• Title/Summary/Keyword: teachers' approaches to instruction

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English as an Instructional Medium in Korean Higher Education: Focusing on the Perspectives of Professors

  • Choi, Soo Joung
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.25-51
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    • 2012
  • The study explores the way professors working in a private university in Korea perceive the recent English-medium instruction (EMI) frenzy in Korean higher education (HE) and the way they respond to its manifestation at their institution. Working within a qualitative research paradigm (Merriam, 2009), I gathered data primarily via one-time semi-structured interviews with ten participants who have offered or are offering EMI at the time of data collection and used a qualitative data analysis method. The findings illustrate that the professors view external factors residing outside individual universities, such as the college rankings and the university evaluation parameters, as the principal drive behind the current EMI boom in Korean tertiary education. Acknowledging the importance of strengthening the international competitive edge of Korean HE in the global era, the professors perceive the EMI policy positively expecting it to be beneficial for both students and institutions. They, however, problematize the blind acceptance of EMI policy and externally forced EMI expansion movement in Korean HE, which they believe will lower the standard of the academic experience of students. Experiencing first-hand the inadequate manifestation of the EMI policy at their university, the professors claim that a systematic long-term implementation plan and context-suitable approaches should be taken at both the national and institutional level for successful future EMI implementation and expansion efforts.

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From Information to Knowledge: The Information Literacy Conundrum

  • Todd, Ross J.
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.131-153
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    • 2010
  • The fusion of learning, information, and technology presents dynamic challenges for all librarians, educators and students in 21st century libraries and schools. At the heart of this fusion is the growth of a pervasive, integrated information environment characterized by vast quantities of digital content, open choice, collaborative and participatory digital spaces, and the transition of the web environments from consumption of information to creation of information. This environment heralds important opportunities for librarians and teachers to rethink, re-imagine and recreate a dynamic approaches to information literacy instruction. Drawing on an extensive body of research undertaken through the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL), and published research on both information literacy and constructivist learning, this paper provides a critical examination of the current status of information literacy: its multiple conceptualizations, competing models, viewpoints, and its operationalizations in educational and library environments. The paper will challenge information literacy practices which center on simplistic, reductionist approaches to information literacy development, and the separation of information process and knowledge content. In particular it will address apparent contradictions in espoused conceptions of information literacy which revolve around "knowledge": knowledge construction, critical thinking, problem solving and the development of knowledgeable people; and information literacy practices which revolve around "information": a predominant focus on skills of access and evaluation of resources and with less attention given to engaging with found information to develop deep knowledge and understanding. The paper will present a series of challenges for moving forward with information literacy agendas in libraries and schools.

Three Teaching-Learning Plans for Integrated Science Teaching of 'Energy' Applying Knowledge-, Social Problem-, and Individual Interest-Centered Approaches (지식내용, 사회문제, 개인흥미 중심의 통합과학교육 접근법을 적용한 '에너지' 주제의 교수.학습 방안 개발(II))

  • Lee, Mi-Hye;Son, Yeon-A;Young, Donald B.;Choi, Don-Hyung
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.357-384
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    • 2001
  • In this paper, we described practical teaching-learning plans based on three different theoretical approaches to Integrated Science Education (ISE): a knowledge centered ISE, a social problem centered ISE, and an individual interest centered ISE. We believe that science teachers can understand integrated science education through this paper and they are able to apply simultaneously our integrated science teaching materials to their real instruction in classroom. For this we developed integrated science teaching-learning plans for the topic of energy which has a integrated feature strongly among integrated science subject contents. These modules were based upon the teaching strategies of 'Energy' following each integrated directions organized in the previous paper (Three Strategies for Integrated Science Teaching of "Energy" Applying Knowledge, Social Problem, and Individual Interest Centered Approaches) and we applied instruction models fitting each features of integrated directions to the teaching strategies of 'Energy'. There is a concrete describing on the above three integrated science teaching-learning plans as follows. 1. For the knowledge centered integration, we selected the topic, 'Journey of Energy' and we tried to integrate the knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science applying the instruction model of 'Free Discovery Learning' which is emphasized on concepts and inquiry. 2. For the social problem centered integration, we selected the topic, 'Future of Energy' to resolve the science-related social problems and we applied the instruction model of 'Project Learning' which is emphasized on learner's cognitive process to the topic. 3. For the individual interest centered integration, we selected the topic, 'Transformation of Energy' for the integration of science and individual interest and we applied the instruction model of 'Project Learning' centering learner's interest and concern. Based upon the above direction, we developed the integrated science teaching-learning plans as following steps. First, we organized 'Integrated Teaching-Learning Contents' according to the topics. Second, based upon the above organization, we designed 'Instructional procedures' to integrate within the topics. Third, in accordance with the above 'Instructional Procedures', we created 'Instructional Coaching Plan' that can be applied in the practical world of real classrooms. These plans can be used as models for the further development of integrated science instruction for teacher preparation, textbook development, and classroom learning.

