• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.795-821
• /
• 2001

This Qualitative study investigated a preservice teacher's developing views of learning with the influence of constructivist epistemology taught in the Math, Science, and Technology Education (MSAT) Master of Education (M. Ed.) preservice teacher education program. The MSAT teacher education program employs constructivist aspects of teacher education and generates applications of constructivism to the practice of teaching, as revealed by faculty interview data. It is important at this point to emphasize that there are significant epistemological and ontological differences between different versions of educational constructivism (i.e., individual, radical, and social constructivism) and that these differences imply different pedagogical practices. For the 16 preservice teachers included in a larger study, the epistemological and ontological characteristics for each teacher's developing views of learning were identified through four in-depth interviews. Data from interviews were used to construct a constructivist profile for each preservice teacher's views of learning (i.e., a profile containing ontological beliefs, epistemological commitments, and pedagogical beliefs). Of the sixteen participants in the larger study, five significantly changed ontological and epistemological beliefs and eleven did not. Profile changes for the five who did change also resulted in changes in their conceptions of science teaching and learning (CSTL). In this article, one of the five teachers case was presented with rich quotes. This case study documents how a preservice teacher transferred his ontological and epistemological beliefs to his pedagogical beliefs and maintained the consistency between his philosophical beliefs and CSTL. It also demonstrated implications that changes in components for an educational constructivist profile have for a preservice teacher's view of himself as teacher. Data indicated the possibility that a constructivist-oriented preservice teacher education program can influence students' conceptions of science teaching and learning by explicitly introducing constructivism as an epistemology rather than as a specific method of instruction. Implications for both instructional practices of teacher education programmes and research are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.166-179
• /
• 2002

This study investigated preservice teachers' perceived constraints in implementing their ideal pedagogies and the influence of the teacher education program on their pedagogical beliefs changes. Unique features that the university-based coursework and field experiences had on preservice teachers' learning to teach were also explored. This preservice teacher education program employs constructivist aspects of teacher education and generates applications of constructivism to the practice of teaching. Major findings include: preservice teachers' having traditional pedagogy as the default, recovery of prior beliefs, constraints on implementing constructivist pedagogy, and being overly confident in themselves as teachers. With the influence of constructivist epistemology, these preservice teachers' pedagogical beliefs evolved and were refined over time as they incorporated various constructivist ideas. The benefits and influences of the M.Ed. program's theoretical coursework and the field experiences on these teachers' learning-to-teach experiences are addressed with rich data. The implications for teacher educators as well as for the instructional practices of preservice teacher education programs are discussed. Recommendations for future research are also presented.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.341-359
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this research was to determine whether the present Korean teacher education programs for secondary science teachers are effective in improving the teacher conceptions of constructivism and STS. It is because the current Korean National Science Curriculum is consistent with both ideas as reforms. The teacher education programs sampled in the research included pre-service programs and two types of in-service programs. These two were the Qualifying In-service Program and the Iowa Korean Science Teachers Workshop. The Iowa Program was considered as an experimental program emphasized the constructivist perspective. Specially designed questionnaires for identifying teacher conceptions before and after the programs were administered. The conceptions about constructivism and STS improved as a result of the instruction in both of the pre-service and in-service teacher education programs. The pre-service program was more effective than the in-service programs in improving the teacher conceptions of both constructivism and STS. The Qualifying Inservice program was less effective than Iowa Korean Science Teachers Workshop. It was necessary for inservice programs for Korean secondary science teachers to be more emphasized on constructivism and STS. Iowa Korean Science Teachers Workshop provided a possible example to design a new special in-service program focused on constructivist perspectives as a way of aligning the Korean National Science Curriculum more quickly with recommended teaching practices in Korean schools.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.119-131
• /
• 2002

Constructivism is defined in a variety of ways (e.g., constructivist research paradigm, sociological constructivism, and philosophical constructivism) and applied in vastly different contexts. Among the various usages and interpretations of constructivism, one is educational constructivism that embodies an epistemological view of knowledge and learning that is an alternative to naive empiricism or classical behaviorism. To represent the full range of stances taken by educational constructivists, three versions of educational constructivism were considered in this study: individual constructivism originating in the work of Piaget, the radical version of constructivism associated with von Glasersfeld, and the social constructivism of Vygotsky. I investigated preservice teachers' meaning construction about constructivist epistemology as they went through their preservice teacher education program using in-depth interviews. This preservice teacher education program employs constructivist aspects of teacher education and generates applications of constructivism to the practice of teaching. Features of preservice teachers' internalized meanings of educational constructivism include: (1)traditional pedagogy as the default, (2) Literal interpretation of constructivism, (3) Individual constructivism as conceptual change learning, (4) Radical constructivism as a strong individualistic philosophy, (5) Social constructivism as being too ideal to be practical. A compilation of the teachers' own statements about how to implement conceptual change learning and their projected role as constructivist teacher is also provided.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.74-81
• /
• 2003

