• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.444-454
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• 2002

In this study, we analyzed the explanation of the concepts related to osmotic pressure and semipermeable membrane that were represented in chemistry and biology textbooks of high school and general course of college. There were 4 types of explanation in osmotic pressure and 3 types of semipermeable membrane concept. Students can understand the concepts with different meaning because there are different viewpoints on the explanations of the concepts. We must consider the various types of explanation when we design science textbooks because these confusions disturb students' understanding of the concepts.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.15-30
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• 2024

This study aimed to analyze students' cognitive levels and the cognitive demands of mathematical concepts related to science to understand why students struggle to comprehend scientific concepts and tend to avoid learning them. Initially, the mathematics and science curricula of the 2015 revised curriculum were examined to extract learning elements related to mathematics within middle school science content. The Curriculum Analysis Taxonomy (CAT) was then employed to analyze the cognitive levels required by the learning content. In the domain of chemistry, among a total of 20 learning elements related to mathematics, 12 required an understanding at the level of initial formal manipulation (3A), while 3 necessitated comprehension at the level of later formal manipulation (3B). It was noted that cognitive logic types such as proportional reasoning, mathematical manipulation, and measurement skills were prominently employed in elements corresponding to both 3A and 3B. As for biology, out of 7 learning elements related to mathematics, 3 required an understanding at the level of initial formal manipulation (3A), and 2 necessitated comprehension at the level of later formal manipulation (3B). Elements corresponding to both 3A and 3B in biology predominantly involved correlational logic, indicating a somewhat different cognitive challenge compared to the domain of chemistry. Considering that the average percentage of middle school students capable of formal thinking, as analyzed through the GALT short form, was 12.1% for the first year, 16.6% for the second year, and 29.3% for the third year, it can be concluded that the cognitive demands of mathematics-related chemistry and biology learning content are relatively high compared to students' cognitive levels.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.214-225
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the content relevance of the 7th national primary science curriculum and textbooks. To fulfill the purpose of the study, we 1) analyzed the 7th national science curriculum of Korea, Californian science standards, the national science curriculum of England and Japan, and current Korean and Japanese science textbooks, 2) conducted a nationwide survey to gather opinions from students, teachers, and professors of teachers colleges about the relevance of the science curriculum and textbooks. Main findings of this study are as follows: First, the science contents at each grade level should be determined by the students' characteristics, not by an equal portion rule among physics, chemistry, biology and earth science. Second, the excessive overlapping and repetition of contents due to the spiral curriculum should be avoid. Third, the number of topics at each grade level should be reduced, and the similar topics and themes should be integrated for students' deeper understanding. Fourth, the number of science concepts and activities should be reduced to an appropriate level considering the time allotment for science classes, teachers workload, laboratory conditions, etc. Fifth, differentiated curriculum, such as in-depth and supplementary course, should be described not in science contents, but in teaching and learning strategy.