• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.326-335
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to devise the concept of properties of the light on learning progressions for 3-6 grade students in the elementary school. For the purpose, this study creates a construct map of the properties of the light. Ordered multiple-choice items were developed in view of the construct map and presented to 200, 3~6 grade students in the elementary school. A partial credit model of Rasch model was used to analyze the results of those items, and the learning progressions was devised from the analysis results. The study can be summarized as follows: the construct modeling approach was used to devise the properties of light on learning progressions. As a result, the concept was selected for the core standards of construct map. Based on the construct map, the multiple-choice items were developed for students' conceptual understanding. The items were analyzed using the partial credit model, and the analysis findings showed that they were appropriate to assess students about their level of understanding of the properties of light. Finally, learning progressions were devised with the use of item analysis results.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.161-180
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the current studies and research methods about Learning Progressions disseminated to several countries including the U.S. since 2006. It also provides a methodological base to investigate learning progressions in science by introducing a case study of learning progression conducted in Korea. For this study, we described several features of current studies on learning progressions in the U.S., and reported the common ways and sequences employed in examining learning progressions especially with respect to assessment for learning. Learning progressions are descriptions of developmental pathways of learning a topic, in which science knowledge is used in students' engaging in science practices. Each learning progression consists of upper anchor, lower anchor, and intermediate steps that connect both anchors. In investigating a learning progression, researchers usually utilize Wilson's four building blocks of assessment system based on the assessment triangle. This kind of method was also applied in investigating the learning progression for water cycle in this study. We discussed implication and consideration for the future research on learning progressions in science in Korea.

• 한국정보교육학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.08a
• /
• pp.151-160
• /
• 2010

Learning progression is an advantageous way to describe the development of learner understanding about a topic. In the present study, learning progression is introduced to characterize novice teachers' professional knowledge and competence and to help designing teacher professional development programs in the developmental approach. The development and validation phases of learning progression are proposed in the paper. In addition a case study is presented to demonstrate the process of developing a learning progression for teaching-through-inquiry using ICT. The learning progression in novice teacher professional development can be used to assess the level of teacher understanding in specific topic and to effectively support the development of teachers' professional knowledge and competence via professional development programs in the longitudinal view.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.139-158
• /
• 2013

This study investigated elementary students' (grade 4~6) learning progressions for water cycling drawn from iterative assessments using ordered multiple-choice (OMC) items. An assessment system, which consisted of construct map, item design, outcome space, and measurement model, was employed in this study to examine children's learning progressions. At the first stage of the assessment system, a construct map was designed on which children's conceptual understandings from naive to most sophisticated were represented. At the item design stage, 8 OMC items were drawn from the construct map. Each item option of the OMC items was scored from 0 to 3 according to its level of understanding at the stage of outcome space. As a measurement model, Rasch model, a branch of item response theory, was applied to interpreting the outcomes of the OMC items. This cycle of assessment system was furtherly implemented iteratively in order to elaborate on the first version of water cycling learning progression. In conclusion, children's understanding of water cycling could be described in two aspects: water distribution and water movement. We identified children's conjectural developmental pathways about water cycling existed from superficial and naive accounts to more complex and abstract accounts.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.103-116
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to explore $6^{th}$ graders learning progression for lunar phase change focusing astronomical systems thinking. By analyzing the results of previous studies, we developed the constructed-response items, set up the hypothetical learning progressions, and developed the item analysis framework based on the hypothetical learning progressions. Before and after the instruction on the lunar phase change, we collected test data using the constructed-response items. The results of the assessment were used to validate the hypothetical learning progression. Through this, we were able to explore the learning progression of the earth-moon system in a bottom-up. As a result of the study, elementary students seemed to have difficulty in the transformation between the earth-based perspective and the space-based perspective. In addition, based on the elementary school students' learning progression on lunar phase change, we concluded that the concept of the lunar phase change was a bit difficult for elementary students to learn in elementary science curriculum.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.703-718
• /
• 2014

This study sought to investigate learning progressions for astronomical systems which synthesized the motion and structure of Earth, Earth-Moon system, solar system, and the universe. For this purpose we developed ordered multiple-choice items, applied them to elementary and middle school students, and provided validity evidence based on the consequence of assessment for interpretation of learning progressions. The study was conducted according to construct modeling approach. The results showed that the OMCs were appropriate for investigating learning progressions on astronomical systems, i.e., based on item fit analysis, students' responses to items were consistent with the measurement of Rasch model. Wright map analysis also represented that the assessment items were very effective in examining students' hypothetical pathways of development of understanding astronomical systems. At the lower anchor of the learning progression, while students perceived the change of location and direction of celestial bodies with only two-dimensional earth-based view, they failed to connect the locations of celestial bodies with Earth-Moon system model, and they could recognized simple patterns of planets in the solar system and milky way. At the intermediate levels, students interpreted celestial motion using the model of Earth rotation and revolution, Earth-Moon system, and solar system with space-based view, and they could also relate the elements of astronomical structures with the models. At the upper anchor, students showed the perspective change between space-based view and earth-based view, and applied it to celestial motion of astronomical systems, and they understood the correlation among sub-elements of astronomical systems and applied it to the system model.

