초등과학교육 연구의 동향

Overview on Research Trend in the Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education

The Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education has been developed in both quantitative and qualitative aspects during twenty years since first published year 1983. This study was intended to survey the research trend of the journals, which has been published so far. It will give an orientation of science education research and suggestions towards research to improve science education. The 243 articles of the journals, which were published from 1983 to 2002 by Korean Elementary Science Education Society, were classified into 7 categories including science teaching, science learning, assessment in science, science teacher education, science curriculum, educational facilities & materials, and general science education. The results are as follows: 1. The articles published last decade are increased four times compared with the first decade. 2. The half of articles published so far concentrated on science teaching and learning. The articles on educational facilities & materials or general science education are few. 3. During the last decade, the articles on science teacher education, educational facilities & materials, assessment in science, and science learning relatively increased than the first decade. The number of articles on science curriculum was fluctuated every five years. 4. Most of articles were focused on the narrow subject areas. For example, the articles on science teaching, science learning, assessment in science, science teacher education, science curriculum, and educational facilities & materials were largely focused on the teaching strategies, pupils' conception, affective assessment and teaching practice survey, teachers' appreciation about the nature of science or instruction, analysis of science textbooks, development of the experimental materials or the audiovisual aids respectively. 5. The subject areas highlighted so far in science education, for example, inquiry or experimental activities, STS instruction, environmental education, gifted education, instruction with multimedia, problem-solving or reasoning, experimental skill assessment, etc. were not much researched.