• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.369-377
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate high school students' perceptions on chemistry subjects: reasons for choosing chemistry, learning volume and content difficulty, interests, teaching/learning methods, preferable classes etc. A total of 1,087 students who took chemistry subjects at 126 high schools by proportional stratified sampling were voluntarily participated in the survey. The main reasons the students chose chemistry subjects were interests and interests in chemistry, foundation to science, relevance to college majors, and so on. Students recognized that the learning volume and content difficulty as normal level was about 60%. Reasons why chemistry was difficult was that, although there was a difference in degree, chemistry was difficult in itself and had too much things to memorize. In the case of interests in chemistry subjects, students of 43.9% of Chemistry I and 52.0% of Chemistry II recognized the level as normal. The reason why not interested in chemistry subjects was that it was the nature of chemistry contents, or students had neither interests and enjoyment of chemistry nor foundation for chemistry. Classes were mostly lectures but the students preferred mainly experimental activities, or explanation with real-life examples or science stories. The frequency of experimental activities was found to be 1 to 5 times per semester, or not experimented. Research and efforts will be necessary to improve classes and environments for students' experimental activities.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.429-436
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• 2020

In this study, we examined students' science academic achievement through an analysis of the national assessment of educational achievement(NAEA) from 2015 to 2018 when the 2009 revised curriculum was applied. This study analyzed achievement average scores by gender and region and also analyzed the trend of the rate of achievement level in order to understand the characteristics of students' academic achievement. In addition, we analyzed the characteristics of the affective aspect using a survey of students' attitudes (confidence, interest, value, and willingness to learn) toward science. The main findings are as follows; First, the average science score shows a tendency to decrease year by year at the middle school level. Second, when analyzed by achievement level, the decline in the advanced group was large, and the rate of the below basic group increased. Third, comparisons of the average achievement scores by gender, female students' scores were generally high and the difference in achievement scores between male and female students tended to increase. Fourth, a characteristic gap was found between regional scales that increased in the advanced group. The results of a questionnaire on students' attitudes show that the four constructs of the students' attitudes had a significant correlation with the average achievement scores. In addition, the mean and positive response rates on the confidence, interest, and value of science in the above proficiency group increased but decreased in the below basic group. These results can be used as basic data for revising the curriculum, improving teaching and learning, and establishing educational policies.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.557-566
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• 2011

This study investigated the effect of subject classroom system by examining students' perceptions of science discretion class, which was newly developed as Science Mathematics specialized subject classroom system. Science discretion subject proceeded through inquiry experiments in the subject classroom, applying both block scheduling and divided classes. Surveys were conducted twice in order to find out what the students thought about science discretion subject and subject classroom class. The results have shown that students considered that the teachers have prepared with enhanced enthusiasm and the classes have become more interesting. The satisfaction level for experiment centered subject was very high (84%) and significantly higher in case of science-oriented course students (p<.05) and upper level students (p<.01). In addition, most of the students thought favorably about block scheduling and divided classes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.213-223
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to identify the types of essential inquiry activities presented in elementary science textbooks for grades 5-6, and to find out what difficulties teachers have in the actual teaching process. To this end, the essential research activities presented in the textbook were analyzed into six types: experimentation/observation, investigation/discussion and presentation, data interpretation, discussion/discussion, simulation activity, and expression. In addition, 108 elementary school teachers were investigated for the suitability of inquiry activity achievement standards, suitability at the student's level, student interest, and difficulty in teaching instruction. To summarize the research results, the most frequently suggested type was the experiment/observation type, followed by simulation activity type and data interpretation type. It was analyzed that there was no discussion/discussion type in the 5th grade textbooks, and the 6th graders did not present research activities that correspond to the research/discussion/presentation type and the expression type in the textbook. In the results of teachers' responses to the suitability of achievement standards for inquiry activities presented in textbooks and the suitability of the student's level, 5th graders showed lower average scores than 6th graders, and showed similar average scores in student interest and instructional difficulty. Also, it was confirmed that improvement was required for a total of 17 inquiry activities. Specifically, teachers responded that they had difficulty in guiding inquiry activities when the experimental results did not appear as intended in the textbook, when students' interest in inquiry activities was low, and when students and teachers had low understanding of related science concepts. Teachers pointed out practical problems such as difficulties in long-term observation in astronomy-related units, and students in upper elementary school not actively participating in dynamic play activities.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2006

