• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.181-189
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• 2016

This study examined three elementary school computing curriculum - the CSTA K-12 computer science standards, the computing programme of the national curriculum in England, and the 2015 national curriculum in Korea - focusing on the educational objectives with the perspective of the revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. The CSTA K-12 computer science standards mainly addressed applying procedural knowledge and using digital technology is the main theme. The computing programme in England concentrated on understanding factual and conceptual knowledge of computer science, such as algorithms. The 2015 national curriculum also addressed applying procedural knowledge, but the main focus is making softwares and robots. The findings of this comparative analysis suggest that it is needed to set up concrete educational objectives for lower grade and make them related to the secondary education to make more coherent elementary-level learning objectives. And elementary-level computing learning objectives are needed to be organized with the perspective of knowledge and cognitive process level.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.215-223
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• 2017

This study aims to find an effective way to present essential science concepts in national science curriculum through international comparisons. Next Generation Science Standard (US), Ontario Science Curriculum (Canada), Australia Science Curriculum, and British/English Science Curriculum were selected for comparison. In science curriculum documents, these countries used terms such as 'Key ideas,' 'Big ideas,' 'Key concepts,' 'Disciplinary core ideas.' and 'Fundamental concepts' to present essential concepts of science. This study reviewed the characteristics of the meaning, the status, and the role of essential concepts country by country. The result shows essential concepts have been used with different meanings and statutes in each case. Furthermore, various roles were performed through essential concepts in order to organize their science curriculum. From these foreign nation's cases, this study proposes several ways to present essential science concepts based on results. First, interdisciplinary integrated concepts were needed to organize an integrated science curriculum. In science curriculum documents of the United States, Canada, Australia and England, two types of terms were used in order to structuralize an integrated science curriculum. Second, essential concepts should include concepts related with function and value as well as scientific knowledge. Third, essential concepts need to be presented in such a way as to show specific contexts. Therefore, selecting appropriate contents and structure are needed to be able to improve the way to present essential concepts in Korea's educational environment.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.799-812
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• 2017

Energy as a powerful and unifying concept to understand natural world has been regarded as one of the key concepts of the science curricula in many countries. However, concerning learning and teaching of energy, various difficulties have been reported widely. This study aimed at analyzing and comparing science curricula of Korea, the U.S., England, and Singapore regarding energy to identify the potential issues for energy curriculum in the future. 2015 revised Korean science curriculum, Next Generation Science Standards of the U.S., Science programmes of study of England, and the Science syllabus of Singapore were compared based on six basic elements of the concept of energy: energy form, energy resource, energy transfer, energy transformation, energy conservation, and energy dissipation. Achievement criteria that include energy were extracted from all curricula and categorized into the six elements. The frequency and distribution of the six elements in the four curricula were compared in terms of school levels and disciplinary areas. Contents of six energy elements were also compared. Though all curricula emphasized energy as a key science concept, we found many differences in the degree of emphasis of basic ideas and specific contents and approaches. Korean curriculum is characterized by 1) high frequency concerning energy form among the elements of the concept of energy, 2) introducing energy forms of unclear meaning, which are not linked with other physical quantities, 3) emphasis on energy conversion in comparison of energy transfer, 4) focusing on mechanical energy conservation instead of more general energy conservation, and 5) absence of the concept of 'system' concerning energy. Issues for energy curriculum development were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1989

