• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.26-39
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• 2020

Visual Representation Competence Taxonomy (VRC-T) was developed in previous study(Yoon, 2018) to provide a framework conducive to assess visual representation competence and to devise appropriate educational activities for it. This study is an extension of the previous study. It aimed to explore the usefulness of VRC-T and revise it by analyzing the patterns of visual representation use in science lessons. The researcher collected lesson plans on shadow principle from 11 pre-service and 13 in-service elementary teachers and conducted individual interviews regarding what visual representations they considered and how they tried to use them in science lessons. VRC-T was used as an analytical framework to examine the types and cognitive processes of visual representations. As a result, new categories were added and the revised VRC-T was completed (VRC-TR). It was also found that both pre- and in-service teachers mainly focused on 'interpreting' the 'descriptive representation' while designing their lesson plans. Additionally, in-service teachers showed more limited use of visual representations compared to pre-service teachers. In-service teachers largely relied on the national science textbooks, while pre-service teachers reflected their own learning experiences in their teacher-training program. These results showed that teachers' use of visual representations heavily relied on their prior learning and teaching experiences. The VRC-TR presented in this study and examples of class activities in each category can be helpful for teachers and researchers who want to use visual representations more effectively.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2012

In this study, we developed an efficient in-service teachers training program, which could help the professional development of science gifted teachers. The characteristic feature of this in-service training program was to put great emphasis on interaction between fellow teachers. With this program, teachers could share their experiences and informations about gifted education. The program consisted of 4 interaction modules: 'the module of interaction at the pre-planning', 'the module of interaction in the small group', 'the module of interaction at the plan of application', 'the module of interaction at the practical exercise'. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between science gifted education teachers in 'the module of interaction at the pre-planning'. We analyzed the interaction between science gifted education teachers in 'the module of interaction at the pre-planning'. Each teachers got 17.2 correction opinions from peer teachers. They accepted 79.2% opinions among them and refused the other opinions (20.8% opinions). In the analysis of 'program process', the interactions for the improvement about 'the acquirements of knowledge and function' step were 41.9% and the interactions for the improvement about 'plan and exploration' step were 30.5%. In the analysis of 'program domain', the interactions about 'method of teaching and learning' were 41.9%. The interactions about 'program step' were 28.6% and the interactions about 'learning contentsh were 24.8%. With these results, we discussed the features of interaction between science gifted education teachers and proposed the improvement of in-service training program for elementary science gifted teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1082-1102
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• 2002

Most of comparative studies in science teacher education so far have been conducted in terms of teacher education policy, pre- and in-service training system and curriculum, and certificate system. While such superficial information can be readily obtainable, it does not necessarily enable us to make access to reality of science teachers' professional development in respective countries, because practice in professional development among science teachers is deeply embedded into respective socio-cultural environment or climate. In order to get information on reality in science teachers' professional development, alternative approaches of research should be developed. This paper aims at pursuing an alternative way to approach reality of Japanese science teachers' professional development. An email survey of free description method with 29 in-service science teachers with a variety of years of experience in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, revealed that Japanese science teachers have developed their expertise through very close daily-based communication with their peer science teachers. At least, within their consciousness, neither formal in-service training programs, nor pre-service training programs have had much stronger effects on their professional development than such non-formal, daily-based, deep, apprenticeship-typed or in some sense, family-typed communication. The results suggest that in order to conduct meaningful comparative studies, we should take much more attention to how to make access to reality of science teachers' professional development.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1300-1311
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate pre-service science teachers' difficulties in the 'inquiry mentoring' program, which was developed to improve pre-service science teachers' inquiry teaching ability. For this study, I developed the 'inquiry mentoring' program in which pre-service science teachers taught high school students. This program was adapted for 2.5 months, and 45 pre-service science teachers participated and taught 44 high school students. During this program, pre-service science teachers kept 'mentor diaries' and wrote 'mentoring reports' at the end of the program. Interviews were conducted with all pre-service science teachers. Results are as follows: first, pre-service science teachers thought that the difficulties in inquiry mentoring resulted from their inadequacy (mentor factor) than students' inadequacy (mentee factor). Second, pre-service science teachers perceived their lack of cognitive ability, inquiry ability and teaching ability as a mentor factor. Third, pre-service science teachers thought that they had difficulties in students' differences and lack of activity as a mentee factor. Fourth, they described difficulties caused by emotional distance as well as physical distance as an interaction factor. They also mentioned the difficulties related to teaching range and online interaction. Fifth, pre-service science teachers expressed a sense of frustration with the inquiry environment. Additionally, some implications were discussed for pre-service science teacher education through the 'inquiry mentoring' program.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.353-366
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• 2011

