The Effect of the 'General Science' Course on the Students' Views about Science-Technology-Society Relationship and Their Perceptions of Science Classroom Environment

학생들의 과학.기술과 사회의 관계에 대한 견해 및 과학 수업 환경 인식에 미치는 공통 과학 과목의 효과

In order to study the effect of the 'General Science' course implemented under the 6th science curriculum, high school students' views about the relationship between science/technology and society and their perceptions of science classroom environment were investigated. Four classes (n = 211) were selected from those completed the 'Science I' course under the 5th science curriculum, and 4 another classes (n = 216) which took the 'General Science' course under the 6th science curriculum were selected. In order to compare students' views about the relationship between science /technology and society. 10 items were selected from the VOSTS (Views On Science-Technology-Society) while considering the 6th science curriculum and the 'General Science' textbooks, and administered at the end of the 'Science I' course and at the beginning and end of the 'General Science' course. In order to compare the perceptions of science classroom environment, the Perceptions of Science Classroom Environment Questionnaire, which was prepared from the Individualized Classroom Environment Questionnaire. the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory, and the Classroom Environment Scale. was also administered at the end of the 'Science I' course and the 'General Science' course. The results indicated that the mean VOSTS score of the 6th-curriculum group was lower than that of the 5th-curriculum group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The decrease in the VOSTS score of the 6th-curriculum group during the 'General Science' course was statistically significant. It was also found that unrealistic views such as 'technology is the application of science', and 'corporations should control science/technology' had been formed during the course. However, the 6th-curriculum group had more positive perceptions of science classroom environment. Educational implications are discussed.