• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-39
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• 2022

This study was conducted to provide implications so that teachers' voices are heard in the social consensus for future schools by exploring teachers' needs for future school spaces. A qualitative study was performed to listen to teachers' voices directly, and 10 teachers from "A" Elementary School (tentative name) participated in the study. The study 1) recognized the emergence of learning that transcends time and space, and emphasized the importance of an ICT-based informatization environment that can support such learning, 2) confirmed the characteristics of futuristic school spaces centered on "tradition" and "technology," 3) recognized the importance of learning community spaces, 4) emphasized "variable" classrooms for flexible teaching and learning activities, and 5) confirmed the need to introduce eco-friendly elements and provide support for those who may be vulnerable in high-tech learning environments. Finally, the study concluded that teachers need systematic education and experiences that contain sufficient important discourses related to future schools such as "eco-friendliness" and "connection with local communities".

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.970-984
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• 2014

This study aims to inquire into experience of geography teachers participating in a teacher learning community based on the grounded theory methodology. Participation observation was conducted on one of geography teacher learning communities. The total of 11 research participants were selected to conduct in-depth interviews. The data collected were analyzed by the coding method proposed by Strauss and Corbin(1990, 1998). In open coding, 125 concepts, 43 sub-categories and 17 categories were drawn and in axial coding by paradigm model, phenomenon, conditions, action/interaction and consequences turned out. In selective coding, the participants were classified into four types and the condition/consequence matrix was developed. As a result of the analysis, first, participation, obstacles and continuous participation factors of geography teachers in the teacher learning community could be understood from multi-dimensional aspects. Second, principles of the collaborative teacher learning and the factors promoting collaborative teacher learning were established. Third, the professional development of geography teachers through teacher learning community could be understood.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.267-286
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• 2017

This study analyzed the processes of lesson plan, implementation, and reflection by a professional learning community with five teachers who were teaching second grade students in the same elementary school. The results of the study showed that the learning community helped the teachers prepare for a lesson effectively, enhance their teaching practices, and reflect on their teaching methods. However, the teachers had difficulties in re-designing and implementing the collaborative lesson plan in their classrooms and had a tendency to talk about their feelings about lessons rather than meaningful comments for subsequent lessons. The successes and difficulties revealed through this study are expected to provide us with directions of learning communities for improving teachers' professional development.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.54-68
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate how elementary teachers perceive and practice using Visual Thinking (VT) in science classes. For this, we collected 161 VT teaching materials for science that uploaded on the elementary teacher's online communities, and analyzed the characteristics. Also we interviewed four elementary teachers who have used VT in science class. The results are as follows. First, VT teaching materials shared in teacher's online communities were most often used to review the science concepts that students learned. Most of the materials required 'remember' among the Cognitive Process, and most of them provided layouts for VT activities. Second, the participants were using VT materials to review the science concepts they learned, so that students remember them. Third, the participants were satisfied because of the beliefs of effects as follows: facilitating learning and reviewing what students had learned; increasing students' positive reactions and confidence; learning through the interation among learners; the formation of habits thinking visually; indirect experiences of science class; possibility of class corresponding to learner characteristics. Fourth, the participants had difficulties in preparing for the VT science class, such as the burden of making VT materials, the long preparation time, concerns over overlapping contents, consideration of learners' VT skills, and the themselves' drawing ability. Furthermore, they also had difficulties in proceeding for the class, like different preference among learners about Visualization and loss of objectives in science class using VT. Fifth, the participants needed support as follows: platform to share students' VT results; VT case books and teachers' guidebooks; physical environment.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.185-200
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• 2024

This study explored the changes in the elementary science teaching expertise of teachers who participated in an in-school professional learning community for elementary science instructional research. Six elementary school teachers from grades 4, 5, and 6 at an 18-class S elementary school in a medium-sized city in Chungcheongbuk-do conducted collaborative instructional research on elementary science lessons as part of an in-school professional learning community, which was held 26 times over 7 months in 2020. During the professional learning community, video and audio recordings of the activities, research lessons, course materials, and professional learning community reflection activities were collected for analysis. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative research methods; data processing, reading, note-taking, description, classification, interpretation, reporting, and visualization; and the instructional professionalism elements were extracted based on the instructional professionalism framework. In the early professional learning community activity stages, the participating teachers first discussed their teaching perspectives, their experiences, and their goals for teaching science, which resulted in a selection of research questions. The teachers then collaboratively designed and implemented research lessons for each grade level, after which lesson reflections were conducted. The teachers' abilities to engage in qualitative reflection on the research questions improved after each reflection iteration. It was found that this professional learning community collaborative lesson study experience positively contributed to teaching expertise development. Based on the study findings, the implications for using professional learning communities to improve elementary teachers' science teaching expertise are given.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.217-247
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• 2020