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A Study on Science Teachers' Perceptions of the 6th High School Science Curriculum and Their Practices (제6차 고등학교 과학 교육과정과 실천에 대한 과학 교사의 인식 조사)

  • Noh, Tae-Hee;Kwon, Hyeok-Soon;Kim, Hye-Kyoung;Park, Sung-Jae
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.20-28
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    • 2000
  • We examined how science teachers in academic high schools perceived the 6th science curriculum and how they practiced under the curriculum. A nationwide survey was administered to obtain the responses from 402 teachers of 135 high schools. Most thought that the main themes of curriculum revision were well-embedded in the 'objectives', and that the 'content and content structure' were proper. However, they thought that the 'objectives' were not stated explicitly enough to develop teaching materials and to improve actual teaching and evaluation, and that some statements in the sections of 'method' and 'evaluation' were not proper if considered actual teachers' ability to teach inquiry and educational facilities. Many teachers also felt that the information about the curriculum was not sufficiently included at in-service teacher training programs, and that students' knowledge, attitude, and problem solving ability were not enhanced. Only few teachers were found to apply the STS approaches, reconstruct lessons, vary the structure of learning group, and develop evaluation tools with their colleagues. The lack of the practices was explained by entrance-examination-centered instruction and assessment, poor educational facilities, and lack of innovative teaching materials.

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Identification of Instructional Components to Increase Students' Interest and Creativity in American Science Classrooms (미국의 중학교 과학수업에서 학생들의 흥미와 창의성을 높이는 수업요소)

  • Kang, Nam-Hwa;Park, Yunebae
    • Journal of Science Education
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.421-431
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study was to identify instructional components supporting students' interest and creativity in American middle school science classrooms. Two 7th grade classrooms were selected, and observed for 11 class periods each. Results showed that hands-on and small group activities were the most effective ways to increase students' interest. The teachers' instructional approaches, such as individualized paced teaching, sufficient peer teaching, permissive atmosphere, various media, and purpose-focused summary game were found to influence students' interest. To enhance students' creativity, increasing interest, making hypothesis, and trying to various experimental method with sufficient time were identified as effective components.

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The Development and Application of International Collaborative Writing Courses on the Internet

  • Chong, LarryDwan
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.25-45
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    • 2007
  • In this article, I discuss an International Collaborative Writing Course on the Internet (ICWCI) that focused on the learning effectiveness Korean EFL students (KEFLSs) perceived to be necessary to exchange with international EFL students (IEFLSs). The course development was based on an internet-based instructional module, applying widely accepted EFL theories for modern foreign language instruction: collaborative learning, process writing, project-based learning, and integrated approaches. Data from online discussion forum, mid-of-semester and end-of-semester surveys, and final oral interviews are conducted and discussed. KEFLSs and IEFLSs were questioned about (a) changes in attitude towards computers assisted language learning (CALL); (b) effect of computer background on motivation; (c) perception of their acquired writing skills; and (d) attitude towards collaborative learning. The result of this study demonstrated that the majority of ICWCI participants said they enjoyed the course, gained fruitful confidence in English communication and computer skills, and felt that they made significant progress in writing skills. In spite of positive benefits created by the ICWCI, it was found that there were some issues that are crucial to run appropriate networked collaborative courses. This study demonstrates that participants' computer skills, basic language proficiency, and local time differences are important factors to be considered when incorporating the ICWCI as these may affect the quality of online instructional courses and students' motivation toward network based collaboration interaction.

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RTI Model and Its Applicability in Educational Settings for Students with Achievement of Below Basic Proficiency Level

  • Jun, Myongnam;Kim, Namok;Yang, Myonghee;Kwon, Daehoon;Hong, Daewoo;Choi, Hyeonah
    • International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.79-83
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    • 2015
  • The Response to Intervention(RTI) approaches is the method to help students who are at risk for learning difficulties in advance and provide an appropriate level of intervention. In this article, the characteristics of model RTI were reviewed for students with achievement of below basic proficiency level. We considered RTI as supporting system to document students' progress and its applicability for the general educational setting in Korean school. The tier of RTI make it possible the evidence based individual instruction and counseling, differentiated step-by step approach for students with achievement of below basic proficiency level. In conclusion, RTI can be used as educational tools for dealing with improvement of academic subjects learning, behavioral and emotional problem for students with achievement of below basic proficiency level. For building high quality implementing for RTI it is needed the collaboration of teachers, counselors and learning consultants and related educators.