• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.542-561
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among elementary school teachers' high school and college backgrounds in science, their attitudes toward teaching science, their science teaching efficacy beliefs, and their instructional strategies. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, were utilized in this study. This paper, however, presents only the results of the quantitative data analysis while expecting to report the qualitative data analysis outcomes afterwards. Four instruments were used to ascertain information concerning teachers' backgrounds in science(the number of high school science courses they took and the grades of courses, the number of college science courses and grades, the number of college science methods courses and grades), attitudes toward teaching science, science teaching self-efficacy beliefs(personal science teaching efficacy and science teaching outcome expectancy), and their instructional strategies(indirect, direct, and mixed methods). A sample of 340 practicing elementary school teachers participated in this study. To determine statistically significant results, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to relate teachers' backgrounds in science, attitudes toward teaching science, science teaching self-efficacy beliefs and their instructional strategies. The correlation coefficients were statistically significant regarding four variables, teachers' backgrounds in science, attitudes toward teaching science, science teaching self-efficacy beliefs, and instructional strategies investigated in this study. These results can be interpreted that programs of teacher preparations and trainings which include science and science methods courses should help prospective and practicing teachers change in their attitudes and beliefs toward science teaching. It is expected that future studies concerning teachers' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward teaching science can help to improve science teacher education in Korea.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2015

In this study, I used McAnallen Anxiety in Mathematics Teaching Survey Tool to analyze 214 South Korean elementary teachers' anxiety for teaching mathematics. From the analysis of ANOVA and Regression Model, I found that there are statistically significant differences among teachers regarding anxiety for teaching mathematics according to their academic backgrounds, certification levels and teaching experiences. On the other hand, there is no statistically significant difference according to their gender. From the findings of this study, I found that there is a possibility of reducing teachers' anxiety for teaching mathematics with teacher education programs.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.32
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• pp.133-166
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• 2013

Using the observation technique and in-depth interview, the current study compared various aspects of multicultural education between Korea and Canada and suggested the direction Korea's multicultural education needs to take. As a part of class curriculum, the researcher interviewed the representative of Ansan Foreign Center (AFC) and the president of the Kosian's House, a NGO for multicultural educations. The observations and experiences of the researcher were also used in this study. The results of the current study are as follows. First, multicultural education is provided for the minority group in Korea, whereas multiculturalism is included and taught for every student in Canada. In addition, the current multicultural education of Korea focuses on language and culture acquisition to help the students to adjust. Canada, on the other hand, focuses on accepting other cultures and ethnic equality, creating both identities as their ethnic origin and as Canadians. Second, in language educations, both countries had students enrolled in lower school years than their age. However, the differences occurred in terms of emotional support and availability of expert teachers. Third, comparing teacher's attitude towards multicultural education, Korean teachers were not free from perceiving the multicultural student as 'different', whereas Canadian teachers have been taught since little to consider multicultural students as Canadians, but accept their ethnic backgrounds. Based on the results, the current study suggested multicultural education program for the majority group, increase in number of expert language teachers and teaching assistants, and an education program to teach multiculturalism as part of an identity of humankind. The limitations and suggestions for future studies were provided afterwards.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.39-56
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• 2015

The aim of the study presented in this paper was to explore South Korean elementary teachers' knowledge regarding educational theory in mathematics. An independent t-test and ANOVA are applied to examine elementary teachers' knowledge regarding educational theory in mathematics. Findings of this study suggest that there is a negative correlation between the teachers' knowledge regarding educational theory in mathematics and their teaching experiences as well as the teacher certification level. However, there is a little affect of the teachers' gender and educational backgrounds on the teachers' knowledge regarding educational theory in mathematics. The results of this quantitative study may broaden our understanding of the South Korean elementary teachers' knowledge for teaching mathematics, which have a deep impact on their teaching practice.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.430-453
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to explore how an elementary school teacher developed PCK by utilizing her knowledge domains in teaching practice, regarding the specific science topic of 'animals:' A case study approach was adopted with the participation of a 1st grade teacher, in a poor urban neighborhood elementary school in NYC. Data was collected through interview and the participant observation method in order to investigate: a) the teacher's existing knowledge base in terms of subject matter knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and contextual knowledge; b) how she develops PCK during classroom practice, centering on the relationship between knowledge domains. The findings illustrate the ways in which the three knowledge domains are closely related and developed as PCK through the whole teaching process. In particular, the findings indicate that the teacher's contextual knowledge plays a critical role in shaping and developing PCK. Before instruction, her contextual knowledge regarding the administrative policies and the school test system in the district enabled her to make decisions and plans about teaching science. During classroom teaching, her knowledge of students' sociocultural backgrounds and living conditions in the urban setting helped her to identify specific teaching strategies and resources suitable to the students' needs and interests. The study results imply that science instruction can be more feasible in meeting the demands of particular groups of students if teachers make an effort to become knowledgeable about their own teaching context and utilize it in developing their PCK.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.313-333
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• 2013

