• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.450-458
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• 2012

This study explored ways to implement a competencies-based curriculum in schools by reviewing exemplary cases that have introduced Key Competencies (KCs) in the school science curriculum. Since the OECD redefined key competencies as 'what people should know and do in order to lead a successful life in a well-functioning society', many countries have emphasized the use of a competencies-based curriculum. Foreign and domestic classroom cases, which have used a competencies-based curriculum in science teaching, were collected and analyzed. Through open-ended interviews with teachers and principals, we investigated changes of teachers' professional knowledge and practice that were evident as a result of the implementation of competencies-based curriculum in science class. Foreign science teachers suggested ways to relate competencies-based curriculum and science curriculum including maintaining a balance between competencies-based curriculum and content-based curriculum. They also integrated KCs into all subject-based curriculums, gave priority to KCs over subject matter knowledge, and developed KCs through teaching science contents that students wanted to learn. On the other hand, Korean science teachers suggested reconstructing competencies-based curriculum by extracting common attributes from the existing subject areas. They also made KCs realized through content teaching, and developed various KCs within science contexts. Implications of the competencies-based curriculum for science teaching and learning were discussed at the end.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.115-128
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to explore the direction of home economics education in order to strengthen students' competencies. We explored the direction of competency-based home economics class, and teaching and learning methods for strengthening subject competencies, then develop class case. The main research results of this study are as follows. First, in order to cultivate subject competencies, students should be the center of the education, class and evaluation by integrating of the curriculum-class-evaluation, so that they can grow into the subject of life. Second, to enhance subject competencies, case example of the home economics was presented focusing on integrating curriculum-class-evaluation. It is expected that this study will be able to integrate curriculum-class-evaluation into the concrete realization of subject competencies in home economics education.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.94-118
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore the multi-faceted understanding and issues of science subject matter competencies from the trends of competency-based curriculum discourse, and to examine the relationship between general core competencies and science subject matter competencies. First, we examined the theoretical background of competency-based curriculum focusing on behaviorism, humanism, and its comprehensive synthesis. After that, we reviewed OECD's competency-related projects (DeSeCo; OECD Education 2030), US Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Korea's 2015 Revised National Curriculum from the viewpoint of competency-based curriculum. After that, we summarized and systematically analyzed a list of competencies, 105 general core competencies and 45 science subject matter competencies proposed by 15 important documents from home and abroad. The results of this study are as follows: First, the issues of the proper number, appropriate dimension, and how individual competencies should be unique and independent were pointed, in terms of defining and categorizing competencies. Second, it was suggested that the competency items are presented in various dimensions such as personal-micro dimension, community meso-dimension, and social-macro dimension. Meso-dimension was placed on both general core competencies and subject matter competencies. Third, in the relationship between general core competencies and subject matter competencies, the former emphasizes macro-dimension, and the latter emphasizes micro-dimension, revealing an existing gap, and where the two can meet each other is the meso-dimension. These discussions are thought to provide insight into the understanding of competencies in the national curriculum, including the 2015 Revised National Curriculum.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.63-73
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• 2018

This research aims to analyze core competencies of engineering students in Korea as well as to explore the application plans of extracurricular activities(hereafter, ECA) and programs in order to enhance their core competencies. Participation in ECA has long been recognized as having positive benefits and impacts upon students. To achieve the purpose of this study, first, we investigated whether there were differences between core competencies in undergraduates according to majors, gender and grades. 'Core competencies', first introduced in management theory as 'core competency' can be defined as personal attributes or underlining characteristics, capable of delivering a role or job. 'Core competencies' has received particular attention in recent years and there has been much related research (domestic and foreign) combined with diverse factors. However, few studies have addressed the question on engineering student's core competencies as well as the ways of their enhancement. This study was conducted with a total of 286 students, and core competencies have been measured online, through K-CESA. Our findings show that firstly, there were significant differences in undergraduate students' core competencies by majors. Engineering students scored significantly lower in core competencies overall. Second, there was no significant difference in students' core competencies by gender and grade. Third, there was a significant correlation among components of core competencies. Finally, there was a significant correlation between core competencies and grades(GPA, grades in major subject & liberal arts subject), rather levels in the correlation were low. Furthermore, the study suggested that the appropriate application of extracurricular activities would enhance core competencies of students.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.81-108
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• 2012

One of the keyword in every nation's recent educational policy is key competencies. Considering national competitiveness originating from educational competitiveness, educational policy has been driven to identify key competencies and realize them through school education. Within this context some countries have developed competencies-based curriculum and discussed ways to relate key competencies and subject matter areas. However, there have been few researches on how to reflect or integrate key competencies into subject matter areas. Because of this reason, the ways to incorporate and integrate key competencies into three subject areas including mathematics were investigated. The recent trends of curriculum, teaching and learning, and assessment of domestic and foreign cases were explored by the subject of one Korean international middle school, one British foreign school in Seoul, one French foreign school in Seoul, and four middle schools in New Zealand. To establish competencies-based school education, there should be intimate connection system among curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment, and teacher education. Through analysis of domestic and foreign cases, some conclusions regarding how these aspects have changed with the emphasis of key competencies were drawn. In this paper, through classroom observation and teacher interview, a case of the competencies-based mathematics lessons of one French foreign school was investigated. As a result, summaries and recommendations related to ways to improve subject teaching and teacher education in light of key competencies were presented. In these recommendations, the ways to reconstruct subject-based curriculum, the content-specific teaching and learning, and educational assessment were included.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.215-238
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• 2012

