• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to explore science teachers' perceptions of good science teaching. To this end, the Korean Teaching Observation Protocol (KTOP), which was developed for the purpose of observing and improving science teaching, was utilized. In the first survey, teachers were asked whether they thought each item in the KTOP was important for good science teaching, the extent to which they implemented these items, and the level of difficulty in implementing them. The second survey asked teachers what they believed to be the reasons and solutions for the KTOP items that they had responded as difficult to implement. The responses obtained from 63 teachers in the first survey and 35 teachers in the second survey were categorized based on the characteristics of the responses. The categorized contents were then summarized and discussed for their features. As a result, science teachers responded that all items in KTOP, except for one, are important for good science teaching. However, it was also shown that the level of execution was low in cases where implementation was difficult. For the 13 KTOP items that were considered important but difficult to implement and showed relatively low implementation level, many respondents (69%) attributed the reason to both students and teachers. However, the most common response (60%) was that the teacher should solve those difficulties. From this, it was found that understanding and supporting teachers, as well as enhancing their competencies, are more important for good science teaching than external factors. We hope that this research findings will help to better understand the specific difficulties that science teachers face in their classes and contribute to practical efforts that aim to address these challenges.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.585-598
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the activity in the elementary school science teachers' study group help teachers improve their professionalism and what the motivation was for the continuous participation by analyzing the operation system of study group and the teachers' perception. For this study, the N Elementary Science Teachers' Study Group in Gyeong-gi province was chosen, which has been maintained for a long time. Data such as observation journals, contents of activities, and some documents from this study group were collected through the participant observation methodology, and the perceptions about the participating motivation, the personal satisfaction and the impact on the professionalism were investigated by interviewing 5 teachers who participating in this study group. The results of this study were as follows: First, voluntary participation activated the teachers' study group, so teachers who belong to the study group, had a great satisfaction in the activities of the study group. Second, the more teachers participated in study group, they thought their professionalism has been improved. Based on the result of this study, implications to improve the professionalism of teachers were suggested.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.151-172
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• 2021

In this study, I investigated prospective mathematics teachers' perceptions of activities using Wax-paper, a hands-on material (manipulatives), and GeoGebra, a technological tool, in teaching quadratic curves. Twenty prospective mathematics teachers in the Mathematics Education Department of a local university participated in a survey on their perception of the use of hands-on materials and technological tools in teaching quadratic curves. According to the results of this study, prospective mathematics teachers generally preferred the use of technological tools for learning and teaching quadratic curves. Additionally, mathematics teachers thought that the tool helped students develop intuitive thinking through visualizing quadratic curves, enabling the exploration of various mathematical properties, assisting the comprehension of various concepts, and increasing students' interest levels. However, they were concerned about the immature use of technological tools by students or teachers, and recognized that the advantages and disadvantages of using hands-on material and technological tools were complementary. Based on these findings, it is suggested that hands-on material and technological tools should be used complementally in mathematics classes, and the development and dissemination of class materials that are not affected by students' or teachers' ability to use technological tools is important.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.399-413
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• 2020

In this study, we analyzed science teachers' NOS-PCK in Science Inquiry Experiment lessons. Four science teachers in charge of Science Inquiry Experiment in high schools located in the Seoul metropolitan area participated in the study. NOS Lessons were observed, all of the teaching-learning materials were collected, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. All the collected data were analyzed according to five factors of NOS-PCK. As a result of the study, their understanding and consideration of the curriculum related to NOS were insufficient in some cases. They thought that given inquiry activities or textbook composition was not effective for NOS teaching so that they actively reconstructed the curriculum. In terms of teaching strategies, their lessons were close to explicit approaches. However reflective approaches were generally lacking. They were neglected in evaluating NOS for reasons that views of NOS are individually subjective or that NOS is not an area of cognitive learning. They guessed the state of students by relying on their own experiences rather than based on evaluation results. They recognized a specific aspect of values of NOS learning. And intention to teach NOS played an important role throughout their classes. Based on the above results, we discuss some ways to improve the professionalism of science teachers for NOS teaching.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.359-372
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to develop the FPHER (problem finding, prediction & discussion, hands-on & experiment, explanation & arrangement, enrichment) instructional model emphasizing the social interactions, and as applied, characteristics of verbal interactions were examined overall and with each step. For this study, this model was applied to the students in 10th grade chemistry classes in a science high school, and their group verbal interactions were recorded and analyzed. The results of this study show that most verbal interactions were classified as on-task interactions in the FPHER instructional model, where suggestions were predominant to the acceptance of opinions. There were a few interactions in the F step, and there were many suggestions relating to the solutions and lacking in confidence in the P step. There were many suggestions relating to the process and orders in the H step. Also, there were many questions, some explanation and dissatisfaction, as well as a lack of confidence in the E step. There were many high-level interactions in the R step, and mainly interactions with worksheets showing high-level problem-solving abilities. More in-depth research is needed to develop the teaching strategies that can activate student-to-student interaction and student-teacher interaction with regard to instructions, enhancing thought as counter-argument, justification or sophistication, based on the instructional model in this study.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.240-252
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• 2009

