• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.253-262
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• 2017

This study aims at investigating the perceptions of science teachers about the role of visual representations in the teaching of electromagnetism, and finding out how science teachers use visual representations in their teaching of electromagnetism and the difficulties they experience in dealing with those representations. A total of 121 science teachers responded to the online survey. The results showed that most of the teachers agreed to the significance of using visual representations in the classroom but regarded their role as means of simply delivering science knowledge rather than constructing or generating knowledge. For the three visual representations widely used in teaching of electromagnetism in secondary schools (electrostatic induction on electroscope, magnetic field around current carrying wire, structure and principle of electric motor), the teachers preferred teacher-centered use of visual representations rather than student-centered and teacher's construction of representations were the most frequent among four types of use; interpretation, construction, application, and evaluation. The difficulties of teaching with these three visual representations were categorized into several factors; teachers, students, the characteristics of the representations, and lack of resources and classroom environment. Teachers' limited perceptions about the role of visual representations were associated with the ways of using visual representations in their teaching. Implications for the effective use of visual representations for science learning and teaching were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.387-400
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• 2016

In preparation for the adoption of software(SW) education in Korea by 2018, this study examined Korean teachers' perceptions and attitudes toward SW education and their relationship with teacher characteristics. By using the Stages of Concern Questionnaire, we conducted a survey of 92 teachers who participated in an introductory level of SW teacher training. The findings indicated that 1) the teachers' profile follows the typical nonuser pattern focusing on more self-concern, with the strongest intensity at Stage 0-Unconcerned and 1-Informational concern and the lowest at Stage 4-Consequence. However, teachers' stages of concern differed from the teachers' characteristics. Male teachers exhibited more concerns at Stage 4-Consequences, Stage 5-Collaboration, and Stage 6-Refocusing than female teachers. In addition, the teachers with higher SW proficiency, SW training experiences, and longer SW teaching experience showed higher intensity at Stage 4, 5, and 6 than their counterparts. The study suggests that the implementation of SW education would be effective and facilitated when teachers receive on-going and appropriate interventions and educational supports based on their individual concerns.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.427-447
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• 2011

This research looked into the recognitions of a teacher's discernment & recommendations of gifted elementary students targeting 184 elementary school teachers in Seoul district and compared and contrasted their awareness in order to confirm whether there existed a difference in the discernment of gifted elementary students according to their awareness level of professionalism in gifted and talented education. The research results are as follows: There appeared a significant difference in teachers' recognitions level of professionalism in gifted education according to their experience relevant to a gifted elementary student. The teachers, in the process of observations & nominations of gifted elementary students, pointed out creativity, learning motive and attitude as the highest judging standard and also regard such elements as discerning criteria of gifted students. In the process of observations & nominations of gifted elementary students, it was found that teachers' recognitions of importance of discerning criteria of gifted elementary students in relation to parents or fellow teachers' recommendations appeared relatively lower than their recognitions of importance in relation to learning ability, creativity, learning motive and attitude. The research results showed that a group of teachers, who have a high recognitions level of the professionalism in gifted education in the process of observations & nominations of gifted students, perceive the realm of creativity, learning motive, and attitude as more important. This suggests the necessity of elevating teachers' awareness level of professionalism in gifted and talented education in order to discern high-quality gifted students in the process observations & nominations of gifted elementary students putting emphasis on the realm of creativity, learning motive, and attitude.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.140-156
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• 2010

This study aimed to investigate how science teachers perceived major features of the 2007 revised science curriculum and implementing them in classes. The 2007 revised science curriculum included critical features such as creativity, open inquiry, science writing, discussion and STS. In terms of necessity, clarity and complexity of those features for curriculum implementation, teacher perceptions were examined. Particularly with regard to open inquiry assigned 6 class periods per semester as one of the critical features of 2007 revised science curriculum, we asked teachers how they would prepare and implement the technique in their teaching. In results of this study, science teachers agreed on the necessity and importance of those major features of the 2007 revised science curriculum, including creativity, open inquiry, science writing, discussion, and STS. However, they were not clear on how those would work in their classrooms and expected various impediments. Open inquiry was specifically perceived as most negative in its implementation with the mention of various complex reasons. Based on findings in this study, we proposed the 'Dual Action Research Model' for curriculum implementation. It tries to explain how curriculum is implemented in classrooms and diminish the gaps between curriculum developers and teacher users by means of leading teachers to understand the curriculum meaningfully and implement their teaching based on this understanding.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.480-500
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• 2022

