• The Mathematical Education
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.295-318
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• 2024

This narrative review explores the transformative potential of immersive virtual reality (IVR) in enhancing high school students' mathematics competence, viewed through the lens of the technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) framework. This review comprehensively illustrates how IVR technologies have not only fostered a deeper understanding and engagement with mathematical concepts but have also enhanced the practical application of these skills. Through the careful examination of seminal papers, this study carefully explores the integration of IVR in high school mathematics education. It highlights significant contributions of IVR in improving students' computational proficiency, problem-solving skills, and spatial visualization abilities. These enhancements are crucial for developing a robust mathematical understanding and aptitude, positioning students for success in an increasingly technology-driven educational landscape. This review emphasizes the pivotal role of teachers in facilitating IVR-based learning experiences. It points to the necessity for comprehensive teacher training and professional development to fully harness the educational potential of IVR technologies. Equipping educators with the right tools and knowledge is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of this innovative teaching approach. The findings also indicate that while IVR holds promising prospects for enriching mathematics education, more research is needed to elaborate on instructional integration approaches that effectively overcome existing barriers. This includes technological limitations, access issues, and the need for curriculum adjustments to accommodate new teaching methods. In conclusion, this review calls for continued exploration into the effective use of IVR in educational settings, aiming to inform future practices and contribute to the evolving landscape of educational technology. The potential of IVR to transform educational experiences offers a compelling avenue for research and application in the field of mathematics education.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 2007

The purpose of the study is to develop an effective model of a science teachers' professional development program. This study consists of two parts: (1) the theoretical review of science teachers' professional development and (2) a case study of a science teachers' professional development programme in the UK. After reviewing recent research on pedagogical content knowledge and new approaches to educational research, the following suggestions emerged: (1) Continuing Professional Development(CPD) should be embedded in teachers' real practice in the classroom and (2) embedded in the everyday life of learners' within the community. (3) CPD should support the development of teachers' communities of professional practice. The case study of 'CPD through Portfolios of Evidence' in the British programme indicated that collecting explicit evidence of good practice in the classroom and establishing agreement as to what constitutes good practice in a teachers' community helped teachers' professional development. Finally, what emerged from the case study of the CPD programme in the UK and the theoretical review of PCK was the following. An effective CPD model of science teachers should comprise these three stages: (1) providing opportunities of professional development, (2) changing practice in the classroom and research, and (3) spreading and sustaining change. The whole process is circular.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.352-362
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• 2008

This study explored pre-service teachers' mental models about eclipse phenomena to investigate their understandings on the earth science concept needed f3r an integrated approach. We conducted in-depth interviews with two different contexts on 30 secondary and 36 primary pre-service teachers participants, and analyzed phenomenological primitives (p-prims) and facets of causal explanations about eclipses. Based on this study, we identified four different levels of mental models about eclipses. Four mental models were categorized as (1) Screening model, (2) Orbital plane model, (3) Hybrid model, and (4) Shadow cast model. Screening model is a flawed mental model, orbital plane model is an incomplete correct mental model, and shadow cast model is a scientifically correct mental model. Hybrid model, composite of two or more mental models, use multiple mental models simultaneously. Orbital plane model was the most widespread mental model in secondary pre-service teachers group, whereas screening model was used frequently in primary group. It was found that the level of mental model could be determined by the level of facet and p-prims. We confirmed context sensitivity of the mental models and perceived the necessity of integrated approaches to promote progression of mental models. Implications of our findings for enhancing pre-service science teachers' topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) associated with eclipse phenomena are also discussed here.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.501-517
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• 2021

