• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.46-62
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• 2013

In this study, nations with high academic achievement but disparate affective achievement in science according to the results of the TIMSS 2007 were selected and students' responses in the main survey for affective properties from those nations were analyzed. In addition, Korean science teachers' perception of affective achievement and the properties of teaching and learning science was explored by an online survey. According to the results of the analysis of students' responses in the main survey, the percentage of those with high levels of confidence in, pleasure in, and value perception of science was large for Hong Kong, Singapore, and England but small for Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. When the properties of teaching and learning in actual science classes were observed in Korea, actual classes focused little on experimentation, research activities, and the context of everyday life. According to the results of surveys conducted on science teachers, students' low confidence in science was due to difficult and uninteresting curricula and the absolute lack of time to study science and their low interest in the subject was due to difficult curricula and the view that science was unrelated to their future academic or professional careers. In addition, according to the teachers, students' low value perception of science curricula was due to the fact that there was no need to excel in science for academic or professional careers and the idea that the subject was of no help to daily life.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.345-359
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the educational effects and the improvements of the 'Science Field Trips' Program which developed with the aim of fostering the prospective elementary school teachers' ability to manage science field trips. The participants were 13 senior students from a national university of education. The results of the study are as follows: First, with regard to the effectiveness in the science instruction aspect of the prospective teachers' geological field trip as an experiential activity, the responses of the participants were children's 'scientific knowledge'(69.2%), 'science related attitudes'(46.2%), and 'science inquiry'(30.8%). Second, regarding the effectiveness of the geological field trip in their management of science field trips aspects in the future, the responses of the participants were 'teaching strategies'(92.3%), 'plan implementation'(76.9%), 'teacher's science knowledge'(61.5%), 'self-confidence'(38.5%), 'enhancement of awareness of field trips'(23.1%), and 'career guidance'(7.7%). Third, with regard to the effectiveness in the science instruction aspect of their activities of planning a science field trip in their future working districts, the responses of the participants were children's 'science knowledge'(38.5%), 'science-related attitudes'(38.5%), and 'science inquiry'(23.1%). Fourth, regarding the effectiveness in their management of science field trips aspects of the activities of planning a science field trip, the responses of the participants were 'plan implementation'(92.3%), 'the identification of science field trip sites'(84.6%), 'teaching strategies'(76.9%), 'administrative affairs'(69.2%), 'teacher's science knowledge'(30.8%), 'enhancement of awareness of field trips'(23.1%), 'career guidance'(15.4%), and 'self-confidence' (15.4%). The improvements plans of the program and the suggestions for future research is also described in this study.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.649-659
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyse students' achievement of 'Earth Science' in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study-Repeat(TIMSS-R), which was performed in 1999 with 38 nations participating. Korean 8th grade students' achievement of 'Earth Science' was compared with those of other countries and other content areas in science. Average percent correct of items in each subcategory was also analysed. Most of the 'Earth Science' topics were included in the intended curricula of Korea; they were taught to most of the students in science classes. Korean students ' average scale score of 'Earth Science' was significantly higher than the international average, but in comparison with other science content areas, achievement of 'Earth Science' was relatively low. The teachers' confidence in teaching earth science was lower than their confidence in teaching other science areas. The paper presents the results of item analysis and their implications for science education.

• Korean Educational Research Journal
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.153-182
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• 2022

This study explored the experiences and difficulties of science teachers who participated in overseas educational voluntary activities. Seven science teachers who had visited Timor-Leste participated in the study. All collected data including the teacher interview were analyzed. As a result, teachers visited Timor-Leste to fulfill social roles and to meet the expectations of others. After returning from Timor-Leste, the teachers regained their passion for teaching and gained confidence in taking on new challenges. Teachers had difficulties in conducting seminars due to the unstable social situation and lack of awareness of Timor-Leste teachers, and experienced communication limitations due to language barriers. Nevertheless, teachers cooperate with local priest to improve these limitations. In addition, teachers supplemented the limitations caused by the non-establishment of the curriculum through the evaluation meeting. In order to improve teaching expertise and promote active participation of Timor-Leste teachers, the seminar method was modified. The experience of volunteering in Timor-Leste made teachers think about the importance of cooperation and the necessity of education. Based on the above results, we discussed ways to activate voluntary service.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.638-648
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine mentor teachers' difficulties during their collaborative mentoring process to improve beginning science teachers' teaching practice. Participants were fourteen science teachers. This study collected questionnaires for mentor teachers' perception of the mentoring program, questionnaires for mentor teachers' efficacy, a record and transcript of interview, a record and transcript of mentoring conversation, and mentor teachers' journals for the study. The result showed that mentor teachers were having difficulties with mentee teachers when they have different major or work in different levels of school, and they found it hard to set aside time for mentoring due to heavy amount of school work. Also, they had low self-confidence experiencing a lack of expertise as a mentor teacher, and some mentor teachers were having difficulties in building a rapport with mentee teachers. Mentor teachers had difficulties as well when they have different point of view with mentee teachers about mentoring.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-50
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• 1997