Many developing countries consider ICT as a key enabler to improve their educational systems and teachers are viewed as change agents. This paper aims to present policy suggestions concerning how to foster teachers' ICT competencies in developing countries based on the outcomes of an ODA project case in Peru. This study was conducted through three stages: Literature survey, site visit, and policy suggestions. To draw relevant policy suggestions, we employed the framework of the 'macro-meso-micro' level of teacher professional development. The following policy suggestions are discussed: (a) macro level: to develop the national framework of teacher ICT competencies and competency-based teacher training, (b) meso-level: to promote teacher communities of practices and school-based research programs, and (c) micro-level: to redesign teacher professional development programs to help teachers better understand the complex relationships between content, pedagogy, and technology, beyond learning about basic ICT literacy skills. This study contributes to the understanding of how ODA projects can approach the issue of teacher ICT capacity building at multiple levels.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.64-78
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate how Integrated Science, a new subject introduced under the 2015 revised curriculum, was implemented in 2018 when it was first enacted at the school level. Through a survey of 258 high school science teachers, we explored how Integrated Science was organized and implemented at the school level, how teaching & learning and assessment were conducted in Integrated Science courses, how teachers' learning communities were operated, what kinds of support are required for the settlement of Integrated Science, etc. Major results are as follows: A similar ratio is found between schools with eight units and schools with six units of integrated science, and in about 2/3 of surveyed schools, multiple teachers are in charge of Integrated Science lessons per classroom. In addition, lecture-type teaching methods are still dominant in the majority of the classes, and science teachers have difficulties with lack of understanding of non-major areas or burden of designing integrated teaching depending on their teaching experiences, and so on. Discussed and suggested in the conclusion are ways to raise awareness of curriculum integration, ways to support for activation of teacher learning communities, ways to support the settlement of Integrated Science, and reexamining the system of science teacher certification.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 2016

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases that have formed and operated teachers' learning communities through cross-curricular consulting at the school level. The purpose of this study is to explore cross-curricular instructional consulting as an activity of teachers' learning communities at the school level, and investigate the effect of cross-curricular instructional consulting on middle school science teaching. We analyzed features and limitations of cross-curricular instructional consulting revealed in three case studies in middle school, including open classes and instructional consulting sessions, and conducted additional instructional consulting on the same videotaped science classes with science experts from outside. According to the results, science inquiry experiments are often replaced with text reading and interpreting, students' misconceptions and exact scientific representations are ignored, and the goal setting as well as class coverage has been questionable and disputable in science classes resulted from cross-curricular instructional consulting. Discussed in the conclusion are the necessity of cross-curricular instructional consulting in middle school, and ways to overcome limitations of the method of cross-curricular instructional consulting, including alternatives to a praise-only policy in cross-curricular instructional consulting, ways to use cross-curricular instructional consulting without compromising the subject's essence, and ways to improve the undue authority of consultants.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.139-155
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate teacher learning in the context of a community. For the purpose of this study, two research questions about the kinds of teacher noticing in a community and the role of partnership were addressed. To build a learning community, a professional development project, PRIME, established partnerships with 11 high schools and one of the cluster meetings were investigated in this study. Three mentor teachers, three preservice teachers, and one university supervisor participated in the cluster meeting. For this study, the multiple data such as audio tapes of cluster meetings, observation notes, and interviews were analyzed using the analysis of narratives. The results showed that the participants engaged in different kinds of noticing of their own beliefs about teaching and learning, teacher practices, and teacher identities including noticing of students' understanding in classroom situations. The partnership played the crucial role of reinforcing relationships among teachers, assigning tasks, and creating various communities.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.932-951
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• 2013

This study was initiated to address multicultural students' science learning, which is expected to be our assets for the next generation. By understanding their ideas of science learning and cultural context, we intend to encourage them and urge our science education communities to be interested in multicultural science education in Korea. We interviewed elementary and secondary school multicultural students, their parents, and teachers who have ever taught them. The interview revealed that they needed language-based support to improve their science learning. It seemed to be a serious problem that teachers' and students' expectancy toward multicultural students were low. We should put into practice scientific literacy for all students through the multicultural science education in our own context with school-based systematic support.