• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.345-355
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• 2013

While virtual field trips (VFT) are considered as an attractive alternative to traditional field experience, it is unclear how VFT are best used in Earth Science curriculum. In this study, we investigated the effects of flash panorama-based VFT on students' spatial visualization ability and their understanding of volcanic concept in high school Earth Science class. To investigate the effects of instructional treatment, we conducted pre and post-test on participants' spatial visualization ability and their understanding of volcanic concept, and analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and linear regression. Findings are as follows: First, the change in students' spatial visualization ability in experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group, especially in spatial manipulation category. Second, the change in students' understanding of volcanic concept in experimental group was higher than that of control group in most of the categories, but it is statistically not significant. Last, the change in correlation between spatial visualization ability and understanding of volcanic concept in experimental group was remarkably high compared to control group.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.871-880
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• 2011

The purpose of this research is to explore preservice earth science teachers' understanding of volcanic systems using a modified version of InVEST Volcanic Concept Survey (InVEST VCS, Parham et al., 2010). Results showed that participants' understanding of volcanic concepts was rather limited. Questions requiring only basic content knowledge (e.g., terminology associated with volcano) received high scoring responses, while questions requiring higher order thinking and deeper conceptual connections as the mechanics of volcanic eruption received low scoring responses. Specifically, the prediction of hazards and impacts on the environment appeared to be poorly understood. VCS results can be applied to improve the subject content knowledge as well as the pedagogical knowledge that instructors may use when they assess students' understanding of volcanism within a solid conceptual framework.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.162-172
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of flash panorama-based virtual field trips (VFT) as a supporting tool for geological field activity on middle school students' spatial visualization ability, conceptual understanding, and perceptions. A total of 17 middle school students participated in a three day long actual geological field trip around Jeju Island where a three-phase instructional model is applied for utilization of flash panorama-based VFT, which was proposed by Kim and Lee (2011). With one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design, data were collected using questionnaire and were analyzed to find out a change in students' spatial visualization ability and volcanic concept understanding, and their perceptions about the utilization of flash panorama-based VFT. Findings are as follows: First, the effect of utilizing flash panorama-based VFT in actual field trip revealed that there was meaningful increase in 'spatial relation' category of spatial visualization ability and 'knowledge' and 'comprehension' domains of volcanic concept understanding. Second, majority of students showed positive gain index in both spatial visualization ability and volcanic concept understanding. Lastly, participating students showed much interest and high satisfaction, and positive perception on the use of VFT. They also perceived that the utilization of flash panorama-based VFT could help in carrying out an actual field trip in terms of cognitive and geographical factors.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.274-285
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to develop geological field study sites for learning topography and geology of the area with igneous rocks, specifically in Duibaejae volcanic edifice and Seonang-bawi that were distributed in Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do area. As a follow up, we conducted a study to examine the effect of the study sites when applied to high school freshmen Earth science course. The study proceeded based on the Orion's model in the order of preparatory unit, field trip, and summary unit. The geological field study sites were developed based on the geological study elements presented in the Korean Earth science curriculum. Before the field trip, students simply memorized factual knowledge on minerals, rocks and etc., and showed very low level of understanding on the formation process of the region that was distributed with granite and basalt. Especially, their understanding showed that granite and basalt were formed from the same magma at the same time. After the field trip, they increased in-depth level of understanding about minerals, rocks, and geological structures, but were not able to explain the topographical characteristics of the two rocks because they did not recognize the times of the creation of granite and basalt. The reason is that they have learned the simple concept of the process of forming granite and basalt in their middle school, but that they have not learned the meaning of the difference between two the geological eras when each of the two rocks, granite and basalt, were formed.