In this research, the researchers constructed a survey questionnaire for measuring the multicultural competence of Korean mathematics teachers and administered the survey to 309 mathematics teachers. The analysis indicates that Korean mathematics teachers' level of multicultural competence is rather low (the mean is 2.636 and the standard deviation .290). In particular, the mean of the multicultural competence related to mathematics was lower than the mean of the multicultural competence in general. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the groups according to the length of teaching experience, the participation into the course in multicultural teacher education, and the experience of indirect exposure to people of different cultural background. On the contrary, the experience of direct exposure to people of different cultural background and teachers' major led to a significant difference in the within group comparison. Moreover, the analysis showed that mathematics teachers' level of competence in subject matter had significant impact on their teaching practice responsive to students' backgrounds. Based on the results, the researchers presented implications for the development of multicultural mathematics teacher education to enhance mathematics teachers' competence required for their teaching in culturally diverse school.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.177-201
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to create step by step guidelines for effective team teaching between Korean teachers of English and native English teachers in Korea. Although team teaching has been used from 1995 in the teaching of English in Korea, the effectiveness of team teaching has not been as high as we have hoped. An important reason for this failure is the lack of communication between the Korean teachers of English and the native English teachers. More specifically, the failure has resulted from not only a lack of opportunities for these teachers to communicate but also a lack of guidelines and strategies for improved intercultural communication between teachers from different cultural backgrounds. This study provides step by step guidelines for how to set up communication time, what to share, and how to set up effective team teaching in English education.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.17-36
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• 2007

This study examined educational and career backgrounds of 180 early childhood English teachers and curricula of training courses for early childhood English teachers in continuing education centers across 6 areas in Korea. Data analyses showed that (1) curricula for early childhood English teachers consists of basic practical conversation, English teaching skills, understanding early childhood education and general English knowledge. (2) Most teachers are women between 30 to 40 years of age, university graduates with majors in English literature, English education and/or early childhood education with confidence in speaking in and listening to English. (3) They were satisfied with their retraining courses. (4) English pronunciation skill was not always related to English conversation skill, but clarity of pronunciation influenced teaching confidence.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.246-255
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of the students about expectation and performance on the elementary teachers' science teaching. For this study, questionnaires were made based on the advanced article, and conducted to 279 elementary school students. The collected data were analyzed by the t-test, ANOVA, and $Scheff{\grave{e}}$. The results of this study were as follows: The perceptions of the students on the elementary teachers performance can not reach to those of their expectation. There was statistically significant difference in the some of the sub-domains of expectation and performance according to personal backgrounds (gender, grade, and interest toward science class). Based on the result of this study, implications to improve teachers' professionalism about science teaching were suggested.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-191
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to acquire in-depth understanding regarding teachers' experiences with North Korean defectors' young children during their initial settlement period at Pyeonghwa Kindergarten. The participants of this study included 2 kindergarten teachers and 15 North Korean defectors' young children along with 3 local classmates. Qualitative data was collected via interviews and in-class observations. The study results show that (1) teachers witnessed that North Korean defectors' young children came from diverse backgrounds and struggled with emotional insecurity while local classmates were being excluded by them, (2) teachers had difficulties to communicate and make a consensus with their parents while teachers' efforts to communicate were being paid off gradually, and (3) teachers felt that kindergarten education was de-prioritized administratively to elementary education, and many programs were cancelled due to lack of understanding of in-charge staff.