• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.515-529
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• 2020

'Scientific inquiry experiments', which was newly created subjects in the 2015 revised curriculum, was expected in the aspect of learning science and developing core competences through science practices. Based on changed view of evaluation, assessments of a practice-centered subject 'Scientific inquiry experiments' should be try to conducted in various ways, but many challenges were reported. In this study, through analysis of current status of assessment of the subject, we intended to find the way of conducting and supporting 'Scientific inquiry experiments'. We collected assessment materials and explanatory description about them from 25 teachers who taught 'Scientific inquiry experiments' in 2018 and 2019. And we analyzed the cases with framework which were consisted with three main categories: elements, standards, methods of assessments. Also, we investigated how the results of assessment were utilized. For the validity, we requested verification of the results of our data analysis to experts of science education and science teachers. From them, we also collected their opinions about our analysis. As a result of the study, teachers assessed some elements of inquiry skills such as 'analysis and interpreting the data', 'conducting inquiry' more than others which were closely related to what subject-matter the teachers used to organized inquiry program with. In the aspect of domain of assessments, though cognitive domain and affective domain as well as skills were evaluated, we also found that the assessment of those domains had some limitation. In terms of standard of assessment, the goals of assessment were presented in most cases, but there were relatively few cases which had the specific criteria and the stepwise statements of expected performance of students. The time and subject of the assessment were mainly post-class and teachers, and others such as in-class assessments, peer-assessments were used only in specific contexts. In all cases, the results of assessments used for calculating students' grade, but in some cases, we could observe that the results used for improving teaching and feedback for students. Based on these results, we discussed how to support the assessments of 'Scientific inquiry experiments'.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) teaching on 6th graders in Korean elementary schools. Three classes from elementary school were respectively assigned to an experimental group consisting of one class (38 students) and a control group of two classes (78 students). For the experimental group, science instruction employed MBL. For the control group, traditional instruction was used. The results of this study are as follows: Firstly, the MBL was effective in the improvement of scientific inquiry skills. Secondly, there was no significant difference in respect to the results from the achievement test between the experimental group and the control group.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.88-106
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate the disparity between the teacher's perception of student-centered inquiry classes and the actual implementation of such practices. Specifically, we compared an elementary science teacher's self-perception of her science lessons with the observers' evaluation using the Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) of the "Temperature and Heat" unit. Research data were collected through classroom teaching survey, interview, and science lessons video which were analyzed using the RTOP. As a result of the study, the teacher recognized that she was practicing inquiry-oriented/student-centered classes, but the results judged by the RTOP score were found to be transitional/student-affected classes by a slight difference. Teacher H planned and practiced classes based on a high understanding and content knowledge of the curriculum and created a science classroom culture that promotes active interaction among students as well as students and teachers. However, teacher-led aspects were still emphasized in teaching design and implementation, and the project theme and content were inappropriate to improve the quality of students' science inquiry experience. In the end, the slight difference between teacher's perception of inquiry-oriented/student-centered classes and actual implementation is related to how student-centered "lesson design" is and how to plan and implement classes supported by "procedural knowledge" for students' experience in the science inquiry process. These results indicate that the teacher's self-evaluation alone is not enough to determine whether the teacher's intentions and efforts are actually being implemented, and that it is necessary to conduct objective analysis, evaluation, and discuss the results of science classes by the external observers.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartA
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• v.19A no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2012

Abstract In informatics subject, a good understanding of information representation and the structure of materials is the first step to acquire the basic principles of computer science. But few studies have ever focused on the educational significance of the structure of materials in informatics subject or how to organize materials in a manner to stimulate students to introspect. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the 'information representation and management' sections of informatics textbooks of the revised 2007 curriculum that have been in use since 2010 had an inquiry tendency or not. As a result of analyzing the textbooks by utilizing Romey method, one textbook was found to have an inquiry tendency in terms of texts, figures/diagrams, activities and questions at the end of chapters. If textbooks are just organized to convey knowledge, it might result in making students less interactive in class. Specifically, informatics is a subject to teach basic problem-solving skills by using IT, and the findings of the study suggest that students who get less interactive in class are likely to have less chances to learn about how to solve the given problems in diverse ways.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.140-156
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• 2010

