• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to understand characteristics of students' reflective inquiry disposition in the contexts of classroom and to find educational implications for the promotion of the reflective inquiry activity in the inquiry-based class. In this study, we determined a characteristic of the reflection inquiry by examining students' responses showed in response to the different class types in high school earth science inquiry class. The result of the study indicated that the difference between the newly developed class type to promote the reflective inquiry and the existing inquiry class type was found significant. The newly developed reflective inquiry class had a multitude of reflective inquiry statements related to various elements of data context in terms of the quantity and diversity of the reflective inquiry. In conclusion, we found that the newly developed class type had a positive impact on the students' reflective inquiry activity. We believe that the development of the inquiry activity to promote students' reflective inquiry is critical.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.194-204
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this literature review is to investigate what kinds of research have been done about scientific inquiry in terms of scientific argumentation in the classroom context from the upper elementary to the high school levels. First, science educators argued that there had not been differentiation between authentic scientific inquiry by scientists and school scientific inquiry by students in the classroom. This uncertainty of goals or definition of scientific inquiry has led to the problem or limitation of implementing scientific inquiry in the classroom. It was also pointed out that students' learning science as inquiry has been done without opportunities of argumentation to understand how scientific knowledge is constructed. Second, what is scientific argumentation, then? Researchers stated that scientific inquiry in the classroom cannot be guaranteed only through hands-on experimentation. Students can understand how scientific knowledge is constructed through their reasoning skills using opportunities of argumentation based on their procedural skills using opportunities of experimentation. Third, many researchers emphasized the social practices of small or whole group work for enhancing students' scientific reasoning skills through argumentations. Different role of leadership in groups and existence of teachers' roles are found to have potential in enhancing students' scientific reasoning skills to understand science as inquiry. Fourth, what is scientific reasoning? Scientific reasoning is defined as an ability to differentiate evidence or data from theory and coordinate them to construct their scientific knowledge based on their collection of data (Kuhn, 1989, 1992; Dunbar & Klahr, 1988, 1989; Reif & Larkin, 1991). Those researchers found that students skills in scientific reasoning are different from scientists. Fifth, for the purpose of enhancing students' scientific reasoning skills to understand how scientific knowledge is constructed, other researchers suggested that teachers' roles in scaffolding could help students develop those skills. Based on this literature review, it is important to find what kinds of generalizable teaching strategies teachers use for students scientific reasoning skills through scientific argumentation and investigate teachers' knowledge of scientific argumentation in the context of scientific inquiry. The relationship between teachers' knowledge and their teaching strategies and between teachers teaching strategies and students scientific reasoning skills can be found out if there is any.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.531-542
• /
• 2002

The experimental side of earth science contains a lot of variables that cannot be controlled in the classroom or in the laboratory. Therefore, as one method to overcome these difficulties, a learning program using 3D Virtual Reality technique has been developed. The program was used with 701 middle school students. The result showed that the program had a very positive effect on inducing interest and motivation through a sense of immersion, and it also showed to be a big help in the improvement of space perception ability.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.521-530
• /
• 2010

This study aimed to explore how to characterize the earth science inquiry in schools in terms of science teaching interaction and constructivist teaching practice. The constructivist teaching practices were analyzed with Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) in three aspects including (1) student oriented class implementation, (2) subject knowledge and representation, and (3) classroom communication. Fourteen earth science classes were observed and scored with RTOP. The class was evaluated to be transitional stage in terms of constructivist teaching, e.g., moving toward student-centered teaching practice. Especially, Korean teachers tend to lean their classes more on propositional knowledge than procedural knowledge. To interpret science teaching interactions, an earth science teacher with a RTOP top rank was selected. Her class was then videotaped for detailed analysis. I adopted the analytical framework of communicative approaches and discourse patterns among the five aspects of interactions presented by Mortimer and Scott (2003). It was found that this earth science teacher used more authoritative patterns than the dialogic. In addition, she used IRE discourse pattern more frequently. Interestingly, teachers interacted with their students more frequently in the form of repeated (or IRE chain pattern), that is IRFRF (teacher initiation-student response-teacher feedback-student response-teacher feedback) in the context of dialogic communicative approaches, while simple IRE occurred in an authoritative approach. In earth science classrooms, typical interaction may well be constructed in the form of IRFRF chains to allow students free conjectures and abduction.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.342-358
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice teachers' understanding of democratic citizenship. This study utilized the democratic citizenship frame to assess 17 participants' comprehension of this concept. The researcher designed a method course where participants in groups analyzed science activities to identify democratic citizenship components. Through the analysis of two science activities-one on energy and the other on climate change-and the development of science panels addressing various global issues, preservice teachers' understanding of democratic citizenship was enhanced. Preservice teachers showed a good understanding of critical thinking, communication and collaboration, and STS (science, technology, and society); and the most enhanced understanding of empathy, which was the least perceived in pre-survey, component of democratic citizenship. The democratic citizenship frame proved to be a valuable tool for teaching and learning this topic, particularly when applied to socioscientific issues in the classroom. More research-based revisions of the science curriculum are necessary, and more systematic practices with reflections are essential in teacher education.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.504-513
• /
• 2011