The Iowa Chautauqua Program has provided effective staff development for over 2,700 K-12 science teachers during the past two decades. This is a review of the features of the program, its instructional staff, and a description of the outcomes as disclosed from evaluative studies conducted by staff, teacher participants, doctoral students, and outside evaluators. Examples of outcomes are included as revealed from the qualitative studies reported in newsletters, published papers, dissertations, annual staff reports, and evidences of success reported to accrediting groups. The Chautauqua stresses student-centeredness, constructivist learning, and the visions of reform featured in the National Science Education Standards.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.340-352
• /
• 1999

Constructivist theory and teaching science in the social context are a main stream in science education. This study was purposed to introduce the STS in-service program implementing in Chonnam National University. and to analyze the results of the program in terms of changes of teachers' and students' perceptions and attitudes. The major features of the STS in-service program were as follows: teacher-centered. teaching in the social context. emphasis on constructivist approach. development of STS module and implementations. A total of 20 secondary science teachers participated in the in-service program. and filled out two questionnaires. Science Education Reform Inventory and Constructivist Teachings Survey. Three of the 20 teachers were selected to gain information from their implementations of a STS module into their respective classrooms. The students completed two instruments. Constructivist Learning Environment Survey. and Scientific Attitude Survey. The responses from teachers and students are as follows: 1. The participating teachers were very aware of the necessity of reform in science education. and the degree of the perception of the necessity increased after the STS in-service program. 2. The STS program significantly improved constructivist teaching techniques. 3. The perceptions of the students about constructivist learning environments improved significantly after the STS in-service program. 4. Students' scientific attitudes improved significantly through STS approach. The STS in-service program with the above mentioned features was found to be effective in our current school system. and could be implemented successfully if teachers were willing to learn and participate in the reforms of science education.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
• /
• v.21 no.2 s.30
• /
• pp.153-176
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this paper is to analyze teaching-learning program which can be applied to mathematically gifted students in primary school, Our program is based on constructivist views on teaching and learning of mathematics. Mainly, we study the algorithmic thinking of mathematically gifted students in primary school in connection with the network problems; Eulerian graph problem, the minimum connector problem, and the shortest path problem, The above 3-subjects are not familiar with primary school mathematics, so that we adapt teaching-learning model based on the social constructivism. To achieve the purpose of this study, seventeen students in primary school participated in the study, and video type(observation) and student's mathematical note were used for collecting data while the students studied. The results of our study were summarized as follows: First, network problems based on teaching-learning model of constructivist views help students learn the algorithmic thinking. Second, the teaching-learning model based on constructivist views gives an opportunity of various mathematical thinking experience. Finally, the teaching-learning model based on constructivist views needs more the ability of teacher's research and the time of teaching for students than an ordinary teaching-learning model.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.269-286
• /
• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the influences of constructivist educational beliefs and eco-friendly teaching attitudes on early childhood teachers' mathematics teaching efficacy. This study also examined the mediating effect of eco-friendly attitudes on the relationship between the other two variables. Methods: A total of 399 teachers teaching 3,4 and 5-year-olds in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon participated in this study. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 21.0 program and the Sobel test. Results: First, mathematical teaching efficacy of early childhood teachers was significantly correlated with constructivist educational beliefs and eco-friendly teaching attitudes. Second, with teacher's career as the control variable, constructivist educational beliefs have more influence in mathematical teaching efficacy than the other variable. Third, eco-friendly teaching attitude partially mediated between the other two variables. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study imply that constructivist educational beliefs and eco-friendly teaching attitudes are important factors on mathematics teaching efficacy. It is expected that it will be used as basic data for various programs that increase constructivist educational beliefs and eco-friendly teaching attitudes.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.632-648
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate a process of change which was made by a science teacher for one-year long in-service education program in terms of constructivist teaching behaviors and beliefs. The in-service program was featured by the use of learning cycle model and Science-Technology-Society approach. One of science teachers, who attended an one-year long in-service program was selected for this study. She developed three teaching materials for the duration. The three teaching materials were analyzed to find components of Science-Technology-Society and the integration of science content and real life context. Also, an interview was performed to assess changes in her perspectives on science, science teaching and science learning through the program. The first material was constructed in the form of learning cycle with little emphasis on STS. The second material was embedded with personal matters such as a refrigerator. The final one was shown to be organized with science content in a personal context and with focus on the role play. The interview also showed that her perspectives on science and science teaching have changed toward the constructivist's during the participation in the in-service program. It is suggested that a long-term in-service program should be developed and implemented so that the science teachers may become constructivist teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.48-62
• /
• 2004

This research aimed to investigate whether Korean education programs for secondary science teachers reflect constructivist perspectives. To identify how to introduce the idea of constructivism and STS into the courses of the current Korean education programs for secondary science teachers, two programs were selected: the Qualifying In-service Program held in Seoul and the pre-service programs established in the four departments of science education of the Korean National University of Education in Chungbuk. The course guidebooks, syllabi, and text materials prepared for implementation of the courses were collected and analyzed. E-mail correspondence with the program instructors who had conveyed both ideas to the trainees provided us more precise information about the characteristics of the classes, such as the total time provided the ideas and the teaching strategies used to implement the classes. The results indicated that the pre-service programs included the ideas of constructivism and STS more than did the Qualifying In-service Program. It is necessary that the courses included in the Korean in-service program, in particular the Qualifying In-service Program for secondary science teachers, have to be more focused on the constructivist perspectives.