• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.317-330
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of science leading schools on primary and middle school students' positive experiences about science (PES) through in-depth interviews with teachers in charge of science leading schools. Science leading schools at the primary and middle school level such as Creative Convergent Science Labs and Student Participatory Science Classes were investigated and 11 teachers were participated in focus group interviews. Teacher in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the factors that led to the effectiveness of science leading schools in improving the student's PES in light of operational characteristics of science leading schools, characteristic factors of science leading schools on students PES, and improvement plans and requirements of science leading schools, as well as implications for general high schools. Science leading schools including Creative Convergent Science Labs and Student Participatory Science Classes applied for the leading school funding to secure supplies, equipments, and lab improvement for authentic science classes. In addition, reconstructed the curriculum more broadly than before, and emphasized and expanded student participatory classes and process-centered assessment at the teacher learning community level. Through student-participatory classes, the science leading schools stimulate students' interest in science, provide students with PES) through various instructions including projects, engage students in interesting science experiences in Creative Convergent Science Labs, and enhance inquiry skills and PES as well as science content knowledge. Based on the results, ways to spread the characteristics of science leading schools to general schools are suggested including expanding budget support, securing the space of science labs and improving spatial composition, providing diverse teaching and learning materials, diversifying assessment subjects and methods, and the necessity of teachers' continuous professional development, etc.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.157-167
• /
• 2015

In this study, we studied the influence that the stress placed on children (originating from presence of two cultures at multi-cultural families) can have on adapting to school, and further assessed the control effect of teachers' support as a protection factor. In order to achieve the goal of the research, we identified samples of children between Grades 3-6 who came from multi-cultural families to carry out surveys. Based on the results of our analysis, the experience of discrimination and language conflicts experienced by children from multi-cultural families affected their academic activities (among adaptation factors to school experiences), while teachers' support appeared to have a control effect. However, for the influence of language conflicts on friend relationships (among adaptation factors to school experiences), teachers' support did not have a control effect. As such, based on this research result, we've proposed plans to improve school adaptation of children from multicultural families.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.429-440
• /
• 2021

In this article, we explored the value of interculturalism in developing the discourses of international cooperation in science education. By doing so, we interviewed four teachers who had an experience in teaching science in developing countries, and analyzed their experiences and perceptions in the lens of interculturalism and dialogue. Our analysis of teacher narratives shows the transition in the teachers' perspectives from volunteering and transmission to collaboration and learning. The transition from volunteering to collaboration occurred as the teachers learned how to meet 'the others' as themselves being strangers in the foreign context. Through intervening and colliding, teachers were able to reposition their identities as teachers. Furthermore, their science teaching practices show how the teachers tried to negotiate between the universal or idealistic value of science education and the heterogeneities formed by the country's cultural and specific situation of science education. Through these experiences, the teachers began to understand the importance of the culturally specific 'need' for science education. In conclusion, we proposed a discourse of science education collaboration based on interculturalism in terms of the diversity and complexity of science education practices in developing countries, teacher professionalism, culturally relevant pedagogy and sustainable policy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.166-174
• /
• 2012

This study is purposed to survey on astronomical observation experiences of elementary students and teachers. Survey samples are 182 elementary students and 51 elementary teachers, and 8 students and 2 teachers among them are interviewed. The results of this study show that most elementary students are not interested in observing constellations, planets, and moon. Also most elementary students and teachers are not taught to observe astronomical objects. Finally, regarding the difficulty of astronomical practice, teachers pointed out that lack of knowledge about astronomy.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.59-68
• /
• 2011

This paper proposes a modified category framework derived from VAMP and VIMT projects for describing teachers' mathematical and pedagogical values, and examines the dialectical relations between values awareness/willingness and teaching, based on case studies of student teachers of secondary mathematics from a follow-up project of VIMT. The preliminary results show that student teachers would teach certain values depending on the awareness of values priority, willingness to teach, their teaching capabilities and classroom conditions. So, mathematics teacher educators should provide relevant courses to facilitate student teachers to be aware of their implicit values and be willing to enact these values, and to empower student teachers with the knowledge and experiences to teach the values.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.253-268
• /
• 2008

This paper has two major purposes. One is to introduce the essentialist methodology as a way to articulate subjective aspects of human beings (e.g. teachers' personal values and concerns, philosophies, subjective experiences, etc.) at a deeper level. And the other is to present two portraits, as examples, of science teachers who actively address socioscientiifc issues (SSI) out of their own motivations. The primary data source was consecutive in-depth interviews with two science teachers, Jenna and Thomas, and the interviews were conducted on the basis of the principle of the "participant as ally" (Witz, 2006). The articulation based on the essentialist methodology shows that teachers' deep-rooted values and convictions often play a significant role as a personal social capital enough to expand their teaching practice (i.e. teaching SSI). Namely, this study confirms that teachers who are motivated out of their own convictions are likely to actively develop their own personal practical knowledge, and to implement particular topics or teaching strategies.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.19-42
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study examines the generational characteristics and job perceptions of early childhood teachers from Generations X, M, and Z. Methods: Seventeen teachers were selected based on their career and the types of childcare centers they worked in. Focus group interviews explored their job perceptions, teaching methods, career intentions, and strategies to attract future teachers. Results: The results revealed both positive and negative generational perceptions, with Generation X and M noted for diverse job experiences and Generation Z for digital skills. Individual differences were also observed. All generations reported low job satisfaction due to societal perceptions and environmental changes. Many teachers plan to change jobs. The study suggests utilizing generational strengths for peer support to enhance professional development. Conclusion/Implications: Furthermore, improvements in societal perception and treatment of childcare jobs are needed to attract future teachers. The findings suggest implications for enhanced intergenerational communication and collaboration in the childcare field.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.261-271
• /
• 1997