This study aimed to investigate how science teachers perceived major features of the 2007 revised science curriculum and implementing them in classes. The 2007 revised science curriculum included critical features such as creativity, open inquiry, science writing, discussion and STS. In terms of necessity, clarity and complexity of those features for curriculum implementation, teacher perceptions were examined. Particularly with regard to open inquiry assigned 6 class periods per semester as one of the critical features of 2007 revised science curriculum, we asked teachers how they would prepare and implement the technique in their teaching. In results of this study, science teachers agreed on the necessity and importance of those major features of the 2007 revised science curriculum, including creativity, open inquiry, science writing, discussion, and STS. However, they were not clear on how those would work in their classrooms and expected various impediments. Open inquiry was specifically perceived as most negative in its implementation with the mention of various complex reasons. Based on findings in this study, we proposed the 'Dual Action Research Model' for curriculum implementation. It tries to explain how curriculum is implemented in classrooms and diminish the gaps between curriculum developers and teacher users by means of leading teachers to understand the curriculum meaningfully and implement their teaching based on this understanding.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to diagnose difficulties and problems that the preservice teachers experience when teaching inquiry-based classes in elementary science and to improve their professionalism through prescriptive instruction consulting utilizing PDRE (preparation, diagnosis, reflective implementation, evaluation) model. The result of this study was as follows. First, preservice teachers considered themselves to be lack of scientific knowledge, but this study confirmed that the application of instruction consulting improved their understandings in scientific concepts and principles and corrected their misconceptions. Second, preservice teachers experienced difficulties in variables that might influence the results of experiments, cautions for the experiments and unexpected results of experiments, and this consulting allowed them to gain instruction ability to cope with such circumstances and solve problems effectively. Third, preservice teachers experienced difficulties in applying instructional model into their classes and preparing lesson plans, but consulting actually made limited but positive changes in their abilities. However, from a longer-term perspective, quantitative increase in their teaching opportunities, the development and distribution of example manuals, and the utilization of various class materials provided by the assistant centers for teaching and learning should be achieved side by side.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2002

The purpose of the study is to investigate the applicability of portfolio assessment to ordinary elementary science classes, and the effects of a portrolio assessment on students' science achievement, inquiry ability, and science attiudes. Two schools were sampled from a metropolitan area, a city, and three schools from rural area in central Korea. Two fifth-grade classes were sampled from each school selected, and one class is assigned to experimental group and the other to control group, respectively. The total number of participants of the study are 475. Portfolio assessmest was administered to experimental group, and conventional teaching to control group for two and half month. Science achievement test, science inquiry ability test, and science attitudes test were administered as a pre- and post-test. Portfolio asseddment seems to be applecable to ordinary elementary science classroom. Statistically meaningful difference was not found in students' science achievemant by group, region, and sex. Students' inquiry ability and science attitudes showed statistically meaningful difference by region rather than group. Experimental group showed more positive scores on some sub-domains of science attitudes, such as perception on science education, and science career, interests in science activity, and criticism. In conclusion, portfolio assessment can be applicable to ordinary dldmentary science classrooms. The effects of portfolio assessment are at least the same as the traditional teaching on student science achievement, inquiry ability, and science attitudes.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2009

Understanding about the Nature of Science (NOS) is element of scientific literacy. Its importance is emphasized, especially understanding about NOS was presented as goal of science education on the fifth curriculum in Korea. Attempt of teaching NOS has been continuous in school, that was limited by method of using History of Science. Except method of using History of Science, Experimenting is appropriate for method of teaching NOS. We expected that is effective to apply reflective approach method for understanding the NOS and composite lesson to emphasize reflection and discussion to general experiment class in the school. We applied experiment class to emphasize reflection and discussion to second grade students in the middle school and researched whether positive reflection and discussion is helpful understanding the NOS in science experiment class or not, through questionnaire about NOS and analysis of observation and interview. As a result, experiment class to emphasize reflection and discussion was effective for scientific inquiry skills and sociality of scientific inquiry, particularly for relation observation with deduction and possibility of variable analysis to experiment result. Therefore, experiment class to emphasize reflection and discussion is effective for understanding the NOS.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.90-102
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• 2016

Flipped learning is generally designed to allow students to learn on their own in advance with the help of scaffolding material such as videos and text, and in the classroom, it is operated with the help of a teacher while the class is being learner-centered. For flipped learning, each of the teachers has to design the class, collect information, and prepare for scaffolding material, so they get to face a lot of difficulties spending much time to reorganize the curriculum and produce a video and so on. Accordingly, this researcher has developed flipped learning textbook models applicable to science class by analyzing Korean and overseas textbooks, conducting an in-depth interview to six science teachers practicing flipped learning, and also developing and applying the science textbook sample model. The elementary, middle, and high school science textbook models developed include not only the textbook-based model with no videos presented in advance but also the lecture-type model, experiment-based model, and inquiry and research-based model to realize flipped learning. This study is expected to present crucial implications to develop textbooks and science class as a class to perform learner-centered inquiry activity.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.225-238
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to find out The Effects of the Learning Motive, Interest and Science Process Skills using the 'Light' Unit on Science-based STEAM. As the subject, 2 classes in the 6th grade of G elementary school located in Busan were selected. Through the pre/post inspection design between experiment and comparison class, the units of science courses in the first semester of 6th grade '1. Light' were applied. The results were as follows: Firstly, it was observed that it would have a meaningful effect to improve the learning motive of students who performed STEAM education. Secondly, it was observed that it would have a meaningful effect to improve the interest of students who performed STEAM education. Especially, the results of 'attention', 'relevance', 'confidence' and 'satisfaction' in the experimental class were higher than those of students in the comparative class. The experimental class gave a positive effect on the 'attention', 'confidence' and 'satisfaction'. According to statistical analysis, this result is meaning. Thirdly, the test on science processing skills showed that there was not statistic meaningful differences between the two groups. But, in the sub-parts, there was statistic meaningful differences between the two groups on the 'integrated inquiry ability'.