• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.885-899
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• 2010

The purpose of this research project is to explain why high-achieving high school students in our country do or do not choose a science major and to explore gender differences. First-year students attending science high schools and international high school participated, responding to open-ended questions on science activities, self-concept of strengths for science learning, and rationales for choosing or not choosing a science major. For high- achieving students, it is shown that intrinsic interest has the greatest correlation with choosing a science major, with the next important influence being self-efficacy. On the other hand, in not choosing a science major, the lack of self-efficacy has a greater correlation than the lack of intrinsic interest. Self-concept in science-learning and science activities occurring outside of school classes are also compared and analyzed, and implications are discussed from educational and policy viewpoints.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.837-856
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ill-structured problem solving program on the social self-efficacy, democratic citizenship, and meta-cognition of the scientifically gifted high school students and provide an opportunity to consider how to improve students' social self-efficacy, democratic citizenship, and meta-cognition when comprehensive character education has been emphasized in science programs for gifted students. The subjects consisted of 17 students(10th graders) and 19 students(11th graders) who were participated in a science gifted program in a Korean high school located in Seoul and pre-examination on their social self-efficacy, democratic citizenship, and meta-cognition was conducted. After applying 12-class-time of ill-structured problem solving program, post-examination on their social self-efficacy, democratic citizenship, and meta-cognition was conducted and student's self-essay about program was also conducted. Paired t-test was used to analyze the data collected and students's self-essays were also analyzed. The results of this study were as follows: First, the findings showed that ill-structured problem solving program developed students' social self-efficacy and especially showed a significant improvement in asking for help. Second, they also showed that ill-structured problem solving program raised students' democratic participation especially in a democratic function. Third, in terms of meta-cognition, ill-structured problem solving program also played a positive role. The result of analyzing students' essays also showed students' positive perception on the program. The findings of the present study suggested that ill-structured problem solving program should be taken into consideration when developing a science program for scientifically gifted high school students.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.767-788
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine emotional characteristics and to provide information about the special needs of counselling of science gifted in Korea. The subjects were 143 science gifted high school students in Busan that had been tested MBTI and MMPI-A. The distribution map of MBTI type was examined and Pearson's correlation, one-way ANOVA, multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the relation between MBTI and MMPI-A through SPSS 17.0 program. The results showed as follows: first, ENTP, INTP, ISTJ personality types and NT temperament type were the most frequently from the distribution map of MBTI type. Second, F1, F2, F, Hs, D, Pt, Sc and Si scales of MMPI-A were positively related to I preference of MBTI and K and Ma scales of MMPI-A were significantly related to E preference of MBTI from Pearson's correlation. Third, The score of IN group was significantly more high in F1, Hs, D, SC and Si scales of MMPI-A than other group in the relation between two combination preferences of MBTI and scale of MMPI-A. The following results were same; IS group in D, Si scales, EN group in Ma scale, IT group in Hs, D, Pt and S scales, IF group in VRIN, D and Si scales, ET in Ma scale, IJ group in D and Si, IP group in F1, F, Hs, D, Hy, Pt, Sc and Si scales, EJ and EP groups in Ma scale. Finally, I preference of MBTI by F1, F2, F, Hs, D, Pt, Sc and Si scales of MMPI-A, E preference of MBTI by Ma scale of MMPI-A, F preference of MBTI by K scale of MMPI-A and P preference of MBTI by Hy scale of MMPI-A were significantly predicted from multiple regression analysis. Limitations of the current study and the suggestions for further research were offered.

• Journal of vocational education research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.281-300
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• 2011

This study tried to look into what are happening in the 'class for the talented in invention' using COS-R developed by VanTassel-Baska. Teaching and learning activities within the classroom were observed and analyzed in terms of teacher's observation and teacher's observation, respectively. Based on results of this study, conclusions are as follows. First, it was founded that there are some commonalities between teacher observations and student observations. Based on teacher observations, differentiated teaching activities considering individual characteristics are rarely observed, and for students, it was true. Therefore, supplying a special training program for teachers are needed in order to make teachers and students engage in changing their teaching and learning behaviors. Second, on the side of teachers, they usually emphasize the importance of curriculum planning and implementation, problem solving, creative thinking et al. However, they barely stress the characteristics of research methods, critical thinking, and considering individual characteristics and the level of intellectual ability. Third, on the side of students, they frequently respond to solving problems and critical thinking at the same degree. On the other hand, systemic efforts of considering individual differences and adapting to them have been less regarded in both teaching and learning. In sum, for the successful 'Invention gifted classroom', establishing an educational environment to consider individually guided instruction and taking a balance among various factors embedded in teaching and learning situation should be required.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1001-1024
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• 2014