The purpose of the study was to research science gifted students' learning styles and perceptions on subject matter content. The data was collected from primary science and mathematics classes of a University Center for Science Gifted Education, science classes of a Metrocity Primary Gifted Education Institute, and classes of a normal school. The results of the study were that gifted students perceived the school curriculum much easier than non-gifted students did, ($X^2(4)=33.180$, p<.001), and that levels of interest in the content did not differ between the groups, but 34.6 percent of the total students responded that they found the content uninteresting. Gifted students did not see the content as being important compared to the non-gifted students, ($X^2(4)=12.443$, p<.05), and gifted students valued the methods used higher than the actual content of the textbook. The most helpful activities for their teaming that gifted students chose were projects, listening to teachers, and conducting experiments, amongst others. They also preformed 'teaming at their own speed in a mixed group'" for the study of social studies, science, and mathematics, whereas non-gifted students preformed teaming at the same speed. The two groups of science gifted students varied especially in their perceptions of most helpful activities. It is suggested that special programs for fulfilling gifted students' needs and abilities need to be developed and implemented.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.239-252
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to develop an evolutionary STEAM education program based on the brain and to analyze its effects on scientific interest and scientific creativity of elementary school students. Four different topics based on four scientific fields (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science) were derived from the science textbook under the 2015 revised curriculum to build a brain-based evolutionary STEAM education program. The research subjects were 90 fourth graders of S-elementary school located in Gyeonggi Province, Korea and they were divided into an experimental group of 45 students and a comparative group of 45 students. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, according to the independent samples t-test of scientific interest, no statistically significant difference were found between the two groups, but the brain-based evolutionary STEAM education had meaningful effect on improving 'interest in scientific learning' and 'anxiety about scientific learning'. Second, according to the paired samples t-test of scientific interest, the experimental group had significantly improved 'interest in science' but on the other hand, there was no effect on the comparative group. Third, scientific creativity and originality of the experimental group were significantly higher after the class than that of the comparative group. Fourth, although there were some significant differences between the two groups in scientific creativity after the class, both groups had improved scientific creativity between the results of pre and post test. Based on these results, we discuss implications for science education and STEAM education research.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2015

Educational learning methods that take advantage of a robot provide opportunities for students to develop high dimensional thinking, a creative expression and discovery learning opportunity. It is also perceived as a suitable tool for STEAM systems which can be used in a variety of school curriculums. Therefore we designed and developed STEAM educational contents using robots in this study. This study analyze elementary text books and design the convergence contents from various subjects such as math, science, engineering and art through a robot. This study has developed educational materials by making a robot based on the designed contents. They have been applied to after school materials and then evaluated for comprehension, interest and participation. The results of this study have shown very encouraging evaluations from participating students. Accordingly, this study has shown that STEAM contents that take advantage of a robot have improved student participation, interests, and comprehension in the curriculums. Additionally, integrating STEAM educational content has proved more effective in contrast to being separated.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of students' formation of evolutionary concept and learning on the development of digital teaching materials. The explanation of biological evolution, which explains the changes that living organisms undergo over a long period of time, can provide various contents for use in a book. The production and editing of images in digital textbooks would provide explanation of difficult concepts in a fun way. For this study, we designed instructional materials consisting of four class hours using iBooks Author, an electronic book authoring tool based on the 5E learning cycle model. In order to verify the effectiveness of the developed digital textbooks, we compared instructions by the general textbooks to those using digital textbooks. Both teaching through general textbook form and teaching using digital textbook materials had a significant effect on the formation of the concept of evolution, but interest in biological science and evolution increased significantly only in the group taught using digital textbooks. As a result of testing the instruction effect by the digital textbooks by classifying the students by type, the group that is familiar with smart devices was more active and interesting in class depending on digital literacy. The satisfaction of the developed digital textbooks also showed a positive score in the group with high digital literacy. The results of this study suggest that the development of digital textbooks in the unit of evolution can be an instructional material for easy and interesting approach to difficult concepts in the teaching of evolution.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.331-339
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• 2017

Mathematics has kept the relationships with other studies constantly. However, there is not many researches about the integrated teaching-learning materials for mathematics. In this paper, we review the integrated learning theories and domestic research trends of the integrated learning for the mathematics. Through the literature review, we survey the integrated teaching-learning materials, which integrate the mathematics and other subjects for the secondary school. As a result, it can be seen that integrated teaching-learning materials of mathematics and science, social studies, arts, physical education, and korean literature have recently been developed to help raise awareness of the usefulness of mathematics. Further study on the revision and supplementation of these materials should be carried out based on this paper.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.225-237
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of elementary pre-service teachers regarding their interest in science. A survey was conducted among 187 elementary pre-service teachers enrolled at Non-Metropolitan Area A University of Education. Data collection was carried out concurrently with three elementary pre-service teachers who agreed to participate in online interviews. The survey responses provided by the elementary pre-service teachers were analyzed using a qualitative text analysis method. Interest in science was observed to decrease during middle school, followed by the upper grades of elementary school and then the lower grades. The reasons for the decline in interest in science were interpreted as stemming from negative experiences with science education within the context of individual circumstances in the school setting. Strategies to address the decline and enhance interest in science were discussed across individual, family, school, teacher, local community, and national levels, considering both short-term and long-term perspectives. These strategies encompassed various inquiry activities and experiences related to the field of science, engagement in science-related activities, student-centered instruction, teacher professional development, support for elementary students and teachers, and policy measures. The multifaceted approach and efforts aimed to open avenues for positive feedback regarding science on an individual level and foster experiences related to science were interpreted as part of an effort to counteract the decline in interest in science. Lastly, given the current situation of declining interest in science and the need to enhance students' interest, it was implicitly and explicitly discussed that pre-service teachers should focus on improving their expertise in curriculum instruction. This research, by exploring the conceptual characteristics of interest in science, perceptions of changes, and educational needs related to interest in science among elementary pre-service teachers, is expected to have academic significance as foundational research data for the current status of declining interest in science.