• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.903-927
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• 2012

The study aimed to analyze middle school students construction of physics inquiry problems for open inquiry from the viewpoint of variable isolation and clarification, and investigate students' difficulties during the processes of variable isolation and clarification to get implications for teaching and learning strategies for small group open inquiry activities which have been included in the 2007 national curriculum. The participants were 4 students who had attended an outreach program for the science gifted run by a university institution located in Seoul area. They performed an open inquiry on egg drop for 13 lessons for 30 hours. Level descriptions for variable isolation and clarification have been developed and applied to analyze students' inquiry problems and variables included by the problems. Students iterated inquiry processed 5 times and the inquiry problem showed progress gradually. Dependent variables have been isolated ahead and the levels of variable isolation and clarification showed higher than the independent variables. Many kinds of independent variables isolated extensively and the independent variables and control variables have been mingled. One of the reasons why students had some difficulties in isolation of independent variables could be the absence of theoretical models. The realities of school lab could restrict the variable isolation and clarification as well as topic selections. Some sensory or extensive variables such as broken eggs and drop height seem to be salient to be focused on as core variables. Lack of background knowledges could be one of the reasons for students' difficulties in variable clarification, such as theoretical definitions and operational definitions. As a result of lacking background knowledges, students could not construct theoretical models even though they could isolate and clarify variables as scientific lexical definitions. Some perceptions of inquiry as trial and error or reckless establishment of causal relations between variables could be accounted as one reason.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.694-708
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• 2011

In this study, we developed tasks including cognitive scaffolding for students to explain scientific phenomena using valid evidences in science classroom and sought to investigate how tasks influence the development of small group scientific argumentation. Heterogeneous small groups in gender and achievement were organized in one classroom and the tasks were applied to the class. Students were asked to write down their own ideas, share individual ideas, and then choose the most plausible opinion in a group. One group was chosen for investigating the effect of tasks on the development of small group argumentation through the analysis of discourse transcripts of the group in 10 lessons, students' semi-structured interview, field note, and students' pre- and post argument tests. The discrepant argument examples were included in the tasks for students to refute an argument presenting evidences. Moreover, comparing opinion within the group and persuading others were included in the tasks to prompt small group argumentation. As a result, students' post-argument test grades were increased than pre-test grades, and they argued involving evidences and reasoning. The high level of arguments has appeared with high ratio of advanced utterances and lengthening of reasoning chain as lessons went on. Students had elaborate claims involving valid evidences and reasoning by reflective and critical thinking while discussing about the tasks. In addition, tasks which could have various warrants based on the data led to students' spontaneous participation. Therefore, this study has significance in understanding the context of developing small group argumentation, providing information about teaching and learning context prompting students to construct arguments in science inquiry lessons in middle school.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.346-356
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of elementary science gifted students' modification of scientific explanations based on evidences. For this study, sixteen $6^{th}$ elementary students were participated. The subjects of this study were enrolled in the program for the science gifted. Students were asked to generate initial hypotheses before experiment, and to modify and revise their scientific explanations based on the experiments about water rising in burning candle(s). All the processes of small group discussion during the inquiry were audio-recorded. Students' modification of their scientific explanations were appeared in three types: 1) appropriate connections among evidences, reasoning, and claims, 2) disconnections among evidences, reasoning, and claims and/or use of inappropriate reasoning, 3) scientific explanations without their own understanding. Other problems that students encountered in the processes of modification of their explanations were also discussed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.12-26
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of reasoning in which $3^{rd}$ grade elementary school students form ideas, design experiments, and interpret the results to solve problems in small group argumentation. For this purpose, 12 3rd-grade students' small group argumentations including experiments were observed. The researchers analyzed students' pre- and post-open questionnaires, field notes, and video recordings of small group argumentation. The results of the research are as follows. First, in the initial opinion formation process, a hasty unification of opinions and a transformation of inquiry problem occurred. In the design and execution of experiments, verification experiments and unplanned and arbitrary experiments were performed. They also selectively noticed or accepted claims, evidence, interpretation, and criticism. They could distinguish between the condition and the cause, but they were confused by using inaccurate terms and tended to keep the initial opinions when interpreting the results and drawing conclusions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.91-103
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• 2017

This study has developed the earth science class model based on flipped learning and analyzed the effects of that model at the elementary pre-teachers' science classes. The model of this study, the material which was consists of all contents and information about classes was offered to learners before science class as a substitute for preceding homework at general flipped learning. In science class, the knowledges which were recorded in materials were explained directly to learners by instructor for 20minutes. So the learners resolved some inquiry questions in materials through mutual debate collaboration with learners in small group. After inquiry questions' resolving, the learner among small group makes a presentation in front of the whole class. At the same time, the instructor evaluated learning action of all small groups' learners during the classes as process evaluation. The final evaluation results of semester were obtained scores of the small group in 14 classes and the achievements of individual portfolio as final exam. The learners were very positive perception to this science class model, why it is helped to concentrate on the class, extended debating and thinking ability. Consequently, the class model of this study is useful to applicate the earth science classes.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-122
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• 2018

