• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.311-324
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• 2022

This study analyzed the types of scientific emoticons made by science-gifted elementary school students and their perceptions on making scientific emoticons. To do this, 71 students from 4th to 6th graders of two gifted science education center in Seoul were selected. Scientific emoticons made by the students were analyzed according to the number and types. Their perceptions on making scientific emoticons were also analyzed through a questionnaire and group interviews. In the analyses for types of text in the scientific emoticons, 'word type' and 'sentence type' were made more than 'question and answer type'. And the majority of students made more 'pun using pronunciation type' and 'mixed type' than other types. They also made more 'graphic type' and 'animation type' than 'text type' in the images of the scientific emoticons. In the analyses for the information of the scientific emoticons, 'positive emotion type' and 'negative emotion type' of scientific emoticons were made evenly. The students made more 'new creation type' than 'partial correction type' and 'entire reconstruction type'. They also used scientific knowledge that preceded the knowledge of science curriculum in their grade level. The scientific knowledge of chemistry was used more than physics, biology, earth science, and combination field. 'Name utilization type' was more than 'characteristic utilization type' and 'principle utilization type'. Students had various positive perceptions in making scientific emoticons such as 'increase of scientific knowledge', 'increase of various higher-order thinking abilities', 'ease of explanation, use, memory, and understanding of scientific knowledge', 'increase of fun, enjoyment, and interest about science and science learning', and 'increase of opportunity to express emotions'. They were also aware of some limitations related to 'difficulties in the process of making scientific emoticons', 'lack of time', and 'limit that it may end just for fun'. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.73-86
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• 2023

This study compared the characteristics of scientific emoticons made by general and science-gifted elementary students. To do this, fifth graders (n=53) at a general elementary school in Gyeonggi province and fifth graders (n=35) at a gifted science education institute in Seoul were selected. Scientific emoticons written by the students were compared according to the number and types. Analysis of the results reveal that the science-gifted students made more scientific emoticons than the general students for thirty minutes. In the comparison of the types of scientific emoticons, there were some similarities and significant differences between general students and science-gifted students. Overall, however, it was found that science-gifted students made more various types of scientific emoticons than general students in 'form' aspects (e.g., generative form of text, descriptive form of text, and expressive form of image) and 'information' aspects (e.g., emotion, construction level, excess of curriculum level, scientific disciplines, and use of scientific knowledge) of the texts and the images in the scientific emoticons. The scientific emoticons made by general and science-gifted elementary students included very few misconceptions. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.