• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the difference in the affective characteristics between science-gifted students and general students through the positive experiences about science (PES) index. We also explored ways to apply the characteristics of gifted classes suggeseted by the teachers of this study, which had a positive effect on science-gifted students, to general science classes. For this study, a PES survey was carried on middle school science-gifted students enrolled in the gifted education center in the central region and general middle school students in the same area who had no experience in gifted education. Based on the survey result, we conducted in-depth interviews with teachers, having teaching experience with both science-gifted and general students. The results revealed that science-gifted students showed a significantly higher PES index than general students in all five areas of PES. The area with the largest difference between the two groups was science-related self-concept and the smallest was science academic emotion. Teachers suggested ways to apply the characteristics of science-gifted classes to general science classes, such as organizing general science classes around inquiry activities, supporting class materials such as MBL or tablets, reconstructing the classes using materials reflecting students' needs, and changing the textbook content and narrative style, to induce students' interest and curiosity. Based on the study results, ways to enhance the PES through science classes for general students were proposed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.91-102
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• 2021

This study explored the educational effects of the digital citizenship teaching and learning model on middle school science classes. For this purpose, two classes of the third grade of middle school in Gyeonggi-do were selected, and the experimental group(28 students) was taught science classes using digital citizenship learning model, and the control group(28 students) was taught in regular lectures. The measurements used to verify the effects of science classes using the digital citizenship learning model were digital citizenship and empathy tools. The data collected for the effect verification were analyzed by independent sample t-test and ANCOVA. As a result, the experimental group applying the digital citizenship learning model showed higher scores of digital citizenship and empathy than the control group. Therefore, it can be seen that the middle school science class applying the digital citizenship learning model was effective in cultivating the digital citizenship and empathy of middle school students. In future studies, it is necessary to examine the effects of digital citizenship learning model at different school levels and other subjects.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.659-667
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• 2004

The purposes of this study were to examine the middle school science textbooks published according to the 7th curriculum by analyzing overall structure of the books and STS contents, and to diagnose the current status of STS education in science classroom through interviews with teachers and students of the middle schools. It was found that STS approaches were of increasing importance in the science textbooks, however, they were not popular in the science classes. STS topics in the middle school textbooks were related mostly to 'applications of science' and 'social problems and issues', and few of the topics were related to 'cooperative work on real problems', 'multiple dimensions of science' and 'practice with decision making strategies'. Major barriers of STS education implementation in middle school science classroom were identified as follows; difficulties of assessment, teachers' insufficient cognitions and experiences regarding STS education, perceptions of students and parents that prefer didactic lecture methods and working on exercises. Desirable directions for the improvement of present status of STS education in middle school science classes were proposed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to discover and develop any implications which may arise in relation to science teachers' professional growth and development by investigating the difficulties experienced by elementary school teachers in science classes. 196 elementary school teachers were requested to write an anecdotal report regarding their science lessons. 30 science teachers in middle school also answered the same questionnaire. By means of inductive categorical analyzing, the difficulties were grouped into several categories. The results were as follows: (1) The difficulties elementary teachers experience in their science lessons fall into three categories; 'professional science knowledge(9.8%)', 'science laboratory activities(78.3%)', 'teaching methodology(11.2%)'. (2) Science teachers in middle school experienced similar difficulties. However, distribution differed from that of elementary school teachers; 'professional science knowledge(39.0%)', 'science laboratory activities(35.6%)', 'teaching methodology(27.1%)'. (3) The causes of these difficulties were identified as follows; a lack of time to prepare for science classes, insufficient substantial pre-service teacher education, and a lack of adaptive support to elementary school teachers.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.317-330
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of science leading schools on primary and middle school students' positive experiences about science (PES) through in-depth interviews with teachers in charge of science leading schools. Science leading schools at the primary and middle school level such as Creative Convergent Science Labs and Student Participatory Science Classes were investigated and 11 teachers were participated in focus group interviews. Teacher in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the factors that led to the effectiveness of science leading schools in improving the student's PES in light of operational characteristics of science leading schools, characteristic factors of science leading schools on students PES, and improvement plans and requirements of science leading schools, as well as implications for general high schools. Science leading schools including Creative Convergent Science Labs and Student Participatory Science Classes applied for the leading school funding to secure supplies, equipments, and lab improvement for authentic science classes. In addition, reconstructed the curriculum more broadly than before, and emphasized and expanded student participatory classes and process-centered assessment at the teacher learning community level. Through student-participatory classes, the science leading schools stimulate students' interest in science, provide students with PES) through various instructions including projects, engage students in interesting science experiences in Creative Convergent Science Labs, and enhance inquiry skills and PES as well as science content knowledge. Based on the results, ways to spread the characteristics of science leading schools to general schools are suggested including expanding budget support, securing the space of science labs and improving spatial composition, providing diverse teaching and learning materials, diversifying assessment subjects and methods, and the necessity of teachers' continuous professional development, etc.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.637-646
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Microcomputer Based Laboratory (MBL) on the middle school students' graphing skill and science process skill in Earth Science classes. MBL teaching materials for inquiry-based instructions were developed to teach five experimental topics related to the middle school 'Earth Science.' Thirty three middles school students participated in this study, and the pre- and post-tests were conducted. Results indicated as follow: First, MBL classes were effective in developing the graphing skill of middle school students. They were efficient both in graph construction and graph interpretation, especially in data transformation. Second, MBL classes were effective in helping participants to use science process skills, especially, in the subordinate areas including formulating hypotheses, making operational definition, graphing, and interpreting data.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 2021

