• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.477-485
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• 2015

In this study, we tried to find the effects of carrying out infographics instruction based on visual thinking with the infographics materials presented in physics textbooks targeting specialized vocational high school students. Thus, 60 students were divided into the experimental group and the control group, the experimental group had 25 classes composed of 'infographics concept formation, infographics understanding activity, and infographics configuration activity', on the other hand, the control group were instructed by lecture-type class. The results of this study are as follows: First, features of the infographics created by the students include changes in types of presentation from 'simple arrangement' to 'simple reconfiguration' and from 'illustration' to 'comparative analysis', which were made by the visual thinking of the students activated in accordance with the increase of their configuration times. Second, instruction by using infographics, visual thinking significantly improved in the level of understanding, visibility, usability, and communicability. Third, after instruction using infographics, the mean score of the experimental group's achievement significantly improved. Fourth, there was a significant improvement in the area of 'normality of scientist, attitude on scientific inquiry, and scientific attitude' in the test of attitudes toward science. From the analysis results, we could conclude that instruction using infographics enhance students' understanding of scientific concepts and communication capability by improving visual thinking abilities, which have a positive impact on academic achievement and attitudes toward science.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.555-563
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• 2018

Recently it has been claimed that character education should be applied not only in ethics but also in other disciplines including science education. With several attempts at character education in previous research on science education, the examination of its requisite and components is needed. This research investigates the necessity and elements of character education to be improved upon in science classes through questionnaires and focus interviews of experts in the field of science education such as secondary school teachers, professors, and researchers. They recognize that character education should be adopted in science education with three backgrounds: scientist activities, the field of secondary school, and inquiry education. Based on moral education and citizenship, elements of character education in science class are comprised of four essential character elements including honesty, sympathy, tolerance, and self-esteem, and seven practical character elements that are divided into personal qualities: sincerity, responsibility, and self-control and social qualities: consideration, openness, communication, and cooperation. Their validity and importance are accepted by experts.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore the teaching and learning experiences to improve the positive experiences about science (PES) of scientifically-gifted elementary school students. For this study, 36 students in grades 5~6 at a gifted science education institutes in Seoul were selected and conducted pre-test and post-test for 'Test for Indicators of Positive Experiences about Science (TIPES).' After the weekly science classes of the institutions were over, individual in-depth interviews were also conducted with some students to explore the teaching and learning experiences for improving their PES. The analysis of the results reveals that the science classes for scientifically-gifted students have been shown to improve PES of scientifically-gifted elementary school students. The teaching and learning experiences to improve their PES included eight teaching and learning experiences that appeared in general elementary school students of previous study such as 'practice-centered exploratory activities,' 'student-led class,' 'positive and professional feedback,' 'construction of knowledge through exploration,' 'class considering student's interest and aptitude,' 'use of materials related to real life,' 'smooth communication and collaboration in group activities,' and 'appropriate difficulty in learning content.' There were also six teaching and learning experiences that newly emerged from science-gifted students: 'Learning experience through the strategies for improving scientific creativity,' 'inquiry experience as a little scientist,' 'advanced or accelerated learning experience,' 'learning experience with excellent students,' 'experience helping other students,' and 'experience with high or low achievement'. Based on these results, the practical implications for improving the student's PES are suggested.