• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.484-495
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in geological contents knowledge and self-confidence before and after the geological field trips. Fifty seven undergraduate students at a national university of education participated in this study. The questionnaires were developed by the researcher to serve the purpose. Findings were as follows. First, before and after the geological field trip, there was no significant difference in changes of geological content knowledge (p<.05). However, participants' self-confidence about the geological field trip changed significantly (p<.01). Second, there were no significant differences in changes of both variables in terms of gender (p<.05). And in this study, participants were grouped into two: science track that selected science areas and non-science track with social study selected in the college scholastic ability test. There were also no significant differences in changes of geological contents knowledge and self-confidence in terms of science or non-science track (p<.05). Third, in terms of the geological content knowledge, 24 pre-service teachers showed an increase, 12 students unchanged, and the 21 participants decreased. In contrast, per participants' self-confidence about the geological field trip, fifty three students indicated an increase with only one participant unchanged, and three preservice teachers decreased on the score. Finally, after the geological field trip, participants' comments indicated that they could feel the mystery of nature with the mind of a great experience. As a result, data showed that pre-service teachers became interested in geology, and motivated more in learning geological area than ever.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1060-1074
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated teachers' experiences in teaching with the science museum as well as their confidence, their perceptions, educational needs, and their willingness to practice the instructions using science museum. A survey was administered to 225 elementary and secondary school teachers. The analyses of the results revealed that few teachers had training for the instructions using the science museum and not many teachers had experience in teaching with the science museum. Many teachers were also found to have low confidence in teaching with the science museum. Although the teachers had a relatively good understanding of the educational effects, nature and teaching strategies for the instructions using the science museum, they tended to apply the formal views on science teaching/learning to learning with the science museum. The levels of willingness to use the science museum in their instructions and educational needs of the instructions using the science museum were high. They wanted the information about practical aspects to use in the instructions using science museum most. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an education program promoting attitude, knowledge, and practice of safety for teachers in child care centers. Method: This education was provided at one public health center in Kyunggi Province. One group pretest-post test design was used, and knowledge on safety and emergency care, practice of safety, health belief and self confidence on safety practice were assessed from 74 teachers. Theoretical framework for this program was Pender's health promotion model. Result: After two hours group education session on safety management, knowledge on safety and emergency care was significantly increased and perception on the main cause of injuries was significantly changed. Practice on safety was significantly related to the knowledge, health belief and confidence on safety, and social support. Conclusion: The education program for teachers in child care centers regarding the child safety and emergency care was effective in promoting knowledge and perception on the main cause of injuries of infants.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.713-723
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• 2008

Science teaching-anxiety and science teaching-efficacy are influential factors in teachers' teaching practices and behaviors. In order to encourage elementary teachers to do better teaching practice, this study identified factors that have caused teachers' science teaching-anxiety, developed an instrument measuring science teaching-anxiety, and investigated the relationship between science teaching-anxiety and science teaching-efficacy. In addition, we attempted to suggest practical implications to enhance teachers' confidence in science teaching. The guiding research questions were 1) which factors affect science teaching-anxiety level of the preservice elementary teachers, and 2) how each factor of science teaching-anxiety is related to science teaching-efficacy. The subjects were 133 Korean preservice elementary teachers (57.1% were female) in a large city. The data sources included teachers' responses to three paper and pencil questionnaires: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Science Teaching-Anxiety Questionnaire (STAQ), and Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B). To clarify the science teaching-anxiety, we specified it into six factors: trait anxiety about nature of science and science teaching, state anxiety about instruction, science activities, student assessment, and professional responsibilities. The results indicated three significant aspects of science teaching anxiety and efficacy. First, their level of anxiety about professional responsibility and science teaching was relatively high among six factors. Second, there was a negative correlation between science teaching-anxiety and science teaching-efficacy. Third, trait anxiety about science teaching is the most influential factor for science teaching-efficacy while state anxiety about instruction and professional responsibilities were followed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2012

We investigated the perception and preferred type of question and analyzed type of questions asked by teachers in elementary science class to identify how teachers' perception of questioning is reflected in teaching practices. We collected the data from questionnaires, deep-interview and audiotaped four classes from grade 3 and six classes from grade 6. The data form deep-interview were analyzed interpretively and Blosser' framework of question was used to analyze questions which teachers used in classes. By interpretation of data from questionnaires, the teachers agreed that questioning affects science class in elementary school. There were a little differences in perceptions of questioning among three teachers. They preferred various types of question rather than a specific type. They didn't have a good understanding of questioning. The result showed that the teachers used frequently cognitive-memory question and convergent thinking question, which belonged to closed questions in their science classes. This didn't accord with their preferred types of question. The causes came from objectives of science instruction, degree of understanding about questioning, preference and confidence for science class. From this findings, we suggested that teachers should be given opportunities to take training courses in questioning in order to use effective questioning in science class.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-451
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• 2013

This study was conducted as a part of the project to establish professional development system(PDS) for teachers in Korea. This study aimed to provide a case of running a professional learning community(PLC) of teachers in science education based on the collaboration of a national university of education and its affiliated elementary school, in search of learning by participants and implications for professional development of teachers as well as for science teaching in elementary schools. Teachers and researchers who participated in the PLC were able to accumulate meaningful experiences through 11 rounds of meetings. It was not easy to secure enough time for meetings, but they were able to boost their self-confidence for science teaching and enhance the quality of lessons through these gatherings. Participating teachers had a chance to share instructional design, planning, strategies and practices, which include cases of guiding free-choice research activities among students, thereby to be motivated for improved science teaching for the future. The researcher participating in this PLC was also able to understand the identity of an elementary school, especially the affiliated school, and identify the reality and difficulties related to science teaching in schools. Experiences of participating in PLC are expected to help improve the quality of science teaching in affiliated elementary school and pre-service teacher education of the university.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.245-255
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• 2012