In the present age, when the development of science and technology is leading the changes, this study supports the view that students should possess the literacy to participate democratically and critically in socio-scientific issues, and should be positioned as agentic and participatory citizens. Accordingly, we implemented a club activity that emphasize climate social action for elementary students, and explored how students were positioned in relation to climate change. In this study, position is defined as a complex cluster of rights and duties that students have in relation to climate change. The club activity was implemented throughout 46 sessions from March to July, 2019 for 11 sixth graders of 'H elementary School' in Seoul, and transcripts of video and interviews were analyzed by means of a constant comparison method. In the course of the activity consisting of three steps, the students exhibited different positioning and they are as follows: In the global warming modeling activity for Step 1, students were positioned as 'active learners', but at the same time, they showed a contradiction in being positioned as 'apprentice'. In the student-led research activities inherent to Step 2, they were positioned as 'scientists who design and conduct research' and 'bystanders' due to the controversial nature of SSI knowledge. As students participate in the social actions involved in Step 3, the position changed from 'elementary school students facing difficulty in making a change' to 'participatory citizens creating changes.' This study is significant because it shows students' potential to promote participatory and democratic citizenship through action-oriented SSI activities. In addition, pedagogical approaches were discussed dealing with the contradictions and limitations of positioning.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.105-117
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore changes in elementary teachers' modeling pPCK (personal PCK) resulting from knowledge exchange within the realms of PCK described in the Refined Consensus Model (hereafter RCM). For this purpose, a professional learning community (hereafter PLC) was established for three elementary school teachers to facilitate knowledge exchange specifically focused on science modeling instructions. The study then analyzed the CoRe (content representations) written by the research participants twice to explore any changes in modeling pPCK (personal PCK). In addition, the discourse shared by the participants in the PLC and the data from the in-depth interviews were also analyzed using grounded theory research methods. The results of the study showed that there was no significant change in knowledge of the science curriculum in elementary teachers' modeling pPCK, but there were changes in orientations toward teaching science, knowledge of students' understanding in science, knowledge of instructional strategies and representations, and knowledge of assessment of science learning. Furthermore, the analysis of PLC discourse and in-depth interviews showed that modeling instructions reflection (ePCK; enacted PCK) and educational research-based modeling cPCK (collective PCK) influenced these changes in teachers' modeling pPCK. Accordingly, this study suggests recommendations for pedagogical approaches aimed at improving teachers' modeling PCK.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.360-376
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• 2001

This qualitative research investigated in-service science teachers' perceptions about cooperative learning and their perceived barriers in implementing cooperative learning in their classrooms. The underlying premise for cooperative learning is founded in constructivist epistemology. Cooperative learning (CL) is presented as an alternative frame to the current educational system which emphasizes content memorization and individual student performance through competition. An in-depth interview was conducted with 18 in-service science teachers who enrolled in the first-class teacher certification program during 2001 summer vacation. These secondary school teachers's interview data were analyzed and categorized into three areas: teachers' definition of cooperative learning, issues with implementing cooperative learning in classrooms, and teachers' and students' responses towards cooperative learning. Each of these areas are further subdivided into 10 themes: teachers' perceived meaning of cooperative learning, the importance of talk in learning, when to use cooperative learning, how to end a cooperative class, how to group students for cooperative learning, obstacles to implementing cooperative learning, students' reactions to cooperative learning, teachers' reasons for choosing (not choosing) student-centered approaches to learning/teaching, characteristics of teachers who use cooperative learning methods, and teachers' reasons for resisting cooperative learning. Detailed descriptions of the teachers' responses and discussion on each category are provided. For the development and implementation of CL in more classrooms, there should be changes and supports in the following five areas: (1) teachers have to examine their pedagogical beliefs toward constructivist perspectives, (2) teacher (re)education programs have to provide teachers with cooperative learning opportunities in methods courses, (3) students' understanding of their changed roles (4) supports in light of curriculum materials and instructional resources, (5) supports in terms of facilities and administrators. It's important to remember that cooperative learning is not a panacea for all instructional problems. It's only one way of teaching and learning, useful for specific kinds of teaching goals and especially relevant for classrooms with a wide mix of student academic skills. Suggestions for further research are also provided.