An alternative vision for science inquiry that appears to be important and challenging is model-based inquiry in which students generate, evaluate and revise their explanatory model. Pre-service teachers should be given opportunities to develop and use their mechanistic explanatory models in order to participate in the practice of science and to have a sound understanding of science. With this view, this study described a case of pre-service elementary teachers' scientific modeling in magnetism. The aims of this study were to explore difficulties preservice elementary teachers encountered while they engaged in a model-based inquiry, and to examine how their understandings of the nature of scientific models changed after the model-based inquiry. The data analysis revealed that the pre-service teachers had difficulties in drawing and writing their own thinking because they had little experience of expressing their own science ideas. When asked to predict what would happen, they could not understand what it meant to make a prediction "based on their model". They did not know how to use or consider their model in making a prediction. At the end of the model-based inquiry they reached a final consensus of a best model. However, they were very anxious about whether the model was the "correct" answer. With respect to the nature of scientific models, almost all of the pre-service teachers initially viewed models only as a communication tool among scientists or students and teachers to help understand others' ideas. After the model-based inquiry, however, many of them understood that they could create, test, and revise their "own" models "by themselves". They also realized the key aspects of scientific models that a model can be changed as evidence is accumulated and a model is a knowledge production tool as well as a communication tool. The results indicated that pre-service elementary teachers' understandings of the nature of scientific models and their previous school science experiences could affect their performance on a model-based inquiry, and their experience of scientific modeling could help them enhance their understandings of the nature of scientific models.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2013

This study conducted a survey to examine the knowledge formation and utilization of computer among beginning teachers of secondary school mathematics. We found that beginning teachers who had more experiences of taking computer utilization classes at teacher education institutes showed more interest in computer and saw the necessity and effectiveness of computer usage for teaching students. Teachers chose GSP the most among computer utilization knowledge learned in pre-service teachers program, and GSP is used the most in mathematics classes. However, they answered that computer is not so much available in class due to lack of hours and the relevant resources. Lastly, beginning teachers answered that the computer knowledge learned in in-service teacher program was more useful than that in pre-service. Thus, the professional development in utilizing computer should be improved through diversifying teacher training contents for beginning teachers as well as for pre-service teachers in teacher education institutes.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-128
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify key components in developing educational programs designed to enhance pre-service teachers' professionalism. Key program characteristics identified and implemented through this study are as follows: First, programs should provide opportunities for trainees to reflect on goal identification and setting goals as professional teachers. Second, programs should emphasize the relationship between the pre-service teachers' personal qualities and professional development. Third, programs should include and integrated and holistic approach to integrating content and teaching methodology. Fourth, the program's educational content should unfold in a gradual and sequential manner. Fifth, the program should support a strong relationship between senior teachers and juniors pre-service teachers. Sixth, the program should take advantage of the physical and human resources in the pre-service teacher's community. Seventh, the program should employ circular and formative evaluation of contents and teaching methods as a way of facilitating development and improvement. This study develops and demonstrates an extensive model program that fits these criteria. Also included is discussion related to further studies.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2016

This study aimed to investigate the effects of portfolio application on pre-service science teachers' reflective thinking. For the purpose, we used narrative inquiry on pre-service science teachers' portfolios. We also analyzed the dimensions and levels of pre-service science teachers' reflective thinking. Analysis results showed that the pre-service science teachers' reflective thinking was mostly centered on focus at the beginning of semester. In addition, they exhibited routine and technical levels of reflective thinking. Analysis of pre-service science teachers' reflective thinking showed it as gradually extending to the dimension of inquiry and dimension of change by the end of semester. Here, the level of reflective thinking was higher at the dialogic level and transformative level. Pre-service science teachers showed that they had difficulties in making portfolios. However, they answered positively about application of portfolios. The results of this study suggest that there is a need to actively introduce portfolio assessment in teacher education courses in order to increase the reflective thinking of pre-service science teachers.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.747-769
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• 2014

The purposes of this study were to investigate pre-service mathematics teachers' perceptions of the role of cooperating teachers and teacher interactions during teaching practicum. Thirty-four pre-service mathematics teachers who finished student teaching participated in the study. The researcher collected data from various sources such as a questionnaire, interviews, and written documents. According to the results of the study, more than 50 percent of the participants showed negative responses to all of the questionnaire items on teaching activities or guidance of cooperating teachers. Cooperating teachers mainly played a role in the stage of reflection of student teacher's teaching practice, and they provided specific feedback and guidance of teaching and learning methods and contents. Cooperating teachers played roles as (mathematics) teacher educators, classroom observers, and co-teachers, but their roles as teacher educators or co-teachers should be more stressed for pre-service mathematics teachers' professional development.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-77
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• 2018

This study aims to investigate reflections of secondary pre-service mathematics teachers and their changes through practicing as assistant teacher in mathematics classrooms. For the purpose of this study, research questions are addressed on the reflections and their changes. During the 2015 Spring semester, secondary pre-service mathematics teachers took a course related to working as assistant teachers in regular mathematics lessons in a middle school. This study selected cases of two pre-service teachers. The data such as reports on their practices and final meeting report with teachers were collected during the semester. The results showed that the secondary pre-service mathematics teachers reflected teachers, students, mathematics contents, and themselves in their reports. In addition, each participant showed different contents of reflections. This difference implied that secondary pre-service mathematics teachers could have different reflections according to the types of lessons that they participated in.