This study evaluates on students' understanding and misunderstanding of homeostasis, classification of animals and plants, and food production in plants, and analyzes the teacher factor as a possible source of students' misconception. A total number of 863 students and 47 biology teachers at the middle and high school were randomly selected. Students' conceptions and misconceptions were measured with concept evaluation statements (CES) which was translated into Korean by author. The CES was developed and validated by Simson and Marek (1988). Teacher's misconceptions were investigated the way in which teachers marked students' work. The supposed answer given to the teachers to mark was based on misconceptions held by students tested in concept evaluation statements. The results of this study are as follows : 1. 0% of 7th Grade students, 4.5% of 9th Grade students and 5.4% of 11th Grade students understood homeostasis. There was a significant difference at the level of students' understanding of homeostasis according to schools and gender(P<0.05). Many students had a tendency of understanding the conception of the homeostasis by experiences and unscientific use of everyday language rather than a scientific concept. 2. 0.4% of 7th Grade students, 3.1% of 9th Grade students and 2.9% of 11th Grade students understood classification of animals and plants. There was a significant difference at the level of students' understanding of classification of animals and plants according to schools and gender(P<0.05). Students classified animals and plants through personal experiences and observations instead of trying to classify through microscopic analysis of animals and plants cell. 3. 1.2% of 7th Grade students, 10.3% of 9th Grade students and 19.4% of 11th Grade students understood food production in plants. There was a significant difference at the level of students' understanding of food production in plants according to schools and gender(P<0.05). Students had a misconception that food production in plants was done by an absorption of nutrients from soil not by photosynthesis. 4. A large proportion of teachers surveyed in this study appear to have misconceptions about homeostasis (38.1%), classification of animals and plants (34.1%), food production in plants (40.4%). The male teachers had. more misconceptions than female teachers(P<0.05). However, they didn't show any significant differences according to schools and teaching experience(P<0.05). 5. According to the investigation of teachers' perception, 29.8% of the teachers acknowledged that they might be a cause for students' misconceptions. This study shows that 38.3% of teachers did not understand the analyzed biological concepts precisely. By comparing the data of students and teachers, it turned out that teachers participate in the students' misconceptions. And teachers themselves acknowledged that students' misconceptions could be caused by them. Therefore. teachers' right understanding of fundamental biological concepts should precede to students' biology education. New training programs for biology teachers seem to be urgent.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.567-588
• /
• 2019

This study is a follow-up to Lee(2019). Lee(2019) investigated the method of collecting information on the curriculum of elementary and middle school math teachers, when differences were observed between elementary and middle school math teachers in the method of collecting information on the curriculum. Following Lee(2019)'s study, this study looked at the perceptions and experiences of high school math teachers in their curriculum.At the time when the curriculum was changed from time to time, the authority for restructuring curriculum was strengthened. In addition, the role of teachers as 'curriculum restructuring practitioners' became important. However, previous studies have pointed out the structural problem that teachers empathize with the necessity of restructuring the curriculum and have a negative perception of the willingness to practice the curriculum. Therefore, the researcher examined high school teachers who are sensitive to the characteristics and evaluation of the highly hierarchical mathematics subjects. A total of six interviews were conducted with ten high school mathematics teachers in three groups of ten years of teaching experience. Through this, it was possible to observe how teachers as curriculum reconstruction practitioners had thought about curriculum restructuring, and I could observe what difficulties teachers' experienced. This suggests that teachers have two ideas for restructuring the curriculum: 'realistic curriculum reconstruction' and 'ideal curriculum reconstruction'. In addition, the teachers found that there are 'sides of incongruity in the school system' and 'difficulties in the management of teachers'.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2011

Objectives : Children who are users of local children's centers are mostly in the lower income brackets or raised by single parents or grandparents. Their parents are usually careless about them, or they are placed in tough environments. Specifically, they are unlikely to be taught at home to brush their teeth on a regular basis. The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health education experiences of teachers at local children's centers and the reality of oral health care provided by them to children, and to pave the way for the development of collaborative oral health education programs by local children's centers and local communities. Methods : The subjects in this study were teachers who worked at 158 local children's centers located in Gyeongnam Province. Each teacher was asked to fill out the given a questionnaire at the centers. The survey was conducted by phone or in person from February 26 to April 1, 2009. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 program, and statistical data on frequency and percentage were acquired to find out the general characteristics of the teachers. And crosstabulation was utilized to look for connections between oral health education experiences and actual oral health care. Results : At the 158 local children's centers, 21 teachers had ever learned about oral health education to provide children with that, and 137 teachers hadn't. The local children's centers that the former worked for had more interest in dental caries, and those centers had children do toothbrushing more than the other centers at which the latter served. Conclusions : It seems that local children's centers and local communities should make concerted efforts to develop joint education programs.