• Title/Summary/Keyword: Middle school science classes

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Analysis of Professional Development in Teaching Practices of Beginning Secondary Science Teachers (중등 초임 과학교사의 수업 전문성 개발 실태 분석)

  • Kwak, Young-Sun
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.354-365
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    • 2009
  • In this research, we investigated the support system and professional development in teaching practices of beginning science teachers through instructional consulting. Using open-ended interviews with the participating teachers and group discussions taking place on a regular basis to analyze and compare classes of six beginning teachers, we analyzed beginning teachers' professional development efforts centering around their teaching practices. The group discussion consisted of 6 beginning teachers and another 6 experienced teachers, they discussed and cross-analyzed beginning teachers' 9th lessons on middle school science unit, 'Work and Energy.' The characteristics of beginning science teachers' professional development drawn from this research are: (1) beginning teachers' teaching practices they were taught, (2) lack of reflection on their teaching practices, (3) no guidance for beginning teachers regarding ways to teach, (4) lack of communication between teachers about teaching science, and (5) lack of time for instructional preparation due to other heavy workload. Suggestions for ways to improve and support beginning teachers' professional development are discussed with experienced teachers. Required conditions for an effective induction program are also discussed.

The Effects of Individualized Learning Adapted to Students' Conceptions Using Smart Devices in Science Instruction (과학 수업에서 스마트 기기를 활용한 개념 적응적 개별화 학습의 효과)

  • Yun, Jeonghyun;Ahn, Inyoung;Noh, Taehee
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.325-331
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    • 2015
  • In this study, we investigated the effects of individualized learning adapted to students' conceptions using smart devices in science instruction upon students' conceptual understanding, the retention of conception, achievement, learning motivation, enjoyment of science lessons, and perception about individualized learning using smart devices. Four seventh-grade classes at a coed middle school in Seoul were assigned to a control group and a treatment group. Students were taught about molecular motions for seven class periods. Two-way ANCOVA results revealed that the scores of a conception test, the retention of the conception test, a learning motivation test, and an enjoyment of science lessons test for the treatment group were significantly higher than those for the control group. Although the score of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group in the achievement test, the difference was not statistically significant. Students' perceptions about individualized learning using smart devices were also found to be positive.

Exploring Selection, Expansion, and Support of Teachers in Gifted Education (영재교육 교원의 선발·확충·지원에 관한 과제 탐색)

  • Jang, KyeongHye;Park, Changun
    • Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.281-290
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    • 2019
  • The aim of this study is to explore the status and tasks of selecting, expanding, and supporting the gifted teachers to efficiently manage the gifted education. This study addresses that the ratio of applications for new teachers is lower and the current teachers are aging in primary school. In addition, it points out that the ratio of new teacher applications and teacher acquisitions compared to the number of teachers hired for middle school were lower. The gifted teachers are basic in their classes and work at regular schools, and they suffer from considerable exhaustion and a lack of time because of other gifted work. As a result of these discussions, it has shown the need for substantial improvement and supplementation such as school hours reduction or reinforcement adjustment, complete support for research society, invitation professional teachers other than current ones, and friday after school classes for the gifted teachers should be encouraged to work passionately. For professional development, if the positive perception and results of gifted education from the interactions between general education and gifted education be formed, and the education programs for gifted teachers be expanded, they will also contribute to the overall improvement in the quality of our education.

The Influences of Student-Centered Analogical Instruction Using Physical Analogies in Chemistry Concept Learning (화학 개념 학습에서 물리적 비유를 사용한 학생 중심 비유 수업의 효과)

  • Byun, Soon-Hwa;Kim, Kyung-Sun;Choi, Sook-Yeong;Noh, Tae-Hee;Cha, Jeong-Ho
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.27 no.7
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    • pp.631-638
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    • 2007
  • This study investigated the influences of a student-centered analogical instruction using physical analogies upon students' conception and application, retention of conception and application, perceptions of science classroom environment, and perceptions of analogical instruction. Six classes of seventh graders (N=208) at a middle school in Seoul were assigned to the control, the teacher-centered analogy (TCA), and the student-centered analogy (SCA) groups. They were taught about 'three states of matter' and 'motion of molecules' for 8 class hours. Analysis of the results revealed that the scores of the SCA group were significantly higher than those of the other groups in the conception test, retention test of conception and application, and perception test of science classroom environment. The scores of the SCA group in the application test were also higher than those of the other groups, but there was a significant difference only between the control and the SCA groups. The TCA group performed significantly better than the control group only in the test of the retention of application. In addition, the students in the SCA group exhibited more positive perceptions of the analogical instruction than those in the TCA group. Educational implications are discussed.