'I'his study investigated students' attitude toward mathematics. and how behavior/cognitive training affects level of math anxietv and level of math achievement. Subjects were all the freshmen attending Taejon Science High School, and they were given Mathematics Attitudes Scale and Attributional Style Questionnaire prior to and post training sessions. Twenty out of 84 freshmen voluntarily participated in nine sessions of training program. Participants were asked to do self-evaluation. Math achievement was measured prior to and post training. and was compared between two groups. Training program utilized behavior/cognitive approach. such as understanding one's feeling through muscle relaxation, breathing and meditation; modifying negative attributional style; imitating effective cognitive strategies for math problem solving, and so on. 'I'he result shows that students' math confidence in general was relatively low out of expectation, a nd they perceived teachers not supporting their math abilities :IS much as expected. On the other hand, students in general had strong math achievelment needs, and considered math utility very high. Sex difference was seen in the attitude toward female math abilities, to result that female students had more positive perception than male students. Female students of 'I'aejon Science High School seem free from conventional idea about female abilities including theirs. Participants' ~attitude change was compared with non-participants. and participants showed statistically significant change in their math confidence, and also in their math achievement. Participants had much higher math confidence and ~achievement than non-participants. And, they showed increased level of perceiving teachers' expectation. more realistic in needs, and more involvement in math. Math achievement was found positively related to math confidence, and participants' math achievement change was explained by their belief in math utility. Not only training program effect hut also participants' voluntary involvement and teacher\ulcorner' support of the program and participation seem to increase their math achievement. Based upon the result of study it was suggested that behavior-/cognitive training program be provided along with academic curricula for gifted students of Korea to help their emotional and psychological development enhance the efficacy of their cognitive learning.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the relationship between verbal aggression against school teachers and upper extremity (neck, shoulder, upper limb, and/or upper back) musculoskeletal pain. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 525 elementary school teachers from Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Northeast Brazil. Results: The prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain among teachers who reported verbal aggression in the past six months (67.7%) was higher than that among those who did not report verbal aggression (51.7%): (prevalence ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.40). The prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain was associated with verbal aggression, sex, and common mental disorders, controlled by skin color, age, monthly income, teachers' education, years working as a teacher, workload, and obesity. Furthermore, the measure of the association between verbal aggression and upper extremity musculoskeletal pain was modified by sex and common mental disorders, considered altogether. Teachers who suffered verbal aggression, of the feminine sex, and also having common mental disorders reported high prevalence (85.4%) of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: The association between verbal violence in the school and complaints of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain was strong and modified by teachers' sex and common mental disorders.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the internal factors whether teachers execute experiments at the science classes in the elementary school. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed with 9 elementary school teachers who have served for more than three years. In-depth interviews were performed individually and all the interviews were recorded. Data sources were analyzed by grounded theory. The results were as follows: The internal factors that they did experiments at the science classes were science teaching faiths in experiment, self confidence in experiment, interest in science. and the internal factors that they did not experiment at the science classes were lack of science content knowledge, lack of science education knowledge, memory of failure at experiment, and so on. The investigation results imply inquiry activities should be more strengthened in elementary teacher education program and pre-service teacher curriculum. And it needs to give a materials of receiving information and guidance detailed about the experiments.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.458-475
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to analyze the responses of pre-service elementary teachers to the plant learning using plant-observation activities and observation journal writings. Thirty pre-service teachers participated in this study. Before and after practicing plant observation and observation journal writing for 11 weeks, pre-service teachers' interest to plants, attitude to plant-observation teaching, and plant-observation teaching efficacy were examined using a questionnaire. Also, the observation journals, reflective journal writings, and interviews were analyzed to investigate their qualitative change. In addition, the pre-service teachers were classified by multi-dimensional scaling and cluster analysis with respect to attitude to plant-observation teaching and observation journal writing, and teaching efficacy. While the pre-service teachers showed significant increase of the interest to plants and plant-observation teaching efficacy, and positive change of the attitude to plant-observation teaching, there was a little difference between gender with more positive effects on females. The positive attitude changes of pre-service teachers included positive recognition about plants and the diversity, increased interest and curiosity about plants, careful observation about nearby plants, and independent learning and positive inquiry with plants. In terms of teaching efficacy, they showed positive change such as enjoyment and satisfaction with plant-observation, confidence as elementary teachers in the future, and recognition about the importance of elementary teachers for plant education. However, the changes were different among the groups classified by attitude to plant-observation teaching and observation journal writings, and plant-observation teaching efficacy.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.431-440
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the K Teachers' Community, which brought about changes in the perception of SSI education by teachers with experience in SSI, and to explore its relevance to the development of SSI professions. This is a case study that describes in depth the characteristics of the K teachers' community. The study conducted semi-structured as well as in-depth interviews with six teachers who have more experience in SSI education activities for over 20 years. The K teachers' community has three characteristics. First, the K teachers' community formed identity by discussing the nature of science and technology, which allowed teachers to share a common orientation toward the goals of science education. Second, the teachers who participated in the K teachers' community formed professionalism and confidence in SSI teaching in the course of producing, sharing, and spreading SSI through its various practices. Third, the K teachers' community is continuously growing by opening themselves to external communities and co-evolution through solidarity. The success of K Teachers' Community may inform other teachers how the community of teaching practices can develop and maintain, and in turn can help the members of the community develop their professional identity as teachers.