The purposes of this research are to analyze preservice elementary teachers' degree of difficulty in classes of seasonal variation and suggest the measures of classes so that preservice elementary teachers can progress classes of seasonal variation effectively. To achieve them, the research was conducted for 90 first graders completing teaching method of elementary science in P university of education from Sep. to Dec. 2012. This research was conducted, based on the results of in-depth interview for 9 preservice elementary teachers who performed classes of seasonal variation, survey on the degree of class difficulty and evaluation of classes on 8 classes theme of Earth sector in elementary science. The results of this research are as follows. The first, preservice elementary teachers had relatively high class difficulty for teaching seasonal variation among the sector of the earth in elementary science. The second, in the evaluation of preservice elementary teachers' classes, the more the subject showed high class difficulty, the more the score of class evaluation was low. The reason is analyzed that high class difficulty reduces teacher's confidence. The third, preservice elementary teachers had insufficient knowledges and concepts which are basically necessary for the classes of seasonal variation. Especially, it was more serious for preservice elementary teachers who didn't learn Earth-science during their high school time. The fourth, it is necessery that concrete and systematical teaching method should be developed so as to improving preservice elementary teachers' teaching method for the classes of seasonal variation.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.402-415
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• 2018

This study aims to inquire into the U. S. elementary school teachers' storylines for science teaching methods, scientific knowledge and interactions with students. As research subjects, two American elementary school teachers, named Christina and Melissa, were selected. As test tools, this study adopted Storyline Test and semi-structured interviews. Firstly, in regard to the science teaching method, Christina evaluated that she gradually improved her science teaching skills up to positive 6 points, starting from 2 points in the first year of teaching career, while Melissa sustained a stable state with 5 points in the 9th year of teaching career, starting from 1 point in the first year of teaching career. It was found that both the teachers had more confidence in their science teaching methods by participating in various training programs. Secondly, Christina evaluated her scientific knowledge in the first year of teaching career as 4 points, but evaluated her present scientific knowledge as stable as 6 points since she started studying teaching materials actively, discussing with other teachers and having more ability of application through science class integrated with other school subjects, in the 7th year of her teaching career. On the other hand, Melissa evaluated her scientific knowledge in the first year of teaching career as 1 point since she did not exactly know what to teach elementary school students, but in the 6th year of teaching career, she sustained a stable state with points through joint-activities with other teachers. It was found that chances to research with other teachers had important effect on both the teachers' confidence in scientific knowledge. Thirdly, in regard to interactions with students in science class, Christina said that she did not have any interaction with students when instructing inquiry activities in the first year of teaching career, but since the 10th year of her teaching career, she had sustained a stable state with 6 points through active interaction with students, by leading learning projects and science competitive exhibitions, etc. On the other hand, Melissa evaluated her interaction with students in the first year of teaching career as 1 point because her class was reading-oriented, but since the 9th year of teaching career, she had sustained a stable state with 6 points so far, by developing inquiry activity strategies to improve interaction with students. Overall, it was found that inquiry activities played a central role in improving both the teachers' interaction with students.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.50-60
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to define teachers' learning motivation strategies and students' responses by analyzing science classes and interviews. The subjects were first grade and sixth grade teachers and students of an elementary school. The analysis tools are based on Keller's ARCS theory. The differences of teachers' motivation strategies were analyzed by grades and teachers' and students' backgrounds. The interviewers were composed of three teachers and three students of first grade, and three teachers and three students of sixth grade. The data were collected by recording of the classes using tape recorders, video cameras, and notebooks written by researchers. The results are as follows. First, teachers had their own styles of teaching strategies in their classes. Especially teachers' teaching backgrounds affected on the teachers' instructional strategies. The teachers who had long teaching experiences of lower grade students used to show a lot of attention strategies. While the teachers with long teaching experiences of higher grade students used to show few learning motivation strategies. Especially, sixth grade teachers used to show fewer confidence strategies than first grade teachers. Second, all of the teachers used to show few satisfaction strategies commonly in all the classes observed. Third, the students' recognition of the motivation strategies were not different according to their conceptions or activities of the classes. Commonly first grade students focused on the attention strategies, while sixth grade students focused on negative motivation strategies. Fourth, the teachers who believed that students need detail guidance and control recognized the needs of satisfaction strategies by students' autonomous activities after observing video tapes of other teachers' classes.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.719-731
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to analyze a group of pre-service elementary teachers experience on the cognitive terms of biology inquiry subjects, and experience on living materials related with the domain of life in the Korea elementary school science textbook. Firstly, elementary school pre-service teachers had the confidence of inquiry subjects related with the domain of life such as 'when we take breath what will happen in human body?' and 'Can we make the model of human body?' But they did have the most diffidence of 'The search for pieris rapae, a cabbage butterfly's life', 'Can we grow the little creature?' The reason why pre-service elementary teachers had diffidence of comprehending experiment procedure and planning ability was that 'they focused on understanding the scientific concepts instead of planning experiments by themselves', and 'they carried out the least amount of experiments' Secondly, elementary school pre-service teachers had never experienced biology materials related with the domain of life in the Korea elementary school biology science textbook such as 'tradescantia reflexa', 'Caddis larva', 'hydrilla verticillata', and 'Plantain lily.' According to the findings obtained from the study, the reason why they had never seen the biology materials was that they had the least opportunity of immediately observing life creatures due to memorization-intensive classes.