• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.303-315
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• 2016

Socioscientific issues (SSI), by their nature, are conceptually embedded in technology. Previous research reported that nature of technology (NOT), unlike nature of science, was quite explicitly manifested in SSI decision-making, and NOT could be a promising construct for promoting SSI reasoning. In this study, authors introduced an integrated conceptual framework for NOT, which consisted of four dimensions (i.e., artifacts, knowledge, practice and system) as diverse modes of technology. We adapted the framework to investigate students' conceptualizations of NOT in the context of various SSIs. Data was collected from 45 college students enrolled in a liberal arts course on science and technology. The students participated in a team project, where they prepared and led discussions for SSI topics in class. Seven topics concerning SSIs were selected by students themselves. The preparation and class discussion of each student group were audio-recorded, and final reports were also analyzed. As a result, NOT sub-components in the dimensions of artifacts and system were explicitly represented in most contexts of SSI with various ranges of understanding. Other sub-components under the dimensions of knowledge and practice were rarely or implicitly shown in the discussion. The depth of students' understanding on NOT varied. Implications for science education were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2013

This study examined value-judgement and decision-making process of middle school students on three biotechnology related socioscientific issues (SSI) (i.e. designer baby, amniotic fluid test, and embryonic stem cell research). In particular, it focused on the level of consistency in their value application to the decisions. Twenty 8th grade students participated in the SSI program. The participants were asked to mark their positions on each issue before and after the debates. All classroom and sub-group debates were audio-recorded. The researcher conducted individual interviews with 10 students after the program. The results show three patterns emerging. First, five students applied their personal values in a consistent manner when making decisions on the three consecutive issues. Second, three students demonstrated incremental resoluteness in their value application as the sessions proceeded and had tendency to be oriented towards a specific value, more so towards the end of the program than the beginning. And third, four students gradually showed ambivalence in their decisions as they participate in the program. The results suggest that science teachers addressing SSI need to encourage students to be aware of their own values and to engage in internalized decision-making in light of those values. They also need to be aware of the possible challenges that students might feel in their decision-making process caused by the complexity of SSI.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the argumentations of group and classroom discussions in socioscientific issues (SSI) discussion classes. Twenty-seven high school students participated in the SSI discussion classes on nuclear power generation. We observed and recorded the classes and also conducted semi-structured interviews. For the analyses, we revised a previous framework that was developed to analyze dialogic argumentations in the context of SSI. The analyses of the results indicated that there were more discourse schemes in the classroom discussions than the group discussions which are related to awareness and openness to multiple perspectives, evidence based reasoning, and on-going inquiry and skepticism. And there were few discourse schemes related to moral and ethical sensitivity in the group and classroom discussions. Various grounds, data, and information were presented in the classroom discussions. Students concentrated on carrying their claims and were not able to sympathize with and accept other opinions. Therefore, there were few discourse schemes to reach consensus. In addition, they perceived classroom discussions as competitive and actively rebutted other claims or grounds. The levels of argumentation were also high in the classroom discussions. The group discussions were held in relaxed atmosphere, and they asked the opponents more for clarification or additional information and evidences. However, classroom discussions were held in serious atmosphere, and they actively queried the validity of the claims or grounds. Based on the results, some suggestions to implement SSI discussion classes were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.787-797
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the features of using smart devices in socioscientific issues (SSI) debate classes. Twenty-seven high school students in Gyeonggi-do participated in this study. The processes of the SSI debate classes with smart devices were classified into five stages: data searching, data sharing, summary and organization of data, debate in the classroom, and online debate. Then some features at each stage were identified. It was found that they collected self-directed and in-depth data while reflecting their knowledge and experience, and selected data which were easy to understand at the stage of data searching. The specificity and validity of the evidences gathered and the clarity of the sources were improved at the stage of data sharing, although they shared more data offline than online. They organized their data by using paper rather than smart devices at the stage of summary and organization of data. Most of them failed to use the summary in debate. They argued and refuted based on concrete grounds at the stage of debate in the classroom, which raised students' interest in debate and led students to participate actively. At the stage of online debate, they were able to rearrange and review the arguments of both sides, and the participation of the students who were passive in classroom debate was enhanced. Based on these results, we suggest some effective teaching methods for SSI debate classes using smart devices.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.169-177
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• 2015

