• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.173-187
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to clarify the specific terms of epistemic and epistemological by reviewing the literature on epistemological understanding of science learning, examine the necessity of epistemic discourse analysis based on the view of social epistemology, and provide an exemplar of practical epistemology analysis for elementary children's science learning. The review was conducted in terms of meaning and terminology about epistemic or epistemological approach to science learning, epistemology of/for science, and methodologies for epistemic discourse analysis. As an alternative way of epistemic discourse analysis in science classroom I employed practical epistemology analysis (by Wickman), evidence-explanation continuum (by Duschl), and DREEC diagram (by Maeng et al.). The methods were administered to an elementary science class for the third grade where children observed sedimentary rocks. Through the outcomes of analysis I sought to understand the processes how children collected data by observation, identified evidence, and constructed explanations about rocks. During the process of practical epistemology analysis the cases of four categories, such as encounter, stand-fast, gap, and relation, were identified. The sequence of encounter, stand fast, gap, and relation showed how children observed sedimentary rocks and how they came to learn the difference among the rocks. The epistemic features of children's observation discourse, although different from scientists' discourses during their own practices, showed data-only conversation, evidence-driven conversation, or explanation inducing conversation. Thus I argue even elementary children are able to construct their own knowledge and their epistemic practices are productive.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2012

This study aims to explore patterns and characteristics of coordination between evidence and theories which were found in pre-service elementary teachers' writing for their science inquiry. Five science inquiry activities and a total of 115 writings of the participant teacher at the elementary teacher preparation university in Korea were collected and analyzed for this study. Based on the writing analyses there were found four types of coordination between the evidence and theory. We proposed four types as: Type 1-Consistency of evidence and theory; Type 2-Consistence of evidence and theory including more extension or elaboration of theory; Type 3-Inconsistence of evidence and theory Type 4-Inconsistence of evidence and theory followed by coordination of them. Firstly the findings indicated that the most to least frequent types were Type 1, Type 3, Type 2, and Type 4. The most frequent type was Type 1. It is interpreted that theory in the inquiry questions were frequently figured out by participants and they selected supporting evidence out of data found. There were rarely found relations between activity topics and frequencies of coordination types except in activity 1. The findings in this study will connect to the point of how students collaborate their previously owned knowledge with experiment planning, data analysis and interpretation and making of their own scientific claims.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.39-50
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• 2018

Objective: Social attention is paid to the issues concerning child care teachers' work multisibility and ambiguous legal status. Child care teachers are employees based on the "Labor Standards Act" and the "Child Care Act". They also play the role of kindergarten teachers based on the "Childhood Education Act" because of the Nuri curriculum. Based on the main tasks of the child care teachers who protect and nurture infants and toddlers, the Nuri curriculum education for infants is conducted. However, the duties and rights of child care teachers are disproportionate because there are many areas where teachers' professional roles do not suit their legal rights. Methods: The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers perceive their own rights through field experience using qualitative method based on interpretative epistemology. Participants were 61 child care teachers working in the metropolitan area and used protocol description and focus group interview (FGI) for data collection. The collected data were derived as a central theme according to the data analysis method proposed by Creswell (2013). Results: Participants in the study described the 'Right and autonomy of education as a professional occupation', 'Right to request for improvement on working conditions, guarantee of living and to request for welfare system' and 'Right to guarantee of a teacher's status and adjustment of grievance.' They pointed out poor working conditions and welfare benefits at daycare centers, and emphasized that education and autonomy are necessary conditions to be strengthened for quality child care activities. On the other hand, they did not realize that 'Right to guarantee of a teacher's status and adjustment of grievance' was their right. And they have endured the infringement of this right. Conclusion/Implications: This study reveals the gap between teachers' responsibilities and rights, indicating the urgency of institutional arrangements. It is discussed that the social expectation for strengthening personality and professionalism as an infant and child specialist is increased and a practical alternative for the improvement of the right of teachers working in the child care field is needed considering the change of values about work.