In this study, we investigated how elementary science teaching has changed with the introduction of the National Assessment of Educational Achievement (NAEA). Teachers are held accountable for student performance as measured by the mandatory nation-wide standards tests to satisfy the needs of accountability and quality assurance systems. In relation to the teaching of science in the elementary school, professionalism meets potential threats with the advent of national test. Through analysis of the classroom teaching and open-ended interviews, we explored the teacher's concerns about the national test and how their science classes have changed to prepare for this test. According to the results, the national test made elementary teachers accountable for the content of their science classes, limits teachers' autonomy in reconstruction of curriculum, and forced teachers to conduct conclusion-centered lessons even in elementary science classes. In addition, teachers argue that the national test precludes the possibility of differentiated education and differentiated assessment. Based on the results, we suggested a new professionalism in this accountability era, so called 'informed professionalism', which refers to the ability of teachers to interpret and implement curriculum and policy mandates at the local, school and classroom level to generate equitable and improved student outcomes through teaching and learning. We also suggested further research on the teacher professionalism in teaching science contents.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.367-377
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this research is to investigate characteristics of science content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge shown in the primary school science classes. Through analysis of classroom teaching, explore the features and differences between primary and secondary school science PCK. Using open-ended interviews with the teachers and group discussions on a regular basis to analyze and compare classes of five primary school teachers, the relationship between CK and PCK. Regardless of the school level the teacher's PCK and professionalism is required with varying focus and emphasis. The features of the primary school teacher's PCK are as follows: Firstly, elementary teach secondary teach content, teachers value pedagogical knowledge (PK) content knowledge (CK). The primary school PCK requires more of understanding of students and teaching methods that to subject areas. PCK be without content knowledge, and the teacher's PCK is subject-specific In addition to the characteristics of PCK in the primary school science teaching, ways to set up professional exchange or collaboration between primary and secondary teachers, and to provide supplementary in-service training focused on content knowledge for primary school teachers.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2013

This study investigated how the unique educational contexts in the Republic of Korea (RK) impacted two science teachers' teaching practices in a public middle school and what the science teaching experience means to them. In particular, we explored how the middle school science teachers decide pedagogical approaches to use in their teaching based on classroom climate, students' attitude toward learning science, school curriculum and classroom culture. Using a phenomenological research approach, we analyzed classroom observation data and interview data to interpret the teachers' science teaching experience. Results of the study showed that the teachers' practice was dominantly affected by two external factors. First, the teachers' teaching practice was affected by the amount of science content knowledge they need to cover within a given class time. Second, the teachers' teaching practice was affected by students' attitudes toward science learning and their science preparedness in private tutoring centers. Implications of the study results are discussed in the paper.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.347-357
• /
• 2005

Since 1998, an elementary teacher education institute in Korea has hosted the center for the gifted education. The institute hired undergraduate students to escort and liaison each class of the gifted student participants with assisting classroom activities. These liaison teachers observed the gifted classroom activities and evaluated them by using a given checklist and filling out pre-made evaluation forms. Currently this system is being transferred from part-time jobs for students to earn allowance into well organized pre-service teacher program focusing on the gifted education. In other words, the purpose of system is being shifted from how liaison teachers facilitate the gifted program to how the system helps the liaison teachers to be quality teachers for the gifted who can understand what the gifted are and how to facilitate them. Analyzed were the self reports of the liaison teachers regarding their perceptions and beliefs of the gifted and their education program. It was found participant liaison teachers purposed to have more live experiences with getting along with students as well. Liaison teachers’ perceptions on establishing a gifted teacher professional education sequence were reported in this study. The potential scaffolding of the pre-service teacher education program model of the gifted education was provided as a consequence of this study.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.129-141
• /
• 2004

A peer assessment method was implemented as part of an action research project where the primary goal was to create constructivist science classrooms. Student reflective writings, which had been created in the process of action research, were analyzed to examine the perceptions of the students concerning the peer assessment method employed in their earth science classrooms. Five perception categories and thirteen statements were developed from the student writings. These indicated that the students appreciated the positive nature of peer assessment and the effects of it as an alternative method for promoting learning. It was also revealed, however, that some students displayed inappropriate behaviors toward peer assessment which led to negative perceptions of the new assessment method. Implications for future use of peer assessment in science classrooms are discussed. Limitations founded in the present study as well as possible solutions are provided.