• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.763-777
• /
• 2013

This is a case study on two schools practising integrated science education (hereafter ISE). The purposes of this study are to investigate the types and features of ISE in the schools actively practising ISE, to identify the contextual factors of the schools, and to give implications for implementing ISE in schools. This study investigated the contextual factors in practicing ISE with a focus on the two schools, a middle school in Gyeonggi-do and a high school in Busan. They were breaking down the boundaries among teaching subjects and providing student-oriented instruction with problems in the real world. The data were collected by observing classes, by interviewing teachers, and by reviewing school documents and students' reports. The research findings are as follows: first, the two schools took part in ISE actively. They teach science to students providing integrated experiences mainly by using interdisciplinary knowledge and/or by solving the problems pertaining to the real world. While the former integrated subjects centering on topics, the latter focused on a project-based learning driven by students. They have differences in regard to the role of teachers and students, the level of integration and the type of integration. Second, the contextual factors that enabled ISE to be implemented there were found. The previous studies revealed six contextual factors in practising ISE: small and stable learning environment, leadership, team activities, in-school planning time, flexible timetable and community links. This study also found similar factors. However, the cases of this study provided ISE on a large scale and in a short period of time, instead of a small and stable learning environment. Teachers viewed the process of ISE not only as a tool to overcome the conservative culture of teachers but also as a pursuit of innovation.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.357-384
• /
• 2001

In this paper, we described practical teaching-learning plans based on three different theoretical approaches to Integrated Science Education (ISE): a knowledge centered ISE, a social problem centered ISE, and an individual interest centered ISE. We believe that science teachers can understand integrated science education through this paper and they are able to apply simultaneously our integrated science teaching materials to their real instruction in classroom. For this we developed integrated science teaching-learning plans for the topic of energy which has a integrated feature strongly among integrated science subject contents. These modules were based upon the teaching strategies of 'Energy' following each integrated directions organized in the previous paper (Three Strategies for Integrated Science Teaching of "Energy" Applying Knowledge, Social Problem, and Individual Interest Centered Approaches) and we applied instruction models fitting each features of integrated directions to the teaching strategies of 'Energy'. There is a concrete describing on the above three integrated science teaching-learning plans as follows. 1. For the knowledge centered integration, we selected the topic, 'Journey of Energy' and we tried to integrate the knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science applying the instruction model of 'Free Discovery Learning' which is emphasized on concepts and inquiry. 2. For the social problem centered integration, we selected the topic, 'Future of Energy' to resolve the science-related social problems and we applied the instruction model of 'Project Learning' which is emphasized on learner's cognitive process to the topic. 3. For the individual interest centered integration, we selected the topic, 'Transformation of Energy' for the integration of science and individual interest and we applied the instruction model of 'Project Learning' centering learner's interest and concern. Based upon the above direction, we developed the integrated science teaching-learning plans as following steps. First, we organized 'Integrated Teaching-Learning Contents' according to the topics. Second, based upon the above organization, we designed 'Instructional procedures' to integrate within the topics. Third, in accordance with the above 'Instructional Procedures', we created 'Instructional Coaching Plan' that can be applied in the practical world of real classrooms. These plans can be used as models for the further development of integrated science instruction for teacher preparation, textbook development, and classroom learning.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.41-61
• /
• 1999

In this study I defined the direction Integrated Science Education(ISE) should take. So that I groped for the direction ISE should take in the inherent nature of science and education, analyzing their respective validity from philosophical and psychological angles. Based upon these researches, I formulated the three directions for ISE to take; knowledge-centered, social problem-centered, and individual interest-centered. The results of this thesis may be summed up as follows: 1. The knowledge-centered ISE that thinks the inherent nature of science is in the scientific knowledge is based upon Hirst's integrated logic which is built on discipline-centered educational viewpoint. Now, the focus of interdisciplinary integration consists in clarifying the meanings of knowledge and the logical relations between one knowledge and another according to the respective form of exploration. The knowledge-centered ISE, therefore, was analyzed to find its justification in the educational philosophy of idealism, realism, neo-scholasticism; in the educational theories of essentialism, behaviorism, perennial ism; in the scientific philosophy of empiricism. positivism; in the educational psychology of developmental psychology and constructivism. 2. The social problem-centered ISE that thinks the inherent nature of science is the process of social concord is based upon Dewey's integrated logic which is built on experience-centered educational viewpoint. Now, the focus of interdisciplinary integration consists in the methodological aspect facilitating the process of experience. The social problem-centered ISE, therefore, was analyzed to find its theoretical justification in the educational philosophy of pragmatism; in the educational theory of progressivism; in the scientific philosophy of relativism and rationalism; and in the educational psychology of developmental psychology and constructivism. 3. The individual interest-centered ISE is based upon Patterson's integrated logic which is built on human-centered educational viewpoint. The focus of education here is self-realization. Therefore, rather than provide in learning conditions from outside, one is made to choose them oneself and the process of satisfying one's motive is emphasized. The individual interest-centered ISE, therefore, was analyzed to find its theoretical justification in the educational philosophy of existentialism; in the educational theory of humanism; in the scientific philosophy of relativism; and in Gestalt psychology.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.342-356
• /
• 2001

Integrated science for high school is required in the present Korean National Sixth Curriculum and the Seventh Curriculum which will be effective in 2002. Currently, most science teachers in secondary school have concerns about teaching integrated science subjects and this continues to raise a significant problem for practical implementation of integrated science education in schools. In this paper, we discuss two reasons for these concerns that our analysis revealed: 1) Science teachers do not understand how to implement integrated science education and 2) there are insufficient teaching-learning materials supporting integrated science. Three different approaches to integration that have been suggested to overcome the problem of implementation are outlined here. They are the knowledge centered, social problem centered, and individual interest centered approaches. Reported here are the first two steps we undertook in preparation for testing the relative effectiveness of these approaches. First, we analyzed the content of the Korean Sixth and Seventh National Science Curricula, seven Korean integrated science text books, the American National Science Education Standards, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmarks looking for common themes. We identified in the analyzed materials the common themes: energy conservation, energy transformation, energy transport, energy degradation. We then used their energy related content to organize sets of concept structures, one set for each of the three approaches. These concept structures will provide the foundations for the development of integrated teaching-learning energy plans to be used in our research into the effectiveness of the approaches.