• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.183-203
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factor for improving elementary and secondary students' positive experiences about science (PES). In-depth interviews with 32 students and 8 teachers from 8 elementary and secondary Science Core schools were conducted to explore the factors for improving the student's PES. The analysis of the results reveal that the eight key factors which had a decisive impact on a student's PES were 'practice-centered exploratory activities', 'student-led class', 'positive and professional feedback', 'construction of knowledge through exploration', 'class considering student's interest and aptitude', 'use of materials related to real life', 'smooth communication and collaboration in group activities', and 'appropriate difficulty in learning content'. There were also five environmental factors that affected these key factors: 'teacher's professionalism for science classes', 'science class environment', 'teacher community in unit schools', 'change in curriculum', and 'scientific activities other than regular classes'. Based on these results, the practical implications for improving the student's PES are suggested.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to analyze elementary and secondary school teachers' recognition about engineering education in elementary and secondary school. For this, we surveyed elementary and secondary school teachers. The result of this study is as follow. First, most teachers perceived that engineering positively affect national competitiveness and development. They also found that engineering education helps student to select natural science and engineering field career. Moreover, they perceived that engineering contents are not applied in elementary and secondary schools curriculums, hence it does not stimulate interest in engineering. Therefore, they perceived that if engineering education contents are systematically applied in formal curriculum, it will have a positive effect on current engineering education. Second, most teachers perceived that roles of engineering education are to make students learn creative design and problem solving process and inform about the engineering field career. They perceived that the best grade to start engineering education is 4~6 grade in elementary school and the best way to apply engineering education is through distributing engineering education contents to related subjects. They also perceived that technology subject has the most relation to engineering education and science subjects; mathematics subject follow after.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.342-358
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice teachers' understanding of democratic citizenship. This study utilized the democratic citizenship frame to assess 17 participants' comprehension of this concept. The researcher designed a method course where participants in groups analyzed science activities to identify democratic citizenship components. Through the analysis of two science activities-one on energy and the other on climate change-and the development of science panels addressing various global issues, preservice teachers' understanding of democratic citizenship was enhanced. Preservice teachers showed a good understanding of critical thinking, communication and collaboration, and STS (science, technology, and society); and the most enhanced understanding of empathy, which was the least perceived in pre-survey, component of democratic citizenship. The democratic citizenship frame proved to be a valuable tool for teaching and learning this topic, particularly when applied to socioscientific issues in the classroom. More research-based revisions of the science curriculum are necessary, and more systematic practices with reflections are essential in teacher education.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.7
• /
• pp.507-518
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument for analysing secondary school science laboratory classroom. Three classroom of novice teachers were observed and administered Dana's (2001) situated laboratory activity instrument. Dana's situated laboratory activity instrument consists of eight categories. Each category includes four levels. Three doctoral students and two science education specialists participated in modification of the through 15 science education graduate students. To achieve reliability, the researcher and two raters observed and analyzed three videotaped classrooms through discussion. The finalized instrument was employed in four novice teacher' classes and result indicated the instrument to be useful in identifying the inquiry level of a secondary laboratory classroom. The inquiry level of four novice teachers was confirmation or observation.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore pre-physical education teachers' subjective perception on the athletics practical skill test of examination system for appointment secondary physical education teachers using Q-methodology. This study found three types of pre-teachers' subjective perception on the system. Type I is named 'the type of specialized facility support demand', Type II is named 'the type of professional technical guidance demand'. Type III is named 'the type of evaluation method improvement demand' In conclusion, the pre-physical education teachers hoped for the support of specialized facilities, the opportunity to receive professional skills, and the detailed preliminary guidance on evaluation methods and procedures.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.9 no.4 s.24
• /
• pp.317-328
• /
• 2005

The aim of this study is to investigate future teachers' skills that can make problem solving methods concrete for 7-11 year old students. For the students in the concrete operations level, solutions of word problems should also be taught by concreting. But most of teacher candidates can not solve the problems without algebra because they got used to solve the word problems with algebra during their high school and university education. In this study, whether the teacher candidates have the skills of solving the primary school level problems without using algebra or not are being observed. At the end of this observation it is determinated that primary level teacher candidates generally prefer using algebra operations because of their former habits. The results show that in the education of the primary level teacher candidates, there is the need of developing the solving skills using figures and diagrams without algebra rather than algebraic solutions in word problems.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.48-62
• /
• 2004

