• Journal of Science Education
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.111-134
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop 'Silver Care Expert' STEAM Program for the elementary students and investigate the effects of the program on creative thinking activity, scientific attitude and leadership. Participants were 110 elementary school students. Before and after the program, the participants were asked to take the test about future time perspective, career awareness and scientific attitude. The major results of this study were as follows. First, the total score of experimental group's future time perspective and all 2 sub-domains was significantly improved than those of comparative group(p<.05). Second, total score of experimental groups' career awareness and all 4 sub-domains were significantly increased than those of comparative group after the STEAM program(p<.05). Third, the total score of experimental groups' scientific attitude and all 7 sub-domains were significantly improved than those of comparative group(p<.05). Fourth, according to students' post-program opinions, experimental group students showed very positive perception like that science class was very interesting and they became interested in science and technology. In conclusion, 'Silver Care Expert' STEAM Program was very effective to improve elementary students' future time perspective, career awareness, scientific attitudes.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.631-658
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• 2011

The impact of the academic achievements of science high school graduates during the science high school period on their creative productivity, higher education, occupation, and income were investigated with 244 science high school graduates who belonged either to top 30% or bottom 30% in terms of their high school GPA. The factors contributed to the choice of current occupations and life were also investigated through retrospective approach. Survey questionnaire was administered to 244 adults who graduated from 18 science high schools before 2001. Thirteen graduates who completed questionnaire were interviewed face-to-face. Their ages ranged from 28.00 to 42.84. The high achievers were belonged to top 30% and the low achievers were belonged to the bottom 30% and the two groups demonstrated significant differences in their higher education and creative productivity. More doctoral degree holders and more number of creative products were found in the high achievers than the low achievers. 58.1% of the high achievers and 42.7% of the low achievers were working as professional scientists. Significantly more high achievers were working on tasks which require creative problem solving abilities and their income was significantly higher than the low achievers. For both groups, parents were the most significant individuals and then teachers were the second most important persons who impacted to their life and the choice of their occupation. Interviews with 13 graduates confirmed the survey results especially in their choice of life style and occupation. They were also influenced the most by parents, then teachers, and their friends who were more interacting with the socioeconomic environment when they selected university, major, and occupation. The results implies that high school achievement has significant influence on their future achievement to some extent and schools need to provide guide on the career choice not only to the students but also to their parents, since students' career choices are much influenced by their parents.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.144-165
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to develop 'Appropriate Technology' theme STEAM Program for the elementary students and investigate the effects of the program on creative thinking activity, scientific attitude and leadership. Participants were 3grade 85 elementary school students. Before and after the program, the participants were asked to take the tests about creative thinking activity, scientific attitude and leadership. The major results of this study were as follows. First, the total score of experimental group's creative thinking activity and all 4 sub-domains was significantly improved than those of comparative group(p<.05). Second, the total score of experimental groups' scientific attitude was significantly improved than that of comparative group(p<.05). Among 7 sub-domains, curiosity, voluntariness, perseverance were significantly developed. Third, total score of experimental groups' leadership was significantly increased than that of comparative group after the STEAM program (p<.05). In the first factor, the score of inner and inter personal characteristics were significantly developed.