Since socioscientific issues (SSI) reflect various characteristics of new technologies designed to meet the incessant human needs in the contemporary society, this study explores the feasibility of adapting nature of technology (NOT) to analyze students' socioscientific decision-making. To achieve the aim, forty-five college students enrolled in a liberal arts course on science and technology studies participated in the study and responded to a GMO (golden rice) scenario in a written form. Four major viewpoints were identified from their writing: 1) is the technological artifact able to solve a societal problem?, 2) are there some alternatives to solve the societal problem?, 3) what kinds of side effects or flaws could turn up during distribution and consumption of the technological artifact?, and 4) can we cope with the technological uncertainty? We revisited the viewpoints within the NOT framework (technology as a 'fix,' cultural context and role of values, technological trade-offs, technology as a system, and technological progression). As a result, unlike NOS, NOT were quite explicitly represented in their decision-making and students' level of understanding on NOT varied. It indicates that NOT can be a promising construct for cultivating informed SSI decision-making.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.431-440
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the K Teachers' Community, which brought about changes in the perception of SSI education by teachers with experience in SSI, and to explore its relevance to the development of SSI professions. This is a case study that describes in depth the characteristics of the K teachers' community. The study conducted semi-structured as well as in-depth interviews with six teachers who have more experience in SSI education activities for over 20 years. The K teachers' community has three characteristics. First, the K teachers' community formed identity by discussing the nature of science and technology, which allowed teachers to share a common orientation toward the goals of science education. Second, the teachers who participated in the K teachers' community formed professionalism and confidence in SSI teaching in the course of producing, sharing, and spreading SSI through its various practices. Third, the K teachers' community is continuously growing by opening themselves to external communities and co-evolution through solidarity. The success of K Teachers' Community may inform other teachers how the community of teaching practices can develop and maintain, and in turn can help the members of the community develop their professional identity as teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.509-521
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• 2015

Argumentation is a social and collaborative dialogic process. A large number of researchers have focused on analyzing the structure of students' argumentation occurring in the scientific inquiry context, using the Toulmin's model of argument. Since SSI dialogic argumentation often presents distinctive features (e.g. interdisciplinary, controversial, value-laden, etc.), Toulmin's model would not fit into the context. Therefore, we attempted to develop an analytical framework for SSI dialogic argumentation by addressing the concepts of 'discourse clusters' and 'discourse schemes.' Discourse clusters indicated a series of utterances created for a similar dialogical purpose in the SSI contexts. Discourse schemes denoted meaningful discourse units that well represented the features of SSI reasoning. In this study, we presented six types of discourse clusters and 19 discourse schemes. We applied the framework to the data of students' group discourse on SSIs (e.g. euthanasia, nuclear energy, etc.) in order to verify its validity and applicability. The results indicate that the framework well explained the overall flow, dynamics, and features of students' discourse on SSI.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.467-480
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• 2018

This study aims to investigate how flipped learning-based socioscientific issue instruction (FL-SSI instruction) affected middle school students' key competencies and character development. Traditional classrooms are constrained in terms of time and resources for exploring the issues and making decision on SSI. To address these concerns, we designed and implemented an SSI instruction adopting flipped learning. Seventy-three 8th graders participated in an SSI program on four topics for over 12 class periods. Two questionnaires were used as a main data source to measure students' key competencies and character development before and after the SSI instruction. In addition, student responses and shared experience from focus group interviews after the instruction were collected and analyzed. The results indicate that the students significantly improved their key competencies and experienced character development after the SSI instruction. The students presented statistically significant improvement in the key competencies (i.e., collaboration, information and technology, critical thinking and problem-solving, and communication skills) and in two out of three factors in character and values as global citizens (social and moral compassion, and socio-scientific accountability). Interview data supports the quantitative results indicating that SSI instruction with a flipped learning strategy provided students in-depth and rich learning opportunities. The students responded that watching web-based videos prior to class enabled them to deeply understand the issue and actively engage in discussion and debate once class began. Furthermore, the resulting gains in available class time deriving from a flipped learning approach allowed the students to examine the issue from diverse perspectives.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.911-920
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• 2017

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of community-based SSI programs (SSI-COMM) regarding "fine dust" on promoting middle school students' understanding of community issues and their character and values as citizens. SSI-COMM on fine dust was implemented in 4 middle schools located in Seoul, and 151 7th graders participated in the program lasting over 8 weeks. Data was collected through two questionnaires (i.e. students' understanding of issues, and character and values as citizens) and individual interviews with selected students. Results indicated that there were statistically significant increases in their understanding of fine dust issue after the program. In addition, the program significantly contributed to enhancing students' character and values, especially in the domains of social and moral compassion and socioscientific accountability. Student interviews revealed that they became more aware of the local community problems caused by fine dusts and started to consider what efforts should be made to solve them. They also felt individual responsibility for the occurrence of fine dust, and the need for participation and practice of community activities for vulnerable groups in affected areas.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.404-420
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• 2024

Many risk-related issues within the realm of science education have been addressed through science-technology-related socioscientific issues (SSI) education. It has been established that the topics categorized as SSI are interconnected with risk-related issues. These topics emphasize numerous points of convergence with the goals of SSI education, particularly in understanding and analyzing risks, including risk assessment, risk management, and risk decision-making. Such understanding can aid in grasping the complexity of SSI based on risk-related issues and facilitate informed decision-making by structuring debates. Although there has been discourse on the need for education aimed at future survival and reflection on the responsibilities and roles of education in risk-prone societies, concepts or strategies related to actual risk responses are rarely addressed in science education and schools. Education tailored to risk-prone societies is not yet well established. This study explored the incorporation of climate change risk education into science education. A framework for climate change risk education was developed, encompassing seven elements, with corresponding definitions and examples. The researchers applied this framework to evaluate the extent to which climate change risk education is integrated into the current science curriculum of Korea. Additionally, SSI lesson scenarios related to climate change were analyzed using this risk education framework to determine the types and extent of risk education incorporated. The findings underscore the importance of teaching climate change risk education to equip students for rational decision-making.