• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.344-355
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• 2014

The 2009 revised curriculum emphasizes science writing as a way to foster scientific thinking, creative thinking and communicative abilities. This research attempted to find out the aspects of science writing in science textbooks by analyzing seven versions of the 2009 revised science textbooks. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, it was found that the proportion of science writing pages is small and the amount of science writing differs a lot depending on the kind of textbook. Also, science writing is generally located in the wrap-up part of each unit, and the amount and the number of science writing vary substantially from unit to unit depending on the textbook. Second, it was found that 'scientific knowledge-explanation' statements have the largest proportion and 'STS-assertion' statements have the second largest proportion in terms of topics and styles of science writing in science textbooks. Some 'scientific knowledge-explanation' statements are not appropriate to foster scientific ability because they evaluate reading comprehension of the suggested passage as nonliterary writing, not the writing itself as a method to learn science. Third, it was found that there are many predicates that do not indicate a clear purpose of the science writing contained in science textbooks.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.671-685
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to critically examine the relationship between 'academic disciplines', 'subject', 'subject content', and 'subject matter education' as an attempt to explore the meaning and identity of subject matter education. In this study, first, we looked at the origin of the 'separative' perspective, focusing on science education, and the effects of this perspective on the relationship between 'academic discipline', 'subject', 'subject content', and 'subject matter education'. In addition, the relationship between them was examined from 'essential-holistic' perspective. As a result of the study, it was found that the 'separative' perspective has limitations in grasping the organic and overall relationship between 'academic discipline', 'subject', 'subject content', and 'subject matter education'. Therefore, we need to overcome the existing 'separative' perspective in order to go beyond the current horizon. On the other hand, the 'essential-holistic' perspective shows a close relationship that is not essentially separated between 'academic discipline', 'subject', 'subject content', and 'subject matter education'. It is expected as a perspective that can help solve the teacher education problem caused by the 'separative' perspective.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.33-44
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• 2014

To understand an educational curriculum at the national level is to check the status of the respective subjects involved. This study aimed at analyzing computer science education and educational curricula in Israel, a leader in fostering creative human resources, so as to suggest directions for computer science education in Korea. Israel's computer science education in middle schools is provided through integration with natural science and technology subjects, but in high school it is offered as an independent subject. In 2011, as the computer science educational curriculum for middle schools was developed, computer science evolved from an integrated to an independent subject. Accordingly, this study proposes the necessity to discuss the status of this subject from the viewpoint of integration and independence for computer science education in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.307-324
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• 2022

This study examined the content diversity of seven authorized science textbooks by comparing the characteristics of the science concept description and the contents of inquiry activities in the "weight of objects" unit. For each textbook, the flow of concept description content and the uniqueness of the concept description process were analyzed, and the number of nodes and links and words with high connections were determined using language network analysis. In addition, for the inquiry activities described in each textbook, the inquiry subject, inquiry type, science process skill, and uniqueness were investigated. Results showed that the authorized textbooks displayed no more diversity than expected in their scientific concept description method or their inquiry activity composition. The learning elements, inclusion of subconcepts, and central words were similar for each textbook. The comparison of inquiry activities showed similarities in their contents, inquiry types, and scientific process skills. Specifically, these textbooks did not introduce any research topics or experimental methods that were absent in previous textbooks. However, despite the fact that the authorized textbook system was developed based on the same curriculum, some efforts were made to make use of its strengths. Since the sequence of subconcepts to explain the core contents differed across textbooks, this explanation process was divided into several types, and although the contents of inquiry activities were the same, the materials for inquiry activities were shown differently for each textbook to improve and overcome the difficulties in the existing experiments. These findings necessitate the continuation of efforts to utilize the strengths of certified textbooks.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.236-252
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• 2023