The modern society is rapidly changing, and accordingly, the required teacher image is changing as well. Middle school students are immature, when they undergo major changes both physically and mentally, and teachers have a great influence. How students perceive the teacher determines the relationship between teachers and students. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze what kind of teacher image middle school students want. The purpose of this study is to analyze the image of a science teacher who prefers and avoids each class situation perceived by middle school students. To this end, 502 middle school students were divided into five classes: class type, class material presentation method, subject instruction method, subject content explanation method, and class atmosphere, and the image of science teacher who prefers and avoids is described in an open format. Concepts presented by middle school students were analyzed through semantic network analysis (SNA). The conclusions of this study are as follows: first, in order to make middle school students interested in science, an inquiry-centered experiment class should be conducted. Second, the change of class by science teacher can change it into preferred science class. Third, student-centered classes should be conducted according to the level so that students can understand. Finally, science teachers continue to strive through communication between science teachers and students, and students and students, and look forward to changes in science classes through this.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 2016

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases that have formed and operated teachers' learning communities through cross-curricular consulting at the school level. The purpose of this study is to explore cross-curricular instructional consulting as an activity of teachers' learning communities at the school level, and investigate the effect of cross-curricular instructional consulting on middle school science teaching. We analyzed features and limitations of cross-curricular instructional consulting revealed in three case studies in middle school, including open classes and instructional consulting sessions, and conducted additional instructional consulting on the same videotaped science classes with science experts from outside. According to the results, science inquiry experiments are often replaced with text reading and interpreting, students' misconceptions and exact scientific representations are ignored, and the goal setting as well as class coverage has been questionable and disputable in science classes resulted from cross-curricular instructional consulting. Discussed in the conclusion are the necessity of cross-curricular instructional consulting in middle school, and ways to overcome limitations of the method of cross-curricular instructional consulting, including alternatives to a praise-only policy in cross-curricular instructional consulting, ways to use cross-curricular instructional consulting without compromising the subject's essence, and ways to improve the undue authority of consultants.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.642-651
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of teaching science ethical issues relevant to the middle school science curriculum. The experimental subjects were 132 second grade middle school students in Seoul, who were divided into two groups without any statistical differences. The results of this study indicated that teaching ethical issues in science had a positive influence on students' attitudes toward science and fostered a positive impression of science education. Also, the students showed a positive attitude in dealing with ethical problems in science and technology. Regardless, the results of this study suggest that ethical education in science classes is effective in increasing positive attitude toward science and the ability of the students in addressing and resolving ethical problems in science and technology. As such, we strongly recommend that the science curriculum for middle school students be changed to integrate ethical issues in the science class.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2022

In a situation in which online classes were suddenly introduced due to COVID-19, there were many cases where learners did not properly learn science process skills that were not presented in the achievement standards for reasons such as reducing the number of class hours. It is difficult to expect positive science inquiry ability and science attitude from learners who have entered middle school without understanding the process skills. Therefore, in this study, the effect on science inquiry ability and science attitude was investigated by developing worksheets with enhanced process skills and applying it to learner-centered teaching linked online and offline. As a result, it was confirmed that there was a statistically significant positive difference between both. Based on this research, it is expected that students will pay attention to the process skills, which is the basis of science subjects, and continue to experience the process skills through learning-centered classes.