For the advancement of research in biological education in Korea, research trends shown in Journal of Biological Education(JBE)of England were analyzed by using a PC program(REFMENU). Papers Published in JBE between 1977 and 1987 were registered on the program with classifying keys of biological education and biology including names of authors, year, title, volume pages, and key words. Those input-date were analyzed by sorting depend-ing on either the classifying keys or the key words. Among the 361 papers 28.8% was dealing with the theory of science education. The rest dealt with biology and biological education, together. Of the six categories of biological education, the research on biological curriculum was 41 % of total and was the most. The major trends in this category was in developing the content of the curriculum. In the research of biological instruction, 37 papers dealt with the instruction theory and the rest 60 papers dealt with the tactics of Instruction. Of the 60 papers on materials in biological education, the research in developing the biological material was the most. Thus, the general research trend was far more practical aspect than the theoretical aspect of biological education. In the analysis of the papers depending on the biological categories, the one dealt with ecology was the most(26.8%). The rest papers showed almost even distribution in the 13 categories of biology. The results of this analysis was discussed by comparing with the research trends in Korea to suggest the possible future studies.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.214-225
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the content relevance of the 7th national primary science curriculum and textbooks. To fulfill the purpose of the study, we 1) analyzed the 7th national science curriculum of Korea, Californian science standards, the national science curriculum of England and Japan, and current Korean and Japanese science textbooks, 2) conducted a nationwide survey to gather opinions from students, teachers, and professors of teachers colleges about the relevance of the science curriculum and textbooks. Main findings of this study are as follows: First, the science contents at each grade level should be determined by the students' characteristics, not by an equal portion rule among physics, chemistry, biology and earth science. Second, the excessive overlapping and repetition of contents due to the spiral curriculum should be avoid. Third, the number of topics at each grade level should be reduced, and the similar topics and themes should be integrated for students' deeper understanding. Fourth, the number of science concepts and activities should be reduced to an appropriate level considering the time allotment for science classes, teachers workload, laboratory conditions, etc. Fifth, differentiated curriculum, such as in-depth and supplementary course, should be described not in science contents, but in teaching and learning strategy.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.64-73
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• 1984

This study aimed at identifying the characteristics of current science curriculum in several countries in terms of its format, aims and objectives, contents and guidelines and discussed about therm. The curricula were collected from 9 countries- The United States of America(5 states), Canada(4 Provinces), England, West Germany, France, Australia, Newzealand, Japan and the republic of China. Each country had her own characteristics of science curriculum, but there also common characteristics among several countries. First, the format of science curricula in eastern countries were very different from those of western countries. The western countries had the curriculum format which included characteristics and needs of science education, philosophy and background, aims and objectives, contents, characteristics of learners, teaching and learning strategy, teaching materials, guide of experiments, evaluation methods, and other concrete informations while eastern countries had the curriculum format which included only objectives, contents and guidelines. I think that the format of science curriculum in western countries is more recommendable than that of eastern countries. Second, the aims and objectives of science curricula in eastern countries focused on scientific knowledges and concepts, while those of countries emphasized scientific methods and attitudes. Third, the contents of science curricula were very similar regardless of eastern countries or western countries. In other words, all the countries in this study emphasized life science and earth science at lower grade level and physical science at upper grade level. Especially the observation and concrete learning activities were suggested at lower grade level and logical reasoning was emphasized at upper grade level. I think that the integrated (topic-centered) science curriculum is more recommendable than our current non-integrated science curriculum in lower grade levels. Finally, the guidelines of science curriculum in eastern countries did not suggest specific information about teaching contents, experimental methods, teaching-learning activities, evaluation methods, teaching and learning meterals, while those of western countries provided more specific information which teachers could utilize very effectively.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.65-81
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the international trends of how the core competencies are reflected in mathematics curriculum, and to find the implications for the revision of Korean mathematics curriculum. For this purpose, the curriculum of the 9 countries including the U.S., Canada(Ontario), England, Australia, Poland, Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were thoroughly reviewed. It was found that a variety of core competencies were reflected in mathematics curricula in the 9 countries such as problem solving, reasoning, communication, mathematical knowledge and skills, selection and use of tools, critical thinking, connection, modelling, application of strategies, mathematical thinking, representation, creativity, utilization of information, and reflection etc. Especially the four most common core competencies (problem solving, reasoning, communication, and creativity) were further analyzed to identify their sub components. Consequently, it was recommended that new mathematics curriculum should consider reflecting various core competencies beyond problem solving, reasoning, and communication, and these core competencies are supposed to combine with mathematics contents to increase their feasibility. Finally considering the fact that software education is getting greater attention in the new curriculum, it is necessary to incorporate computational thinking into mathematics curriculum.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.759-770
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to examine the Earth science content relevance of the 7th national science curriculum. For this purpose, we (1) analyzed science curriculum or content standards of Korea, California, England and Japan, (2) compared science textbooks of Korea and Japan, (3) conducted a nationwide survey to gather opinions from students, teachers, professors and textbook authors about the relevance of the science curriculum and textbooks. According to the results, the Earth science contents of the 7th national science curriculum were not appropriate in terms of the objectives of science curriculum and the needs of students and society. The main reasons include the equal division among physics, chemistry, biology and earth science, iack of connection due to fractionation of units, overly strict application of spiral curriculum, and redundant amount of activities and concepts to cover in the textbook. Major suggestions fir securing the relevance of Earth science contents are as follows: First, the science contents and the size of units at each grade level should be determined according to the students' characteristics, not by equal portion rule. Second, the excessive overlapping and repetition of contents due to the spiral curriculum should be avoided. In addition, the number of activities should be reduced and the quality of required science activities should be improved. Third, to raise students' interest in Earth science, real-life applications and real-world Earth science contents should be emphasized including natural disasters, safety, universe and space exploration, and natural resources. Lastly, considering one of the relevance criteria is feasibility, supports for schools and science teachers are needed to realize the goal of the intended science curriculum.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.10
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• pp.71-120
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• 1983