The Effectiveness of Metacognitive Instruction Models on the Acquisition of Magnetic Field Concepts (초인지 수업 모형이 자기장 개념 형성에 미치는 효과)

  • Lee, Hee-Jung;Kang, Dae-Hun;Paik, Seoung-Hey
    • Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.149-155
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    • 2003
  • The objective of this research was to study the impact of metacognitive lesson models on the formation of magnetic field concepts. The subjects of this research was eighty students from two sixth grade classes. One class of forty of these students was the experimental group, which the metacognitive strategic lesson model was applied, and the other class of forty students was the control group which the traditional lessons were conducted. As the result of the experiment, the experimental group and the control group, which previously did not show difference in terms of achievement of conceptualizing magnetic field, displayed a significant difference. According to the comparison between the pre-experiment test on the students' previous concepts and the achievement of the students after the experiment, the middle group showed difference between the experimental group and the control group in a small degree. The lower group showed a notable difference between the two groups and the higher group showed no difference. In terms of achievements shown in different questions asked, there was little difference in the questions that were stated in the textbook while there was a significant difference in the questions that applied the contents of the textbook. The higher academic group, according to the test on the previous concepts, did not show much difference between the experimental group and the control group when they were asked about the concepts of the textbook. In terms of the comparison in the metacognitive levels, both the higher and lower metacognitive experimental groups' average grade was higher than the control groups' and showed an important statistical difference.

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The Cases of Integrated Science Education Practices in Schools -What are the ways to facilitate integrated science education?- (통합 과학교육을 실천하고 있는 두 중등학교의 사례 -무엇이 통합 과학교육을 가능하게 하는가?-)

  • Ahn, Jungyong;Na, Jiyeon;Song, Jinwoong
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.33 no.4
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    • pp.763-777
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    • 2013
  • This is a case study on two schools practising integrated science education (hereafter ISE). The purposes of this study are to investigate the types and features of ISE in the schools actively practising ISE, to identify the contextual factors of the schools, and to give implications for implementing ISE in schools. This study investigated the contextual factors in practicing ISE with a focus on the two schools, a middle school in Gyeonggi-do and a high school in Busan. They were breaking down the boundaries among teaching subjects and providing student-oriented instruction with problems in the real world. The data were collected by observing classes, by interviewing teachers, and by reviewing school documents and students' reports. The research findings are as follows: first, the two schools took part in ISE actively. They teach science to students providing integrated experiences mainly by using interdisciplinary knowledge and/or by solving the problems pertaining to the real world. While the former integrated subjects centering on topics, the latter focused on a project-based learning driven by students. They have differences in regard to the role of teachers and students, the level of integration and the type of integration. Second, the contextual factors that enabled ISE to be implemented there were found. The previous studies revealed six contextual factors in practising ISE: small and stable learning environment, leadership, team activities, in-school planning time, flexible timetable and community links. This study also found similar factors. However, the cases of this study provided ISE on a large scale and in a short period of time, instead of a small and stable learning environment. Teachers viewed the process of ISE not only as a tool to overcome the conservative culture of teachers but also as a pursuit of innovation.

Development and Application of a Conceptual Change Model for Effective Laboratory Teaching (효과적인 실험 수업을 위한 개념 변화 수업모형의 개발 및 적용)

  • Noh, Tae-Hee;Kang, Suk-Jin;Kim, Hye-Kyung;Chae, Woo-Ki;Noh, Suk-Goo
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.179-189
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    • 1997
  • In this study, a conceptual change model for effective laboratories was developed and its instructional effect on students' achievement, the acquisition of scientific conceptions, and the attitudes toward science was investigated. Considering several conceptual change models in literature and Korean educational situations, the conceptual change model was developed. The model consists of 5 stages; preliminary, prediction, exploration, consolidation and reconstruction, and application. The treatment and control groups (2 classes) were selected from a middle school in Seoul, and taught about the changes of states, density, and dissolution for three weeks. Prior to instruction, the Group Assessment of Logical Thinking and the Learning Approach Questionnaire were administered, and their scores were used as covariate and / or blocking variable. To examine students' alternative conceptions before the instructions, a pre-conceptions test was also administered. After the instructions, students' achievement, the acquisition of scientific conceptions, and the attitudes toward science were measured with a researcher-made achievement test, a post-conceptions test, and the subtests of the Test of Science-Related Attitudes, respectively. The results indicated that the score of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group in the post-conceptions test. The students in the treatment group had also less alternative conceptions than those in the control group. However, there were no significant differences for the achievement and the attitudes toward science. Educational implications are discussed.

