• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.781-792
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• 2018

In modern society, as technology develops and industry diversifies, students can choose from a variety of career paths. Since science, technology, engineering, and mathematics require a longer education and experience than other fields, it is important to design science education policies based on the competencies required for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. This study explores the definition of science and technology manpower and STEM occupations and identifies core competencies of STEM occupations using standard job information operated and maintained by the US Department of Labor ($O^*NET$). We specially analyzed ratings of the importance of skills (35 ratings), knowledge (33 ratings), and work activities (41 ratings) conducting descriptive analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). As a result, core competencies of STEM occupations consist of STEM problem-solving competency, Management competency, Technical competency, Social service competency, Teaching competency, Design competency, Bio-chemistry competency, and Public service competency, which accounts for 70% of the total variance. This study can be a reference for setting the curriculum and educational goals in secondary and college education by showing the diversity of science and technology occupations and the competencies required for STEM occupations.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.63
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• pp.221-253
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to define the key competency as Christian(in another word: Christian key competency) and to interpret the six key competencies of the 2015 revised curriculum in a Christian educational way. Also as an alternative to the key competencies model of the 2015 revised curriculum, this study aims to materialize the formation of a Christian key competencies model based on Christian faith. This study derived 'faith' from the key competencies as Christian throughout preceding research analysis. The 'faith' of the key competencies as Christian means the ability to know oneself, and to know the world and God within the knowledge of the Bible (knowledge of God) in the personal relationship with God, and also it is the ability to think, judge, and act with biblical values, Christian world view, and Christian self-identity. The key competency 'faith' could be the basis (standard) of motivation, attitude and the value of all competencies in cultivation and exercise. The model of Christian key competencies has the structure in which each six key competencies become to be cultivated based on the Christian key competency called "faith." Based on the structure, the six key competencies of the 2015 revised curriculum were interpreted and explained from the perspective of Christian education. In the self-management competency, self-identity can be correctly formed in relations with transcendent God. In aesthetic emotional competency, the empathic understanding of human beings comes from the understanding of the image of God, the supreme beauty, the source of beauty. About the community competency, human community is the source of God who created the universe, human and all of things. It is because a Christian community is a community within the relationship of Trinity God, Nature and others. Therefore regions, countries, and the world become one community. Communication competency first stem from good attitudes toward yourself and others with respectful mind. It comes from an understanding of Christian human beings. Also, there is a need of having a common language for communications. The common language is the Bible that given to us for our communicative companionship. Through the language of the Bible, God made us to know about God, human being and the creative world, and also made us to continue to communicate with God, others and the world. For having the knowledge-information processing competency, a standard of value for the processing and utilization of knowledge and information is required. The standard should be the basis of moral and ethical values for human respect. About creative thinking competency, the source of creativity is God who created the world. Human beings who have the image of God own creative potential. As well as, creativity has different expression forms depending on individual preferences and interests, and different approaches will be made depending on each individual's importance and achievement. Individual creativity can be found through education, and it can be embodied by converging knowledge, skills and experience.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2014

Changes are expected in the future, and the future society will expect changes in education. Science curriculum needs to reflect such demands for changes in the future of education. Hence, this study explored ways to reflect the changes demanded by the future society in science education. In this study, we investigated the major issues and directions for improvements based on the findings from questionnaires given to 447 primary and secondary school science teachers as well as in-depth interviews with 12 experts. We explored the problems of the 2009 revised national science curriculum including organization of science elective courses, fusion 'science' as an elective course, intensive course-taking of science, career-focused science curriculum, variation of completion units in science elective courses, and fairness of science elective course selection in college entrance. In addition, we proposed ways to organize science curriculum around core competencies and STEAM education suggested by science teachers. According to the results, we need to add such key competencies as basic learning abilities, self-identity, and moral competencies to science curriculum in addition to existing key competencies including problem solving and communication. Regarding the fusion science, experts contended that convergence of science courses should come before that of science and other subjects, and that STEAM with science as the axis was the desired form of convergence. We also need to establish a curriculum development center that exclusively focuses on science curriculum research and development.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.439-467
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• 2022

The future society requires not only knowledge but also various competencies, including creativity, cooperative spirit and integrated thinking. This research develops a program for integrating mathematics and information science to enhance important mathematical competencies such as problem-solving and communication. This program does not require much prior knowledge, can be motivated using everyday language and easy-to-access tools, and is based on creative problem-solving activities with multilateral cooperation. The usefulness and rigor of mathematics are emphasized as the number of participants increases in the activities, and theoretical principles stem from the matrix theory over finite fields. Moreover, the activity highlights a connection with error-correcting codes, an important topic in information science. We expect that the real-world contexts of this program contribute to enhancing mathematical communication competence and providing an opportunity to experience the values of mathematics and that this program to be accessible to teachers since coding is not included.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.87-103
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• 2024

The content system table of the subject-matter curriculum is considered important in the Korean national curriculum, textbook writing, and teaching and learning in the classroom. However, studies that comprehensively organize the issues concerning the format of the subject-matter curriculum content system have been scarce. This study scrutinized the evolution of the content system from its inception in The 6th Curriculum to the most recent 2022 Revised National Curriculum, focusing on science curricular. The following issues and suggestions were derived for the format of the subject content system. First, caution should be exercised in using terms such as "domain," "field," and "category," and it should be clarified whether these terms are intended simply for logical differentiation or to serve as a content organizer with a specific emphasis. Second, the nature of components such as "core ideas," which can serve as innovative content organizers, should be strictly defined. Third, while the introduction of three-dimensional content elements such as "knowledge and understanding," "process and skill," and "value and attitude" is viewed positively, it is suggested that a further delineation be made, elaborating how each can be utilized to form core competencies. Fourth, the construction of the subject-specific content system in national curriculum needs caution because whether it will resolve or exacerbate the 'disparity between general curriculum and subject-matter curriculums' is uncertain. Finally, as an apparent pendulum motion of the subject-matter content system is observed in national curriculum documents, efforts should be made to ensure that it does not result in meaningless repetition, but instead achieves meaningful dialectical progress.