In this study, we applied a web-based education system to the teaching-demonstrations of the pre-service teachers and identified the usefulness of the system as a method supporting constructive education for pre-service teachers. The pre-service teachers performed the web-based activities for the teaching-demonstrations, and we interviewed them after the teaching-demonstrations. On the basis of the results, we found three situations showing the usefulness of the web-based education system. First, the pre-service teachers examined the materials on the constructive teaching-learning theories and constructed the related theoretical knowledge. At this point the web-based discussion board supported the environment where they thought deeply and investigated the theories carefully. Second, they experienced interaction with others and the academic adviser in the processes of preparing the teaching-demonstrations. This interaction was supported by web-based discussion board, and they were able to form the practical knowledge related to the planning and building constructive teaching. Third, they reflected on their own teaching after the teaching-demonstrations. At this point, the web-based discussion board was able to facilitate the interaction for the reflective thinking processes. In this study, we identified that the web-based education system could provide an effective environment where the pre-service teachers could learn constructive teaching-learning methods.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.5-28
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• 2012

This study was aimed to compare teacher's and mother's literacy beliefs, perception of picture books, and frequency of reading activities, and examine how these variables affect the interaction for reading picture books with preschoolers. The results of the survey from 120 teachers and 168 mothers who have 5-year-olds in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon-si are as follows. Teachers' literacy beliefs were closer to whole language beliefs than were mothers'. Teachers and mothers both fully realized the importance of reading aloud picture books to children with no difference between each other. The level of teachers was higher than mothers' in terms of pleasure of reading picture books. Mothers thought that it is important to reflect on preschoolers' development level, individual conditions, and daily lives when choosing picture books. On the other hand, teachers believed that the popularity of the book is more important. Overall, teachers perceived more benefits of reading picture books than mothers. Mothers reported more extensive interaction when reading books with preschoolers than teachers, while teachers spent more time on reading activities with preschoolers than mothers. Teachers' and mothers' frequency of reading activities and perception about the benefits of reading picture books had effects on their interaction for reading picture books with preschoolers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the characteristics in the processes of generating analogy for lessons by pre-service science teachers. Eight pre-service teachers at a college of education in Seoul participated in this study. After the workshop of analogy in science education, they generated analogies for lessons. In order to investigate thought processes deeply, we used the think-aloud method and also conducted semi-structured interviews after their activities. Worksheets written by the pre-service teachers were collected. Their activities and interviews were recorded and videotaped. The characteristics in the processes of generating analogy were analyzed in the perspectives of student, analog, and concept. The analyses of the results revealed that they generated analogies to correct students' misconceptions and also considered misconceptions that could be caused by their analogies. They generated analogies using sources with which students are familiar. They also generated concrete and everyday analogies rather than abstract and artificial analogies. There were some cases where they did not clearly grasp the target concepts and expressed the concepts which were not covered in the unit. On the bases of the results, we suggest some educational implications for pre-service science teacher education.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.329-347
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• 2016

This paper investigated the views of effective mathematics instruction on the part of school administrators, and then compared and contrasted such views with those of elementary school teachers based on the previous study. A total of 32 school administrators participated in this study and responded to three types of the questionnaire. The results of this study showed that school administrators regarded good mathematics teaching as using concrete materials and teaching students to think. School administrators put their first priority on curriculum and content among four main domains of good mathematics teaching, and did on constructing curriculum among seven sub-domains of good mathematics teaching. They agreed that good mathematics teaching includes teaching by reconstructing the curriculum according to students' various levels and teaching to emphasize the connection among mathematical concepts. However, they thought that good mathematics teaching might not include teaching for fluent calculation or teaching in well-equipped learning environment. The results of comparison of perspectives regarding good mathematics teaching between school administrators and teachers showed remarkably similar tendency. However, a noticeable difference was that school administrators agreed more than elementary school teachers with regard to the 20 elements related to effective mathematics instruction. This paper closes with implications based on the similarities and differences regarding effective mathematics instruction perceived by school administrators and teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.291-303
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difficulties in engaging in open-inquiry activities of elementary pre-service teachers. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with 22 pre-service teachers and their open-inquiry products. The 22 pre-service teachers who participated in this study were enrolled in college openinquiry course and performed open-inquiry activities for fifteen weeks. The results of this study show that pre-service teachers struggled with several difficulties; selection of the subject, the lack of understanding about the science process skills and content knowledge, background knowledge, environment matters and self confidence about open inquiry. However, they thought open-inquiry is interesting in spite of much difficulties, and is necessary for science education.