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The Effect of an Instruction Using Analog Systematically in Middle School Science Class (중학교 과학 수업에서 비유물을 체계적으로 사용한 수업의 효과)

  • Noh, Tae-Hee;Kwon, Hyeok-Soon;Lee, Seon-Uk
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.323-332
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    • 1997
  • In order to use analog more systematically in science class, an instructional model was designed on the basis of analogical reasoning processes (encoding, inference, mapping, application, and response) in the Sternberg's component process theory. The model has five phases (introducing target context, cue retrieval of analog context, mapping similarity and drawing target concept, application, and elaboration), and the instructional effects of using the model upon students' comprehension of science concepts and motivation level of learning were investigated. The treatment and control groups (1 class each) were selected from 8th-grade classes and taught about chemical change and chemical reaction for the period of 10 class hours. The treatment group was taught with the materials based on the model, while the control group was taught in traditional instruction without using analog. Before the instructions, modified versions of the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey and the Group Assessment of Logical Thinking were administered, and their scores were used as covariates for students' conceptions and motivational level of learning, respectively. Analogical reasoning ability test was also administered, and its score was used as a blocking variable. After the instructions, students' conceptions were measured by a researcher-made science conception test, and their motivational level of learning was measured by a modified version of the Instructional Materials Motivation Scale. The results indicated that the adjusted mean score of the conception test for the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group at .01 level of significance. No significant interaction between the instruction and the analogical reasoning ability was found. Although the motivational level of learning for the treatment group was higher than that for the control group, the difference was found to be statistically insignificant. Educational implications are discussed.

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The Effect of Grouping by Students' Agreeableness in Cooperative Learning (협동학습에서 학생의 유화성에 따른 집단 구성의 효과)

  • Han, Jae-Young;Han, Su-Jin;Noh, Tae-Hee
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.717-724
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    • 2002
  • In this study. the effects of grouping by students' agreeableness in cooperative learning strategy applied to middle school science classes on their achievement. confidence, satisfaction, attitude toward science class, and cohesion of group members were investigated. One hundred and fifty-eight students were assigned to control group, homogeneous group and heterogeneous group, and taught about separation of mixture for 7 class hours. The results revealed that there was no significant difference in the achievement test scores. However, significant interaction between the instruction and the level of agreeableness were found in the satisfaction and the cohesion of group members. Students of higher agreeableness level in the homogeneous group were more satisfied with science class and cohesive. Students' attitude toward science class in the homogeneous group was also significantly higher than those in the other groups.

The Effect of Peer Discussion about Classroom Practices on Science Teachers' Teaching (수업에 대한 동료교사의 협의가 과학교사의 수업에 미치는 영향)

  • Seong, Suk-Kyoung
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.107-123
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    • 2010
  • This study investigated the content and the effect of peer discussion about classroom practices on their science teaching. Participants included three science teachers with chemistry backgrounds in middle and high schools. Each of them had their classes videotaped and observed the footage as well as discussed the lessons together. The teachers had six meetings on 15 recorded lessons including one meeting beforehand. Teachers' discussions were also audio-taped and the data was transcribed. Teachers extensively discussed their lessons not only in terms of instructional strategies and scientific concepts but also the curriculum organization and teaching goals. Analysis of video-recorded lessons showed that instructional strategies were changed partially, but the aspects of curriculum organization in relation to teaching goals were not changed. Analysis of the recorded data revealed that teachers recognized the problems in their science teaching and considered the practical alternative ideas suggested by peers, but teachers proposed the necessity of experience to practice in their class. The study shows that observing and discussing each other's classes is one possible way to improve the class. Implications about teaching improvement for other teachers were discussed.