• Journal of the International Relations & Interdisciplinary Education
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.48-67
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• 2021

This study investigated the perception of special teachers regarding the establishment of an evaluation system in the textbook use stage to manage the quality of textbooks developed as government-run books, and proposed a plan to establish a textbook evaluation system based on the results. For research, the quality management system was examined as a development stage and a use stage. And then, the necessity of a use stage evaluation system was raised as a quality management system for the use stage. Next, in order to find a way to establish an evaluation system in the use stage, the survey responses of 159 special teachers nationwide were analyzed. As a result of the analysis, the average satisfaction with textbooks of special teachers using basic curriculum textbooks was 3.3 points, and the perception that textbook evaluation at the stage of use was 4.02 was higher than the satisfaction. In the method of establishing a use-stage evaluation system, teachers (98.7%), independent platform construction (62.2%), regular evaluation (49.4%), and questions (50.6%) mixed with scale questions and open questions were preferred. In addition, the evaluation results were "disclosed only to those certified as users (55.1%), and the timing of reflecting the evaluation results was "when developing the next textbook" (41.0%). Based on the research results, it was suggested to establish an independent evaluation platform to establish a system for evaluating the use of basic curriculum textbooks, but to identify "textbook usability" so that all textbook users can evaluate it without burden and to review the revision of evaluation results through the Quality Management Committee organization. In addition, it was proposed to operate an integrated development-use-evaluation platform by allowing the evaluation platform to be equipped with textbooks already developed and various contents produced by teachers who are users.

• 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 the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.204-217
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• 2008

This study analyzed the inquiry activities appearing in the astronomy sections of elementary, middle and highschool level science textbooks according to the five essential features of inquiry in the classroom as proposed by the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 2000), and SAPA (Science-A Process Approach). On the basis of this analysis, it is clear that the science textbook inquiry activities released the limitation to meet the goal of science education, namely scientific literacy, as it has been laid out by the 7th Science Educational Curriculum. This study revealed that the features of scientific inquiry which are most frequently used in the astronomy sections of science textbooks are 'data collection' and 'form explanation', whereas the features of 'oriented-question', 'evaluate explanations' and 'communicate and justify' rarely appeared. The analysis of inquiry activities by SAPA showed that the basic inquiry skills of 'observing', 'communicating' and 'manipulating materials' were used with increasing frequency according to grade level, and the integrated skills of 'investigating', 'creating models', 'interpreting data' and 'experimenting' were more emphasized in the textbooks. Therefore, it is suggested that students be provided with more opportunities to experience all the features of scientific inquiry and scientific processes as envisioned by the 7th Science Educational Curriculum in order to achieve the stated goal of scientific literacy. Science educators should be required to develop new lesson modules which will allow students to experience authentic scientific inquiry. It is crucial for science teachers to reflect upon and develop their understanding and teaching strategies regarding scientific inquiry through professional development programs in teacher education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.498-518
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• 2010

This study analyzed the characteristics of organization scheme and the levels of core concepts in science textbooks used in Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, which have shown superior achievement according to the TIMSS 2007. Science textbooks in Korea clearly divide the fields of Energy, Matter, Biology, and Earth, presenting the fields in nearly equal proportion in each grade. In the case of Singapore, science textbooks take an integrated content approach, combining concepts from several fields under a single theme. Science textbooks in Taiwan present a single content field in each unit. Also, because each grade engages in a specific field intensively, there are many cases in which concepts related to a single field are studied in a single grade. In view of levels of core concepts, Singapore or Taiwan showed higher achievement than Korea in themes of 'Cell and their Functions', 'Ecosystems', and 'Human Health' under the TIMSS 2007 biology field. Singapore introduces core concepts for these themes in lower grades compared to Korea and presents them repeatedly in several grades. In Taiwan, there are many cases in which these core concepts are taught only once during the course of $3^{rd}$ to $8^{th}$ grade, but the explanations are presented at a level that is suitable to TIMSS 2007 assessment objectives. Considering the results of this analysis, there is a need to reconsider the division of content fields and methods of presenting core concepts in the science textbooks of Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.644-654
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• 2017

Due to globalization and the increasing number of international marriages, Korea has become a multicultural society. In 2012, the Korean Ministry of Education established guidelines for education on multicultural understanding for all K-12 students. The purpose of this study is to understand how education on multicultural understanding is conducted and to provide suggestions for improvements. Based on the six goals of multicultural curriculum in Bennett's conceptual model, this study explores how multicultural education specialists conduct their instructions and how they convey the value of multicultural understanding in public schools. Four multicultural education specialists were recruited, and various qualitative data were collected from pre- and post-interviews and classroom observations. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The study findings show that the participants educated elementary students by introducing their own (or spouse's) culture through their traditional clothes, food, and customs. This indicated that they focused mainly on developing multiple historical perspectives and strengthening intercultural competence. However, their current education on multicultural understanding may not help students to increase an awareness of the state of the planet and global dynamics, and to build social action skills. Finally, we suggest that multicultural education should be integrated and infused into national (regular) curricula so that all students can enhance their multicultural understanding.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.823-840
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• 2012