In this study, a model curriculum for the Library and Information Science programs in Junior Colleges is presented by comparing those curricula of the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, England and Japan. In Korea, 80 credits are required for graduate of Junior College and 60 credits of that total credits are for major courses. At Toshokan Danki Daikagu in Japan, 73 credits are opened for the Department of Library Science and 87 credits for the Department of Library and Information Science respectively. In the United States of America, 30 credits for major courses out of 90 total credits are opened at Lansing Community College and 24 credits for major courses out of 60-64 credits at Mesa Community College distinctively. On the basis of the various analyses, the following principles are applied in designning the model curriculum; (1) Possibly 3 credits per subject are assigned, (2) Major credits for graduate are 60-64 credits including possible optional subjects, (3) 20 percents of those 60-64 credits shall be applied for electives, so that 72-78 credits are assigned for major, (4) In order to combine theory and practice, and to select practice areas as required major, the ratio between required and elective must be adjusted, (5) In order to avoid duplication of subject, adequate individuality must be provided, (6) The Information Science areas must be dealt with in Library Science since computer systems are being rapidly adopted in libraries and the education for resources of materials and foreign languages are also important for successful fulfillment of mediator's roles between materials and users. Therefore the following model curriculum is suggested; 31 credits in 11 subjects for required major, 46 credits in 18 subjects for electives in major, total 77 credits for 29 subjects are established, and it includes such areas as material organization, foreign languages, resources of materials, library management, information science, fundamental studies, services and practice.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.775-789
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relevance of the school science contents that have been implemented for the 7-10th grade students in Korea since 2001. To fulfill the purpose of the study, we 1) analyzed the 7th national science curriculum of Korea, California science standards, the national science curriculum of England, Japanese national science curriculum, and current Korean and Japanese science textbooks, 2) conducted a nationwide survey in order to gather opinions from students, teachers, and science specialists. The main findings of this research were as follows: First, the number of topics presented at each grade level should be reduced and similar topics and themes should be integrated for students' deeper understanding. Second, science contents were excessive compared to the allotted teaching time and to foreign countries. Thus, the excessive overlapping and repetition of science contents should be avoided among the primary, middle and high school level, and the number of science concepts and activities should be reduced to an appropriate level considering time allotment for science classes, teachers' workload, laboratory conditions, etc. Third, to cope with the decreasing students' understanding and interests in science as school level and school year goes up, the science curriculum and textbooks should be developed to allow for student to learn science concepts by solving problems confronted in their daily lives. Fourth, a differentiated curriculum such as in-depth and supplementary course should be described not in science contents, but in teaching and learning strategy.