• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-47
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• 2004

Two project-centered secondary school programs were studied as part of an effort to elucidate successful components for science reform-based curriculum development. The Teachers for Exciting Science (TES), and Foundational Approaches in Science Teaching (FAST) programs in Korea and U.S., respectively, are project-centered programs because their curricula are centered on the activities initiated and engaged in by the students. Students serve as principal investigators in their projects, and teachers serve as guides. Both programs were analyzed based on criteria such as curriculum design, teaching, lives of students, lives of teachers, evaluation of program, from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). In the programs, teachers and students directed the development of curricula and their implementation. Students assumed teacher roles as mentors of other students. And emphasis was on development of communication skills through student-delivered talks and written papers, and professional development of teachers as educators and scientists. Participation in TES stimulated secondary school student interest in science, encouraged inquiry thinking, increased achievement in learning science, and promoted better awareness of science related to real life. FAST students practice laboratory and field techniques, experimental design, hypothesis formation, generalization, and practical implications of research as academic and applied disciplinarians. These project-centered programs have been successfully implemented in field, lab, and classroom curricula for secondary science education. Comparison of these programs will provide an opportunity for identifying key elements instrumental in successful implementation of guidelines for science education, as measured through successful outcomes.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.442-458
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• 2004

This study was conducted to develop a plan for a large-scale implementation of the Girl Friendly Science Program based on the results of analysis and investigation of its current pilot implementation, Girl Friendly Science Program materials, which was first developed in 1999 with the support from Ministry of Gender Equality, consist of 1) five theme-based units that are specifically targeted individual students' unique ability, aptitude, and career choice, and 2) differentiated learning materials for 7th through 10th grade female students. All the materials are available at the homepage (http://tes.or.kr/gfsp.cgi) of 'Teachers for Exciting Science(the organization of science teachers in Seoul area)'. Since the materials are well organized by topic and grade level and presented in both Korean word process document and html format, anyone can easily access to the materials for their own instructional use. Ever since its launch the number of visitors to the homepage has been constantly increasing. The evaluation results of the current pilot implementation of the materials that targeted individual students' ability and aptitude showed that it scored high in terms of its alignment to the original purpose, content, level, and effectiveness to implement in classrooms. However, its evaluation scores were low in terms of the convenience for teachers to guide the materials, and its organization and operation. The results also showed a significant change in students' perception of science, and students' positive experiences of science through various interdisciplinary activities. On the other hand, the evaluation of students' experiences with the materials showed that students' assessment about an activity was largely depending on a success or failure of their experiences. Overall, students' evaluation of activities scores were low for simple activities such as cutting off or pasting papers. According to students' achievement test results, differences between pre and post test scores in the Affective Domain was statistically significant (p<0.05), but not in Inquiry Domain. Based on teachers observations, numerous schools where have run this program reported that students' abilities to cooperate, discuss, observe and reason with evidences were improved. In order to implement this program in a larger scale, it is critical to have a strong support of teachers and induce them to change their teaching strategy through building a community of teachers and developing ongoing teacher professional development programs. Finally, there still remain strong needs to develop more programs, and actively discover and train more domestic woman scientists and engineers and collaborate with them to develop more educational materials for girls in all ages.