The importance of teaching the nature of science (NOS) has been emphasized in the science curriculum, especially in the science curriculum for science-gifted students. Nevertheless, few studies concerning the structure and formation of students' mental model on NOS have been carried out. This study aimed to explore science-gifted students' understanding of 'fact', 'hypothesis', 'theory', 'law', and 'scientificness' by utilizing semantic network analysis. One hundred ten science-gifted middle school students who were selected by a national university participated in this study. We collected students' written responses of five items and analyzed them by the semantic network analysis(SNA) method. As a result, the core ideas of students' understanding of 'fact' were proof and reality, of 'hypothesis' were tentativeness and uncertainty, of 'theory' was proven hypothesis by experimentation, of 'law' were absoluteness and authority, and of 'scientificness' were factual evidence, verifiability, accurate and logical theoretical framework. The result of integrated semantic network illustrated that the viewpoint of science-gifted students were similar to absolutism and logical positivism (empiricism). Methodologically, this study showed that the semantic network analysis method was an useful tool for visualization of students' mental model of scientific conceptions including NOS.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.505-518
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) components and their integrations in the processes of developing performance assessment tasks of pre-service chemistry teachers who participated in the constructive performance assessment workshop. Eight pre-service teachers participated in this study. After three weeks of the constructivist performance assessment workshop, they developed their own performance assessment tasks. The think-aloud method was used to investigate their developing processes. Their activities were recorded and videotaped, and semi-structured interviews were also conducted. The analysis of the results revealed that the PCK component considered in the planning step showed similar frequencies for assessment, instructional strategies, students, and subject matter components. In the embodying step, assessment component was most frequent. In the discussion step, the frequencies for assessment, instructional strategies, and students components were similar. However, curriculum component and the subcomponent of science process skill were rarely used. The integrations among the PCK components were found to be centered on the instructional strategies component in the planning step and the students component in the embodying and discussion step. However, curriculum and subject matter components were rarely integrated with other PCK components. On the basis of the results, educational implications are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-145
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• 2018

The main subjects of this study is to study the qualification and in-service education policies of the child care center staff and to suggest a desirable direction of policy. The main subjects of this study are child care staff policies and related laws. The results of this study shows that the philosophy, developmental psychology and some social backgrounds are the stantards required when designating the child care curriculum and essential subjects for attaining class 2 childcare teacher certificates. This study arises the needs of adjustment of the fields of the childcare curriculum contents, change between mandatory and elective subjects, and renewal of the subject title. The standards for competency in provision of childcare services of National Competency Standard(NCS) has to be considered in the adjustment process. The integrated teacher's certificate for teachers training system is needed in the reserve integration process. The systematization of the data and operating system is needed to manage the target of education efficiently, in order to develop childcare center staff's strengthening ability and professionalism. For in-service education, the diversification of the main body of operation, a periodical monitoring of the content, administrative and financial support are needed. Voluntary participation of in-service education, and the childcare center staffs professional development policy making supported by the government and parents is needed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.388-401
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• 2012

This study attempted to propose a theoretical model for STEAM education, entitled to the Ewha-STEAM education model, which could provide more concrete guidelines for science educators and curriculum developers to execute STEAM ideas. We identified key knowledge and key competencies to nurture future creative/convergent human resources. Key knowledge included an understanding of core ideas cutting across traditional disciplinary boundaries as well as the nature of different disciplines. And additionally, key competencies implied such abilities as to explore the scientific world, to resolve problems, and to communicate and collaborate with others. We also added creativity and character as an essential part of key competencies. In order to provide more specific guidelines when developing, implementing, and evaluating STEAM curriculum, we suggested three elements of convergence to consider: 1) unit of convergence (i.e. concept/skills, problem/phenomenon, activity), 2) degree of convergence (i.e. multi-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary, extra-disciplinary), and 3) context of convergence (i.e. personal, societal, global). It is expected that the Ewha-STEAM education model would contribute towards diverse education communities understanding the direction of STEAM education and its educational potentials.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.508-516
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the fitness of major courses according to the development and application of new curricula based on the NCS (National Competency Standards) of health-related departments at junior colleges. To accomplish this, 300 students of the health-related departments at junior colleges were surveyed from March 11 to March 30, 2016. The overall findings showed that their awareness of NCS, intent of integration and understanding of curriculum contents had a significant effect on the fitness for linkage and combination with existing education. Competency unit elements based on the newly developed NCS (job, work, qualification and training standardization of major courses) were linked with existing education. And students - who accept this - are rapidly assimilated into the new curriculum contents. In particular, they have a high understanding of the integrated development of standardized curricula between three major departments, unlike existing textbooks. In conclusion, the high perception and understanding of knowledge integration education are expected to have a positive effect on healthcare education, establishing an early health-related NCS system in the future, and improving site fitness for development of the contents of NCS.