Both Earth science II and Korean geography textbooks emphasize the importance of content related to 'geology of the Korean Peninsula'. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the content related to the 'geology of the Korean Peninsula' presented in the textbooks, and to find out whether these differences are consistent with the latest scientific knowledge in any inconsistencies are found. For this purpose, seven textbooks (four Earth science II and three Korean geography) published under the 2015 revised curriculum were selected as the subject of analysis, and the difference in the description of the tectonic provinces of the Korean Peninsula, geologic time scale, and explanatory texts of geological characteristics between Earth science II and Korean geography textbooks were compared. As a result of the analysis, there are some cases of inconsistencies between Earth science II and Korean geography textbooks in terms of terminologies, names, and distribution ranges related to the tectonic provinces of the Korean Peninsula. The Korean geography textbooks had inconsistencies in the geochronologic data of the rocks as they cited outdated data. In addition, inconsistencies were found in the explanatory texts describing the 'distribution of rocks on the Korean Peninsula', 'characteristics of the Pyeongan Supergroup', and 'great hiatus of the Paleozoic Era'. Both Earth science and Geography have many concepts in common, therefore, effort is needed to minimize the differences in content. It is important to select the content appropriately which should reflect the latest scientific knowledge and presents the concepts consistently.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.270-285
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore what a science lesson using a digital textbook looked like and what kinds of implications could be drawn from the lesson. The study qualitatively described a 4th grade science lesson in the unit of Earth and Moon, analyzed the structure of the lesson, and critically interpreted the meaning of it. It was revealed that the introduction of a digital science textbook did not bring about changes in the already patternized structure of elementary science instruction as well as in the manner of classroom interaction. The result was followed by discussion concerning the ways the use of a digital textbook could change elementary science instruction and enable new types of classroom interaction. It was suggested that negotiations should be reached about the nature of digital science textbooks and their developments and that the teacher's own pedagogical roles in the science classroom should be improved.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.667-675
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• 2014

It is important to know science terminology when learning science. In terms of linguistic and psychological perspectives, the context of encountering a terminology for the first time is critical. If a student has not learned the terminology properly the first time, it might cause misconceptions or be a barrier in following learning. This study aims to identify how careful science terminology are used in science textbooks, and the relationship of using science terminology between science curriculum and middle school science textbooks in the 2009 National Curriculum. In addition, the educational need, the importance of science learning, proper time for teaching, & difficulty of the terminologies have been surveyed among teachers and students. As results of study show, only 25% of terminologies in science textbooks have appeared in the curriculum, and about 10% have been used in middle school science textbooks prior to science curriculum. The survey results suggested that many of those terminologies could cause problems in teaching and learning situation. The solution for them have been divided into the following: avoiding usage in textbook prior to curriculum, using earlier in textbooks, using earlier in curriculum, and reflecting curriculum precisely in the textbook. In general, the curriculum needs to state performing objectives concretely. And it is needed to examine science terminology advertently when writing textbooks.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.446-456
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• 2015

We have analyzed affecting factors of boiling point measurement and proposed to improve these after identifying errors of boiling point experiment in 7th grade science textbooks of 2009 revised curriculum. In the result of analyzing affecting factor of boiling point measurement for nine kinds of science textbooks, we have identified six affecting factors like as types of thermometer, heating instrument, sealing or not of stopper, position of thermometer, shape of container, and volume ratio of material and container. When performing experiment of boiling point measurement, we identified the best results when heating with a hot plate, positioning thermo sensor of MBL near neck branch after filling and sopping 10% volumes of material in round bottom flask. Based on this result, we have compared nine kinds of 7th grade science textbooks and found many errors that must be corrected in most of textbooks. Therefore it should be improved the experiment of science textbooks to enhance the understanding of students and to prevent from misconceptions for boiling point measurement.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2022

This study examines the propositional connections and markers for connecting propositions in the texts of the 3^rd- and 6^th-grade science textbooks developed under the 2015 Revised Science Curriculum. A selection of texts from Korean and social science textbooks were analyzed and compared to those from science textbooks as well. The propositional connections were classified into emphasis, elaboration, exemplification, listing, addition, order, correspondence, causal relation, condition, and purpose types. The markers for the relationship of propositions were classified as demonstrative, using conjunctive, using a comma, using distinctive linguistic elements, and no marker types. The results showed that the frequency of propositional connections in the texts of the 6^th-grade textbooks was lower than that of Korean and/or social science textbooks. However, the frequency of the propositional connections in the texts of the 3^rd-grade textbooks was found to be lower than that of the social science textbook but higher than that of the Korean textbook. The types of order, listing, condition, and causal relation were dominant in science as well as Korean and social science textbooks. Over 40% of the markers for the relationship of propositions were found to be the no marker type, with the ratio of the no marker type being especially higher in the categories of order and causal relation.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.36-50
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the aspect of variation of the texts in elementary and secondary school science textbooks at each grade level in terms of linguistic features. Data included some of the written texts related to 'Volcano and Earthquake' in Korean elementary and secondary school science textbooks in the seventh National Curriculum. The written texts were comparatively analyzed in terms of textual meaning, interpersonal meaning, and ideational meaning. Results revealed that there were different structures and linguistic features of the texts in school science textbooks depending on the grade level. Therefore, we argue that the differences in this study may make students feel difficult and strange when they read and understand science textbooks. We suggest that science teachers need to play the role of a mediator between students' understanding and the structural features of the scientific language in science learning.