• 한국초등과학교육학회지:초등과학교육
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.111-122
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate elementary school students' awareness about socio-scientific issues and solutions about environmental topics by using their drawings. For this study, 489 students were participated in 3 provincial regions, Incheon, Dangjin and Pohang in Korea. The students participated in a drawing activity to express their ideas of the socio-scientific issues and solutions related to 'environmental problems.' The analysis of the data include that the students displayed most awareness towards air pollution, water pollution and trash problems. However, the global environmental problems such as global warming and climate change were perceived very low. The interesting thing was about 8% of the students, who drew global environmental problems, tried to explain their drawings using scientific knowledge. But they revealed misconceptions as well. For instance, they were not good at connecting their science knowledge with environmental problems. About 80% of the students drew the pictures, showing solutions in personal context. They mainly drew 3 kinds of solutions: 'Reduce trash', 'Preserve ecosystem' and 'Saving of resources & energy'. Most students suggested to administrate the action plans. About 19% of the students drew 'campaign to save the forest' or 'develop alternative energy' in social context. And only 1 student drew UN conference to solve the environmental problems in national context.