• Journal of Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.173-192
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to develop inquiry modules for learning straight propagation of light, to verify their efficiency, and to acquire implications. this study proposes teaching modules for improvements of light experiments, which were developed in this work. Inquiry modules were applied to 75 school teachers(8 elementary school teachers, 67 middle school and high school teachers) for examining that the modules make teachers have the scientific concepts. Then, conception changes were analyzed except 5 teachers who responded poorly. The pre-test result shows that most teachers have alternative conceptions, which is that they thought the bright shape on apparatus's bottom panel itself shown in the textbook as evidence for the path of light's straight propagation. The post-test result shows this alternative conception was changed into scientific conception. Unlikely pretest, most teachers' conception was changed into the scientific conception that the light come from a light source. Teachers are able to express that the light beam comes from a miniature electric bulb. Further more, most teachers can draw light's path correctly; from the miniature electric bulb, through vertical panel having a hole, to the apparatus bottom.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.11-22
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• 2012

This study aimed to analyze applying TAM model the process that flow factors such as 'harmony of challenge and technology' exert effects on learners' attitudes of keeping learning in STEAM class employing robots. For the study, the 'Energy and Tools' chapter of the science textbook for the 6th grade's second semester was re-arranged, and applied for 189 students, and among them, only the 174 usable data were used for the analysis. As a result of analysis, students' learning immersion factor(factor of harmony of challenge and technology) had deeper effects on the factor of ease of learning than usefulness of learning and this in turn, had an effect on their intention to keep learning ultimately through the factor of value of learning as the study found. As a result of research, it was found that for indications identified, in order to use robots in STEAM class, for the students' intention to keep learning, it's essential for learners to have proper and active attitudes towards learning and basic knowledge of robots, and aspects of values should be considered that based on this, robot can assist in learning and affect results of learning in STEAM class. On the other hand, the factors of ease of learning and the combination of the challenge and technology do not gives direct (+) effect on the intention to continue learning and the value for learning, respectively. However, each of the two factor has indirect influence on each of the dependent variable within the significant range, which is the reason the author includes the result of the analysis.

• 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.