• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2009

In this thesis we have developed an algorithm to evaluate each student's level of understanding and find out which subjects they are not good at when they get on-line lectures at a cyber university. This algorithm is based on fuzzy logic using each student's scores adjusted according to the level of difficulty. In addition, we also introduced a "duplex intellectual lecturing system" and an "evaluation method based on the level of understanding." With the duplex intellectual lecturing system students can ask questions on line at a cyber university and under the new evaluation method, there is no need for students to move between classes. As a result of a computer simulation test, the duplex on-line lecturing system has proven to be more effective than the current one-way cyber lecturing system.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.219-231
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• 2018

This study surveyed the elementary school teachers' use of visual representations and their perceptions of the functions of visual representations in the teaching of electricity unit. A total of 110 elementary teachers who have experiences in teaching electricity unit responded to online survey. The result showed firstly that most of the teachers use visual representations in their teaching and it is mostly limited to those presented in textbooks or images that they can get easily from internet search. Secondly, elementary teachers thought that they have high ability in using visual representations and low ability in understanding students' visual presentation ability. Thirdly, visual representations are more often preferred to be used as teacher-centered ways than student-centered ways for motivating students and conceptual understanding. However, in case of scientific inquiry, both teacher-centered and student-centered ways were equally preferred. Lastly, the teachers' perceptions of the functions of visual representations were categorized into 'teaching-instrumental function', 'learning-instrumental function', 'communicative-instrumental function' and 8 subcategories were found. The most frequent function was the 'information delivery function' in the 'teaching-instrumental function' category. Implications for teacher education and further studies were discussed.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.54-59
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• 2012

It is reported that the constructivistic learning method (CLM) enhances the understanding of the students in the learning process, especially in engineering classes. In CLM-based classes, the students can take the initiative in the learning process, which is called the student-centered model of the learning process. This is different from the traditional learning method based on the teacher-centered model, where a teacher plays the central role in the learning process of students. The authors have applied the method of CLM to one of the Engineering classes, namely production planning and inventory control (PPIC) class for undergraduate students. The PPIC class provides multimedia-based study materials and factory visits as well as regular lecture sections to cover the whole subject of inventory control theory and practice. In the review sessions, students are divided into several groups, and question-and-answer discussions were actively carried out among these groups under the support of the teacher as a facilitator. It was observed that the student engagement in the class was very active compared to the conventional lecture-based classes. As for further support of students understanding on the subject, simulation-based materials are also under study for the class. This paper presents the review of case study of CLM-based PPIC class and discusses the feasibility of simulation-based study materials for further improvement of the class.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.283-304
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• 2004

This study is to make strides toward an enriched understanding of changing a prevailing teacher-centered mathematics classroom culture to a student-centered culture by analyzing six reform-oriented classrooms of three elementary school teachers throughout a year This study provided a detailed description of important classroom episodes to explore how the participants in each class established a reform-oriented mathematics microculture. Despite the exemplary form of student-centered instruction, the content and qualities of the teaching practices are somewhat different in the extent to which students' ideas become the center of mathematical discourse and activity. Given the similarities in terms of general social norms and the differences in terms of socio-mathematical norms and mathematical practice, this study addresses some crucial issues on understanding the culture of elementary mathematics classroom in transition.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.242-257
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• 2014

