• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 1997

Primary students' conceptions on the atmospheric pressure and its related concepts were investigated. Samples consisted of 41 5th grade and 43 6th grade primary school students. Two types of research methods were used: 1) the open-ended written questionnare;2) paper-pencil test. Naive theories on the atmospheric pressure and its related concepts were numerous. For example, 80% students thought that as we go higher into the atmosphere, the atmospheric pressure becomes greater. Also, 50% students thought that the hot air had greater the atmospheric pressure than the cold air. This study was also discussed the teaching strategies to overcome these naive theories on the atmospheric pressure and its related concepts.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the constructivist instructional model on the acquisition of atmospheric pressure conceptions and learning motivation. The step of constructivist instruction was prediction and explanation-experiment and observation-discussion-application. The control group consisted of two classes of students who participated in the teacher-centered instruction. The experimental group consisted of two classes of students who participated in the constructivist instruction. To examine students' preconceptions before the instructions, a preconceptions test was administered. After the instructions, students' acquisition of atmospheric pressure conceptions and learning motivation were measured with a researcher-made post-conceptions test and The Course Interest Survey. The results from this study were as follows: First, the constructivist instruction is more effective method in acquisition of atmospheric pressure conceptions and learning motivation than the teacher-centered instruction. Therefore, in order to increase the acquisition of science conceptions and to decrease the science misconceptions, we need to use the constructivist instructional model which make learners self check their own preconceptions of science. Second, the constructivist instruction is more effective than teacher-centered instruction in three elements of learning motivation. So, we need to develop the effective ARCS(attention, relevance, confidence, satisfaction) strategies in order to use the constructivist instructional model and to verify it's effectiveness. Third, to improve teaching and learning methods, educational researchers should carry out studies using many points of view than studies biased constructivism or objectivism. In this respect, we need to contrive how to integrate constructive view points and objective view points.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.402-408
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to investigate various conceptions of secondary school earth science teachers on some concepts in secondary school earth science courses; wind in cyclone, western intensification of ocean current, westerly wave, greenhouse effect, ozone layer and atmospheric pressure. The subject is 26 in-service teachers of earth science teachers. The results were analyzed on the view of teaching sources for earth science teachers. The results show that earth science teachers have also various misconceptions on some concepts selected in this study. A number of partial understandings were found that were not enough to apply to teaching concepts. Those misconceptions were related to gradient wind on wind in cyclone and frictional force, related to earth rotation on western intensification of ocean current, related to angular momentum conservation and related to the roles of westerly wave. And misconceptions on greenhouse effect are related to main role of greenhouse effect gases, related to sources of ozone gas and phenomenons by atmospheric pressure. The various understanding types found in this study could be apply to teach the selected concepts in secondary school earth science course.