In this study, the perception and demands on the use of realistic content were analyzed through in-depth interviews with elementary school teachers experienced in using realistic content in science classes. Specifically, the following questions were investigated: (1) What kind of realistic content and how do elementary school teachers use it in science classes? (2) What are the perceptions and difficulties of elementary school teachers regarding the use of realistic content in science classes? (3) What are the needs of elementary school teachers related to the professional development program for the use of realistic content in science classes? The study revealed the following results. First, elementary school teachers mainly used digital textbooks and realistic content provided by the "Science Level Up" site, and the content types could be classified into "exploration type," "visit type," and "production type," according to the purpose of use. Second, elementary school teachers mentioned the educational advantages of using realistic content to help students understand scientific content, induce interest and curiosity, and become immersed in a sense of reality. Several difficulties related to the use of realistic content were mentioned. Among them, the lack of high-quality educational content suitable for science classes and a lack of examples of specific class cases that use realistic content stood out. Thirdly, regarding the development of teacher expertise to use realistic content, elementary school teachers emphasized the need for information on quality realistic content; teacher training centered on specific class cases; instructional models that can be applied by realistic content type; and information on the purchase, use, management, and operation of necessary devices. Reflecting on these research results, implications for more effective use of realistic content in elementary science classes were discussed.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.195-211
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• 2022

In this study, we explored the meaning of astronomical observation activities of five earth science teachers through in-depth interviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after providing a questionnaire based on Seidman's three-step process of interview. By analyzing the interview transcript, the educational implications inherent in astronomical observation activities were extracted. Teachers have constructed systematic basis of observation and astronomy in the observational astronomy and laboratory class during their course in the teacher education institute. After they became in-service teachers, practical know-hows of astronomical observation activities in schools were developed with the help of colleagues. By designing and executing astronomical observation activities for students, teachers notice positive changes in the cognitive domain, affective domain, and career perception of the students. Hence, teachers consider that astronomical observation activities have great educational effects. In addition, astronomical activities appear to be very rewarding and satisfying experiences to teachers, by providing opportunities for having pride as an earth science teacher. However, teachers tend to find difficulties in operating astronomical observation activities in fields, due to both internal and external obstacles. It is found that the removal of internal obstacles is more important for teachers to attempt or to continue astronomical observation activities. In this sense, it is necessary to support teachers by providing timely training courses with related content, as well as opportunities to share their experiences within a peer group such as teachers' research society.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.299-316
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• 2023

With the importance and necessity of using AI in the field of education, this study aims to explore elementary school teachers' perceptions of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mathematics education. For this purpose, we conducted a survey using a 5-point Likert scale with 161 elementary school teachers and analyzed their perceptions of mathematics education with AI via four categories (i.e., Attitude of using AI, AI for teaching mathematics, AI for learning mathematics, and AI for assessing mathematics performance). As a result, elementary school teachers displayed positive perceptions of the usefulness of AI applications to teaching, learning, and assessment of mathematics. Specifically, they strongly agreed that AI could assist personalized teaching and learning, supplement prerequisite learning, and analyze the results of assessment. They also agreed that AI in mathematics education would not replace the teacher's role. The results of this study also showed that the teachers exhibited diverse perceptions ranging from negative to neutral to positive. The teachers reported that they were less confident and prepared to teach mathematics using AI, with significant differences in their perceptions depending on whether they enacted mathematics lessons with AI or received professional training courses related to AI. We discuss the implications for the role of teachers and pedagogical supports to effectively utilize AI in mathematics education.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.209-227
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• 2012

This study is about how functional conflict, hierarchical conflict in child-care centers and the sociology population of teachers influence organizational effectiveness. The questionnaire listed about the organizational conflict and the organizational effectiveness were used in this study. For the analysis of the questionnaire, frequency, percentage, reliability, and regression were used as statistical tools. In the results, the teacher's academic backgrounds, career, and marital status seem to have an influence on the organizational conflict. The hierarchical conflict in child-care centers has a more negative influence on organizational effectiveness than the functional conflict.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2011

The purpose of this research is to find out the change in graduate students' perceptions before and after they take a class on qualitative research. The class on qualitative research was held by the researcher in the winter semester of 2009. The subjects are nine graduate students (two male and eight female) and all elementary school teachers. An open-ended questionnaire with 5 items was used. The responses were interpreted, analyzed and categorized into several main conceptions. The results are as follow: First, some students perceived qualitative research as the counterpart for quantitative research, some perceived that qualitative research supplements quantitative research, while the rest of them had no concept of either before they took the class. Second, they all agreed that qualitative research is necessary in gifted education after they took the class. In order to better understand what is happening in classrooms, in terms of gifted education, a well organized curriculum for gifted education should be developed and conducted in graduate schools.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.426-441
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was getting the information for successful application to the national curriculum and students' core competencies enhancement, through investigation about competencies discussed in 2015 revised national curriculum development process and analysis about perception of 150 elementary school teachers in study. The results were as follows : Communication skill is considered to be the most important. Thinking ability what has been important traditionally is the middle of the rankings. Elementary school teachers think that a competency is specific to a subject. From this point of view, Creative/Scientific Problem-Solving Ability is the most important in science. They think that the enhancing of the ability of inquiry performance is highlighted in current science class. On elementary school teachers' awareness, inquiry model is the most effective in enhancing of scientific thinking and the ability of inquiry performance. And STS instruction model is in the other. PBL learning model and experimental inquiry model is the most effective in enhancing a competency has the highest feasibility like scientific thinking or the ability of inquiry performance.