceptions about the particulate nature of matter and less mis conceptions about matter than the students in comparison group. However, there was no significant difference between two groups in the score of understanding about the nature of science.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.721-727
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• 2005

This study investigated the effects of small group drawing in learning the concepts of particulate nature of matter. Three classes of seventh graders (N = 126) at a coed middle school were randomly assigned to a pair drawing group, an individualistic drawing group, and a control group. The students were taught the 'three states of matter' and 'motion of molecules' for eight class periods. Prior to these classes, student self-efficacy, learning motivation, and attitude toward science instruction were examined. After instruction, tests assessing achievement, conception, learning motivation, and attitude toward science instruction were administered. Two-way ANCOVA results revealed that scores of achievement and conception for the pair drawing group were significantly higher than those for the control group. However, scores of the three groups did not significantly differ in learning motivation and attitude toward science instruction. Furthermore, no significant interactions surfaced between instruction and the level of self-efficacy in all dependent variables.