This research aimed to investigate whether Korean education programs for secondary science teachers reflect constructivist perspectives. To identify how to introduce the idea of constructivism and STS into the courses of the current Korean education programs for secondary science teachers, two programs were selected: the Qualifying In-service Program held in Seoul and the pre-service programs established in the four departments of science education of the Korean National University of Education in Chungbuk. The course guidebooks, syllabi, and text materials prepared for implementation of the courses were collected and analyzed. E-mail correspondence with the program instructors who had conveyed both ideas to the trainees provided us more precise information about the characteristics of the classes, such as the total time provided the ideas and the teaching strategies used to implement the classes. The results indicated that the pre-service programs included the ideas of constructivism and STS more than did the Qualifying In-service Program. It is necessary that the courses included in the Korean in-service program, in particular the Qualifying In-service Program for secondary science teachers, have to be more focused on the constructivist perspectives.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.484-499
• /
• 2015

This study explores the impact of a STEM integration teacher professional development program focusing on teachers' perception of engineering and their attitudes toward integrating engineering into teaching. A total of sixty-eight teachers from ten schools participated in the program for five days. Data are collected from three main sources including (1) pre and post concept maps probing teachers' perceptions about the engineering discipline, (2) a pre and post survey measuring teachers' self-efficacy of teaching science/mathematics within the engineering context, and (3) engineering integrated science and (or) mathematics lesson plans and teaching reflections. This study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research methods depending on the data we have collected. The results show that both science and math teachers thought that integrating engineering into teaching provided valuable outcomes, i.e., promoting students' learning about engineering and improving their interest in science or math through real-world problem solving exercises. Participants also felt more comfortable about integrating engineering in their teaching after the program. The results also imply that the teachers' understandings of engineering become more concrete after the program. This study also provides an overview of the challenges and advantages of teaching engineering in K-12 science and mathematics classrooms.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.74-84
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to get an implication on teacher education program, by exploring the difficulties pre-service elementary teachers have with their science lessons. 37 pre-service teachers were requested to write an anecdote about their science lessons during their 4 week practicum. By analyzing these anecdotes, the difficulties were grouped into several categories by the researcher, and then reconfirmed by the pre-service teachers themselves. The result showed that there were far more difficulties with practical work (cases: 48), than with content knowledge teaching (cases: 17). Among practical work related difficulties, the most frequent cases were: 1) when they have unexpected result different from scientific theory (cases: 10), 2) when they teach process skill and usage of lab equipments (cases: 8), and 3) when they do not have enough preparation for practical work (cases: 7). Unlike the result of preceding research on secondary pre-service teachers, there was no affective aspect problems. These difficulties also can be divided into 'problems' and 'dilemmas'. Whereas 'problems' can be settled by removing obstacles, 'dilemmas', a conflict-filled situation, require choices between competing values or aims. The use of scientific language, the decision on the level and amount of knowledge they teach, and disposal of unexpected experiment results caused such dilemmas in science lessons. The research results imply practical work should be more strengthened in the elementary teacher education program. And both teacher educators and pre-service teachers need to understand that practical teaching is a complex enterprise accompanying some 'dilemmas'. The role of science teachers as managers of dilemmas could be considered.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.755-764
• /
• 2007

This study examines secondary school science teachers' use of science museums in their teaching and their perception/evaluation/utilization of the educational programs in Korean science museums. We found that teachers do not use science museums in close connection with their formal education; therefore, the students' experiences usually are minimal or are personal experiences. The main reason for this infrequent use of science museums is not because of their insignificant educational effects, but because of the lack of external and administrative support systems. Science teachers want the museums to have structured/organized programs such as science camps or experiments and a lending program which would provide experimental equipment and exhibits relevant to the school science curriculum. 90% of teachers who answered the survey wanted to participate in developing and managing the educational programs of science museums. The educational programs would be used more effectively in relation to formal science learning if the science teachers, who are science education professionals, participated in managing and planning the educational programs of science museums.