It is crucial to understand the characteristics of learner questioning due to the effects it has on learning. This study focuses on the effects of middle school students questioning on their academic achievement in an online inquiry learning environment. A survey of 827 middle school students was conducted; the students took part in an online math and science program offered by a center for the gifted. Throughout the survey, learner questioning was analyzed, and its correlation with academic achievement was investigated. An analysis was based on questioning categories of a low- and high-level questions from previous studies. Through the survey, it was found that the number of learner questions asked in the online environment was small, but the number of low- and high-level questions were almost equal. Secondly, the higher the academic achievement level of the student, the higher the possibility they would ask either low- or high-level questions. Lastly the group of students in both low- and high-levels of questioning earned the highest average scores on formative evaluations and inquiry tasks. This indicates that regardless of the level of questions, the act of questioning itself is highly related to the academic achievement. However, in the case of advanced learning projects, the quality of questioning and high-level questioning affected the academic achievement of students. Based on these results, implications for the encouragement of learner questioning and support for asking high-level question are suggested.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.415-429
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• 2011

In the elementary science classroom, inquiry-based learning activities are often limited to students' hands-on experiences. As a result, students often overlook core concepts they are supposed to acquire from the inquiry activities and show difficulties in applying those concepts in a real life context. To make a connection between the hands-on activities and the concept leaning, a small-group discussion can be considered. In this study, we designed a team-based learning (TBL) model for the elementary science classroom. We developed teaching and learning materials for the "Comfortable Environments" unit in the 6th grade curriculum based on the TBL model. After appling the model with 32 6th grade students, we compared the TBL participants' level of concept understanding and attitudes toward science before and after the intervention, and also compared them with their counterpart control group who participated in a traditional classroom. The results showed that the level of concept understanding of the TBL participants were higher than that of the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference found in attitudes toward science between the TBL participants and the control group. In addition, the interviews with the TBL participants showed that they positively perceived the TBL experiences.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2002

In this experiment we emphasized the cooperative small group learning and the members of my group worked together to succeed and communicate their mathematics ideas freely. The researcher(teacher) became an observer and facilitator of small group interaction, paying attention to the ongoing learning process, Sometimes the researcher suggested some investigation approach(or discovery)being written by computer software or papers. In this experiment we provided 6 activities as follows : (1) changing the conditions in given problem. (2) operating the meaningful heuristics with the problem sets. (3) creating the problem situations related to understanding (4) creating the Modeling situations. (5) creating the problem related to combinatorial thinking in real world. (6) posing some real problem from real world. we could observed several conjectures First, Attitude and chility to interpret the problem setting is highly important to pose the problem effectively. Second, Generating the understanding can be a great tool to pose the problem effectively. Third, Sometimes inquiry approach represented by software or programmed book could be some motivation to enhance the posing activities. Forth, The various posing activities relate to one concept could give the students some opportunity to be adaptable and flexible in the their approach to unfamiliar problem sets.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.719-739
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to find the effect of the astronomical learning program using SGIM on metacognition and science process skills in the elementary scientific gifted students. For this purpose, this research developed the astronomical learning program using SGIM. This program was totally consisted 9 lessen. there was 6 part in this program. It contained select the subject and small grouping (step 1-2), planing inquiry (step 3), doing inquiry (step 4-6), making a report (step 7), announcing (step 8), evaluation (step 9). To find the effect of the astronomical learning program using sgim on metacognition and science process skills in the elementary scientific gifted students. 20 participants was selected. These students were attended at a scientific gifted class (3rd grade) of an elementary school located in Ulsan. First, metacognition test and science process skills test was used to find the effect of the astronomical learning program using SGIM. And the results were analyzed by SPSSWIN 18.0. The results of this study were as follows. First, the astronomical learning program using SGIM was a positive effects on metacognition of the elementary scientific gifted students (t=3.371, p=.001). Second, the astronomical learning program using SGIM was a positive effects on science process skills of the elementary scientific gifted students (t=3.104, p=.021). According to this research, the astronomical learning program using SGIM was verified to improve metacognition and science process skills on the elementary scientific gifted students. It will be contribute on the curriculum construction of the gifted school or gifted class.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.201-220
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• 2013

This study focused on science activities that need collaborative inquiry process and evaluate the effects of small group's science cooperative learning according to personality types on young children's science activities. The subjects are 30 five-year-old kindergarteners. They have been divided equally into three groups, extroversion(E), interversion(I), and heterogeneous group of EI mixed group depending on EI indicators through K-ABC cognitive ability tests and MMTIC personality types targeting. Both of groups have 10 members each. For data analysis, scientific attitude was analyzed with ANCOVA, scientific knowledge development was done with frequency analysis. As a result, first there was a difference in scientific knowledge development between the homogeneous group and heterogeneity group in small group's cooperative learning. Through the results of a Scheffe post-hoc test, there was a significant difference between E and I homogeneous groups but there was no difference between I homogeneous group and the heterogeneity group, and between E homogeneous group and the heterogeneity group, I homogeneous group had the most effective group composition in scientific attitude improvement.