Researchers have employed a diversity of definitions and measurement methods for creativity. As a result, creativity research is underrepresented in the literature and the findings of different studies often prove difficult to draw into a coherent body of understanding. With regard to assessment, there are some important problems both in creativity research and practice, such as originality bias and Big-C creativity bias in teachers' perceptions about creativity and creative thinking, and additive rather than multiplicative scoring systems of creativity assessment. Drawing upon most widely accepted conceptions of the creativity construct, I defined 'student's scientific creativity' as the ability to make a product both original and useful to the student in terms of little-c creativity, and 'scientist's scientific creativity' as the ability to come up with a product both original and useful to the science community in terms of Big-C creativity. In this study, an 'Assessment Formula for Scientific Creativity' was developed, which is consisted of the multiplication of originality and usefulness scores rather than the sum of the two scores, and then, with scores calculated from the assessment formula, the scientific explanations generated by children were categorized into four types: routine, useful, original, and creative types. The assessment formula was revealed to be both valid and reliable. The implications of the assessment formula for scientific creativity are examined. The new assessment formula may contribute to the comprehensive understanding of scientific creativity to guide future research and the appropriate interpretation of previous studies.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.503-514
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perception on fossil in elementary science 'Earth and Space' domain for elementary school students. For this purpose, the fossil perception inventory was developed. And the fossil perception was examined for random sampling of 5th and 6th grade 635 students. As a result, students chosen incorrect answer of the average 30.8% for questions of fossil perception. Over the average rate of incorrect answers in 20 questions were 8 questions(3 in the definitions for fossil, 2 in the creation of fossil, 2 in the fossil, sedimentary, stratum, 1 in the understanding for fossil). When the results were analyzed by residence and grade, there were significant differences in 7 questions between students in urban and rural areas, and between 5th and 6th students, there were important contrasts in 4 questions. The data that understanding of elementary students fossil can be provided for form the basis planning the teaching method to correct student's scientific concepts in elementary school. The results are also contributed to find an effective way for modify misconceptions of fossils to the scientific concepts.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.365-376
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study aims to develop and apply programs in agriculture and life sciences for promoting divergent thinking in STEAM using classroom wall gardens. The process of the STEAM program such as presentation of the situation, creative design, and success experience is proposed to utilize STEAM education as a distinguished program. Methods: Four types of classroom wall gardens were used in this program, such as the 'plaster pot wall garden', 'attachable LED wall garden'. 'coffee pack wall garden', and 'hanging wall garden' for each classroom. For this purpose, official letters were sent to relevant institutions (elementary schools) specified by the research institute, and classes were conducted on the selected elementary school students. Results: A satisfaction survey and effect analysis were conducted on the students participating in the program. The program was designed to take a total of 11 hours, comprised of teaching plans including the topics, purpose of production, subject outlines, learning goals, and elements of STEAM subjects and stages. Conclusion: According to the survey on student satisfaction and understanding, it was found that students participating in the program have a high level of understanding and participation, as well as increased interest in science. Also, the program helped the students to connect with other subject areas. The level of student satisfaction was especially high in the upper grades. It is believed that the results of this research contribute to the development of STEAM education programs in agriculture and life sciences as well as other subject areas.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.620-636
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze one science teacher's understanding of student argumentation and his explicit teaching strategies for implementing it in the classroom. One middle school science teacher, Mr. Field, and his students of 54 participated in this study. Data were collected through three semi-structured interviews, 60 hours of classroom observations, and two times of students' lab reports for eight weeks. Coding categories were developed describing the teacher's understanding of scientific argumentation and a description of the main teaching strategy, the Claim-Evidence Approach, was introduced. Toulmin's approach was employed to analyze student discourse as responses to see how much of this discourse was argumentative. The results indicated that Mr. Field defined scientific inquiry as the abilities of procedural skills through experimentation and of reasoning skills through argumentation. The Claim-Evidence Approach provided students with opportunities to develop their own claims based on their readings, design the investigation for evidence, and differentiate pieces of evidence from data to support their claims and refute others. During this approach, the teacher's role of scaffolding was critical to shift students' less extensive argumentation to more extensive argumentation through his prompts and questions. The different level of teacher's involvement, his explicit teaching strategy, and the students' scientific knowledge influenced the students' ability to develop and improve argumentation.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the structures of teacher's discourse according to the pattern of interaction between teachers and students in the understanding mathematical word problem. The structures of teacher's discourse could be conceptualized as a process in which the teacher starts, develops and organizes the discourse based on prior research. For this purpose, the fourth class(example, a problem of the same type as the example, formative assessment, and final assessment) was extracted from one semester of experienced teachers who have been practicing teaching methods to facilitate student participation for many years. A methodology used to develop a theory based on data collected through classroom observations. Because the purpose of the study is to identify the structures of teacher's discourse to help the problem understanding, observe the teacher's discourse and collect data based on student engagement. Results show that the structure of teacher's discourse, which consults on important aspects of interaction between teachers-students and creates mathematical meanings, helped students understand the mathematics word problem by promoting their engagement in class. Based on the structures of teacher's discourse to understand problems based on the interaction patterns between teachers and students, it can be said that teachers provided specific methodologies on how to communicate with students in order to understand problems in the future.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.207-219
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• 2004

There have been studies reporting the increase in student confidence in mathematics when using technology. However, past studies indicating a positive correlation between technology and confidence in mathematics do not explain why they see this positive outcome. With increased availability and easy access to the Internet in schools and the development of free online virtual manipulatives, this research was interested in how the use of virtual manipulatives in mathematics can affect students confidence in their mathematical abilities. Our hypothesis was that the classes using virtual manipulatives which allows students to connecting dynamic visual image with abstract symbols will help students gain a deeper conceptual understanding of math concept thus increasing their confidence and ability in mathematics. The participants in this study were 46 fifth-grade students in three ability groups: one high, one middle and one low. During a two-week unit on fractions, students in three groups interacted with several virtual manipulative applets in a computer lab. Data sources in the project included a pre and posttest of students mathematics content knowledge, Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale, field notes and student interviews, and classroom videotapes. Our aim was to find evidence for increased level of confidence in mathematics as students strengthened their understanding of fraction concepts. Results from the achievement score indicated an overall main effect showing significant improvement for all ability groups following the treatment and an increase in the confidence level from the preassessment of the Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale in the middle and high ability groups. An interesting finding was that the confidence level for the low ability group students who had the highest confidence level in the beginning did not change much in the final confidence scale assessment. In the middle and high ability groups, the confidence level did increase according to the improvement of the contest posttest. Through interviews, students expressed how the virtual manipulatives assisted their understanding by verifying their answers as they worked and facilitated their ability to figure out math concept in their mind and visually.