• Journal of Science Education
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study is to explore learning progressions for global warming at middle school level. For this purpose, we conducted a construct modeling approach that specifies constructs, item designs, outcome spaces, and measurement model steps from April to October, 2021. In order to develop student assessment items, we analyzed the 2015 revised curriculum and textbooks of middle school and categorized a concept hierarchy for each construct to create a construct map. The assessment items were developed into multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions according to the selected constructs to strengthen the linkage between the constructs and the items. Based on the three-step grading criteria for each item, an online assessment of 21 minor items developed for middle school students show that many students met 'high' level, but none met 'low' level. In this manner, the initial set lower anchor was reset to level 0, the original set upper anchor was lowered from level 4 to level 3, and the hypothetical learning progression for global warming was presented in the following order: phenomenal, conceptual, and mechanical understandings. The results of the research have raised implications for reorganizing the next science curriculum and improving the assessment system.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.437-447
• /
• 2014

Learning progressions (LP), which describe how students may develop more sophisticated understanding over a defined period of time, can inform the design of instructional materials and assessment by providing a coherent, systematic measure of what can be regarded as "level appropriate." We developed LPs for the nature of matter for grades K-16. In order to empirically test Korean students, we revised one of the constructs and associated assessment items based on Korean National Science Standards. The assessment was administered to 124 Korean secondary students to measure their knowledge and submicroscopic representations, and to assign them to a level of learning progression for the particle nature of matter. We characterized the level of students' understanding and models of the particle nature of matter, and described how students interpret various representations of atoms and molecules to explain scientific phenomena. The results revealed that students have difficulties in understanding the relationship between the macroscopic and molecular levels of phenomena, even in high school science. Their difficulties may be attributed to a limited understanding of scientific modeling, a lack of understanding of the models used to represent the particle nature of matter, or limited understanding of the structure of matter. This work will inform assessment and curriculum materials development related to the fundamental relationship between macroscopic, observed phenomena and the behavior of atoms and molecules, and can be used to create individualized learning environments. In addition, the results contribute to scientific research literature on learning progressions on the nature of matter.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.207-225
• /
• 2017

With a significant role of textbooks in shaping students' opportunities to learn, textbook analysis is essential to reveal these opportunities to learn the concept of area and volume. This research aims to show how the Korean textbooks pace students' learning of area and volume across grades by scrutinizing the textbooks with students' developmental sequences, called learning trajectories. Tasks about area and volume in all Korean elementary textbooks (grade 1 to 6) are coded with the specific developmental stages suggested in learning trajectories. As a result, we find considerable misalignment between the textbooks and the learning trajectories. The textbooks provide opportunities to experience developmental progressions of area and volume later than ages suggested in the learning trajectories. In addition, learning opportunities are significantly concentrated in grade 5 for area and grade 6 for volume with heavy emphases on applying formulas of area or volume. The findings from this research provides important implications concerning design of textbooks as well as improving students' opportunities in the mathematics classrooms.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.629-641
• /
• 2016

Understanding of how teachers change instruction can help predict what kind of educational materials is supportive or appropriate. On the basis of this idea, we explored elementary teachers' PCK progression on specific topics of astronomy: planet size and distance in solar system. To identify the development of PCK over time, we utilized learning progression (LP) as a conceptual framework. The progression of teacher PCK can also be illustrated as the hypothetical pathway from novice to expert like LP. Eight 5th grade elementary teachers participated in this study. We observed participating teachers' astronomy classes with the same topic. In order to document topic-specific PCK of participating teachers, we developed an analytic protocol consisting of four categories: knowledge of curriculum, knowledge of teaching strategies, knowledge of assessment, and astronomical thinking practice. In addition, we monitored the changes in the four participating teachers' PCK for two years in order to validate the evidences of the PCK progression. Participating teachers in this study took some intervention by attending a four-week pre-meeting with the researchers to profile an adaptive instruction. Through this research, we profiled four and five different levels of PCK progressions in three knowledge components (curriculum, teaching strategies, student assessment) and one astronomical thinking practice (systems thinking), respectively. Participating teachers demonstrated various levels and pathways in each component of PCK. This study released the empirical evidences in fostering instructional scaffolding, which is appropriate to the level of PCK of science teachers on specific topic.