The purpose of the study is to explore the experiences and meaning of the AP (Advanced Placement) at the specialized school for the highly gifted through the in-depth interview with 39 college students who had graduated from the specialized schools with the AP experiences. It is expected that the AP will be expanded to the students at the Science High Schools from the year of 2015, however, there has been no study to examine the realities of the AP in-depth especially through the voices of the AP participants. Students have taken 8 required and/or selective courses as AP in average. Students usually start to take AP from the second year of the specialized school for the highly gifted, but some start from the first year through the placement test. Numbers of available AP courses vary by subjects, but relatively more courses open in the areas of math and physics. Students' opinions regarding the AP were quite positive. Specifically, the high quality of the AP class and energetic interaction between student and teacher compared to the college classes were preferred by the students. However, it was controversial whether C+ is enough for the pass condition of the AP. Students were using the shortened time by AP in diverse ways, such as early graduation, double majors, exchange students, individual researches, and so on. Most of all, they tried to search for their career interests through the AP experiences. In closing, the present study provides some advices and future directions for the better AP management, including the improvement of administrative system between schools for the gifted and the universities, and the expansion of the number of university which approves the AP system.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.509-541
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• 2014

There was a great need to consider a core competency-based approach as a new direction of the science education for gifted students according to the value and vision of the 21st century knowledge-based societies. Therefore we developed a core competency model of scientist and examined its validity as a prerequisite for a core competency-based education of science gifted students. In order to this, the survey was conducted after developing questionnaire through the theoretical review of the various resources such as paper, book, and newspaper articles and the qualitative analysis of the behavioral event interview, and then an exploratory factor analysis was performed to validate the factor structure based on the results of the survey. The results revealed that the core competency model with the 5 cluster units of competency and the 15 core competencies was potentially constituted. And the reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the core competency model were verified through the confirmatory factor analysis. The cognitive cluster consisted of 5 competencies and they were as follows: creative, comprehensive, exploratory, analytical, and conceptual thinking competency. The achievement-orientation cluster consisted of 3 competencies and they were as follows: initiative, preparation & problem solving, and strategic influence competency. The scientific attitude cluster consisted of 3 competencies and they were as follows: flexible thinking & attitude, passion for research, and views about science competency. The personal effectiveness cluster consisted of 2 competencies and they were as follows: diverse experiences and global attitude competency. Finally, the networking cluster consisted of 2 competencies and they were as follows: personal understanding and communication competency. Findings were expected to provide the basic data for developing programs and establishing strategies based on the core competency as well as introducing the core competency model of scientist to science education for gifted students effectively.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.59-76
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• 2015

The study aimed to investigate elementary school gifted students' hypothesis-generating ability and characteristics of hypotheses and to analyze the correlation between hypothesis-generating ability and meta-cognition. Nineteen students enrolled in a science gifted education center affiliated with a university in 2013 were selected as research subjects. An instrument of open ended items about hypothesis generating was developed and administered to students, and their meta-cognition as well as their preferred science teaching method were examined. Hypotheses generated by students were classified into two categories: scientific and non-scientific hypotheses, and then a closer analysis was conducted on characteristics of non-scientific hypotheses. It was found that 47% (18 out of 38 hypotheses) was scientific ones showing that elementary school gifted students in science in this study presented low level of ability in generating hypothesis. It was also found that non-scientific hypotheses frequently showed characteristics of uncertain in causality or impossible to verify relationships. Furthermore, differences in hypothesis-generating ability and characteristics of hypotheses were appeared in conditions whether inquiry questions and variable identification process were given or not. Students showed high abilities in hypothesis generating and variable identifying when inquiry questions and variable identification process were given. Compared to previous research results, students in the study showed high level of meta-cognition and tendency of utilizing monitoring strategy more than planning and regulating. In ill-structured conditions that students themselves find inquiry questions and identify variables, a significant (p<.05) correlation appeared between hypothesis generating ability and meta-cognition and a high level of correlation between planning and regulating strategies. It was also found that differences existed in hypothesis-generating ability and preferred science teaching methods between students with high level and those with low level of meta-cognition; and students with low level of meta cognition showed difficulties in generating hypothesis and identifying variables.

• 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.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2019

This exploratory study is aimed at exploring the validity of the Science Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ) developed for university students, to measure the science motivation of middle school students and analyze the differences on gender and country factors of SMQ. A total of 371 students participated in this study: 171 middle school students from the USA and 200 secondary students from Korea. All participants were enrolled in the STEM program and activities in Utah, USA (for US students) and at a Korean university institute for gifted and talented students (for Korean students). In this study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and latent mean analysis were used to analyze the gender and country differences. The results indicated that the 25 items of SMQ scale were theoretically meaningful and valid for middle school students. The latent mean difference by gender indicated that male students have higher intrinsic motivation, career motivation, grade motivation, and self-determination than female students. Moreover, a significant difference exists in these factors between the two countries. Further findings reveal that Korean students scored higher than US students in terms of the aforementioned factors. This study will provide significant insights in and contribution to science motivation issues in STEM education and the development of design-based engineering programs.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.97-111
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• 2008

A total of 31 mothers of 5-month-old infants(18 boys and 13 girls) were observed and interviewed at home via a questionnaire format. Results revealed that perceived maternal parenting style had an effect on general infant general development. As mother exhibited more didactic and limit setting behaviors, the infants showed more receptive, expressive, and language development characteristics. Furthermore, the effects of maternal sensitivity on infant general development and language skills were also ascertained. The infants who showed more positive general development had mothers who interacted sensitively with them. Maternal sensitivity was the only factor that had a major effect on infant general development. The overall findings of this study indicate that perceived maternal parenting style and observed maternal sensitivity were found to have positive effects on general infant general development and language skills.