One of the keyword in every nation's recent educational policy is key competencies. Considering national competitiveness originating from educational competitiveness, educational policy has been driven to identify key competencies and realize them through school education. Within this context some leading countries have developed competencies-based curriculum and discussed ways to relate key competencies and subject matter areas. However, there have been few researches on how to reflect or integrate key competencies into subject matter areas. Because of this reason, the ways to incorporate and integrate key competencies into three subject areas including mathematics were investigated. The recent trends of curriculum, teaching and learning, and assessment of domestic and foreign cases were explored by the subject of one Korean international middle school, one British foreign school in Seoul, one French foreign school in Seoul, and four middle schools in New Zealand. To establish competencies-based school education, there should be intimate connection system among curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment, and teacher education. Through analysis of domestic and foreign cases, some conclusions regarding how these aspects have changed with the emphasis of key competencies were drawn. In this paper, through classroom observations and teacher interviews, the reality of competencies-based mathematics teaching of New Zealand and France was investigated. As a result, summaries and recommendations related to ways to improve subject teaching and teacher education in light of key competencies were presented. In these recommendations, the ways to reconstruct subject-based curriculum, the content-specific teaching and learning, and educational assessment were included.

• (The)Korea Educational Review
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.5-33
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze leading teachers' opinions on key competencies and subject competencies presented in the 2015 revised national curriculum and to draw implications for competency-based curriculum development and implementation. The research findings show that leading teachers are generally positive about the introduction of key competencies, subject competencies setting and its feasibility and recognize that the key competencies are highly related to the subject competencies of each subject. However, it is judged that the key competencies and subject competencies are not embodied well in every aspect of the curriculum documents. They also recognize that in the practice of competency education, supporting the development of teachers' ability to conduct student-centered classes in a culture that enables voluntary research efforts of the teacher community can be the biggest issue rather than external support such as development of competency-centered textbooks or consulting and supervision. Finally, we propose the need for support and policy that enable voluntary efforts for interdisciplinary cooperation and strengthening teacher capacity rather than developing competency-centered textbooks; specification of competency education in educational content, pedagogical methods and assessment; reconsideration of subject competencies setting; maintaining the relationship between key competency and items that guide educational goals.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.433-448
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze two subject competencies (practical problem-solving capability and independent life capability) reflected in the activity tasks included in the 'home life and safety' area of 12 middle school technology-home economics textbooks in accordance with the 2015 revised curriculum. The analysis criteria were sub-elements of two subject competencies. Seven sub-elements were derived from each competency. Frequency analysis was performed to determine how often the sub-elements were reflected in the activity tasks. The results were as follows. First, with regard to the sub-elements of 'practical problem-solving capability', 'value judgment' was reflected most frequently in the activity tasks followed by 'exemplification of solution', 'logical thinking', 'critical thinking', 'decision-making', 'practical reasoning', and 'evaluation of solutions'. Secondly, the sub-elements of 'independent life capability' were unevenly distributed in the activity tasks. The 'capability to perform conscious living' was reflected most frequently followed by 'development and self-identity', 'time, money, and leisure management', and 'reasonable consumption and resource utilization'. For teachers wanting to teach activity-oriented classes and student participatory classes, the results pinpoint the materials necessary to develop learners' subject competencies by using textbooks from different publishing companies.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.97-111
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• 2020

In the 2015 revised curriculum, 'Integrated Science' was established to increase convergent thinking and designated as a common subject for all students to learn, regardless of career. In addition, the 2015 revised curriculum introduced 'competence' as a distinctive feature from the previous curriculum. In the 2015 revised curriculum, competencies are divided into core competencies of cross-curricular character and subject competencies based on academic knowledge and skills of the subject. The science curriculum contains five subject competencies: scientific thinking, scientific inquiry, scientific problem solving, scientific communication, scientific participation and life-long learning. However, the description of competencies in curriculum documents is insufficient, and experts' perceptions of competencies are not uniform. Therefore, this study examines the perceptions of science subjects in science high school teachers by deciding that comprehension of competencies should be preceded in order for competency-based education to be properly applied to school sites. First, we analyzed the relationship between achievement standards and subject competencies of integrated science through the operation of an expert working group with a high understanding of the integrated science achievement standards. Next, 31 high school science teachers examined the perception of the five subject competencies through a descriptive questionnaire. The semantic network analysis has been utilized to analyze the teachers' responses. The results of the analysis showed that the three curriculum competencies of scientific inquiry, scientific communication, scientific participation and life-long learning ability are similar to the definitions of teachers and curriculum documents, but in the case of scientific thinking and scientific problem solving, there are some gaps in perception and definition in curriculum documents. In addition, the results of the comprehensive analysis of teachers' perceptions on the five competencies show that the five curriculum competencies are more relevant than mutually exclusive or independent.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze field application of science subject competences of the 2015 revised curriculum for the second year of application. For this purpose, a survey with 133 elementary school teachers, and in-depth interviews with 10 teachers were conducted. According to the results, elementary school teachers had a positive awareness toward the science subject competence, which is a characteristic of the 2015 revised science curriculum, and teachers were applying the science subject competence to their own classes. This tendency was stronger in teachers in science-leading schools than in teachers in regular schools. Teachers wanted support for applying science subject competencies to their classes. To support this, it is necessary to provide the curriculum materials focused on science subject competencies, reinforce teacher training on competence-related curriculum, and activate the professional teacher community.