• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.253-268
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the elementary pre-service teachers' conceptions of 'color of gases' focusing on the survey from freshmen at a National University of Education. For the study, the views about 'color of gases' were surveyed from the pre-service teachers. And the responses were analyzed based on the patterns. The results from the study are as follows: First, the conceptions about 'color of gases' were divided into 2 top-level, 5 mid-level and 7 sub-level categories. Second, the number of students who answered 'certain gas has color' was significantly greater than those who answered 'every gas has no color'. However, only a small number of students who answered former understand the scientific meaning of color and the color of gases correctly. Third, out of 5 misconception categories, greater number of students answered with 'inaccurate scientific knowledge (Ma1)', so the category was classified again into five detailed sub-categories. Fourth, most of the students, who answered 'every gas has no color', stated "they have not seen any color gases through their lives" based on their own experience. Fifth, the distribution percentage for scientific conceptions vs misconceptions was not related with the students' gender but highly related with students' academic area and their science courses taken at high school. Sixth, the pre-service teachers have various types of misconceptions regarding the 'color of gases' and when they have to explain visibility of gases to other people they tend to pass on their misconceptions. Based on the results from the study, some educational guidelines were suggested.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 1997

Many middle school students have difficulty in understanding biological concepts because too many concepts are presented in the textbook compared to limited school hours. So, it is necessary to select concepts which are indispensable. The purpose of this study is to select key concepts in the unit 'The Continuity of Life' by surveying students' and teachers' cognition on the concepts. In this study, 78 concepts were extracted from 'Science 3', unit II 'The Continuity of Life'. To survey how students and teachers think the concepts, Likert type questionnaires were made. 300 third grade middle school students and 34 biology teachers were selected by random sampling and the questionnaires were applied. The following results were obtained:1. Students thought 59 concepts out of 78 were important and the mean score of important level of the concepts was 3.60. Students thought 26 concepts out of 78 were difficult and the mean score of diffculty level'of the concepts was 3.26. The more they think the concepts important, the more they think them difficult (r=0.7462, p<0.001). 2. Teachers thought 55 concepts out of 78 were important and the mean score of important level of the concepts was 3.82. Teachers thought 33 concepts out of 78 were difficult and the mean score of diffculty level of the concepts was 3.31. The more they think the concepts important, the more they think them difficult (r=0.6138, p<0.001). 3. The selected concepts were considered more important by teachers than by students(t=2.0150, p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in evaluating the difficulty level of the concepts(t=0.7327, p>0.05). 4. It was found that students have difficulty in understanding concepts when they are presented in the textbook to require formal preparation than concrete preperation(t=2.6612, p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.401-414
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the elementary preservice teachers' conceptions about 'plastics' focusing on non-polar property from a National University of Education. For the study, the views about plastics, relative shapes of a water droplet on plastic or glass material, and relative shapes of water surface in the plastic or glass measuring cylinder were surveyed from the preservice teachers. And the responses were analyzed based on the patterns. The results from the study are as follows: First, most preservice teachers were well aware of the plastic products which are used in daily life. Second, the responses concerning the reason why plastics can be used commonly were divided into 2 categories with 14 sub-level groups. However relatively few preservice teachers mentioned regarding 'chemical stability' and 'conductivity', which are associated with the plastics' non-polar property. Third, it was found that 50 participants (30.1%) had 'Scientific conception (Sc)', 38 (22.9%) had 'Partial-scientific conception (Ps)', 66 (39.8%) had 'Misconception (Mc)', and 12 (7.2%) had 'No conception (Nc)' on the subject of the relative shapes of a water droplet. Fourth, the distribution patterns and the ratio of the preservice teachers' conception on the survey question 3 concerning the relative shapes of water surface were quite similar to those of the survey question 2. So it was concluded that overall understanding level of the preservice teachers was pretty low on the subjects of the relative polarities of the plastic, glass, and water as well as their interactions. Fifth, the distribution percentile of 'Sc'/'Ps'/'Mc'/'Nc' was not related with the gender but highly correlated with preservice teachers' academic field and their science subjects taken in high school. Based on the results from the study, some educational guidelines were suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.174-184
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of elementary school teachers on the socio-scientific issues. Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident was used by concrete issue connected with SSI for this study. Participants in this study were twelve elementary school teachers studying at K University Graduate School of Education, located in the central region, who underwent a semi-structured interview. The study method was the phenomenological research method which is one of the qualitative research methods, and the interview papers had been examined by three scientific experts. As a result of the study, it was divided into twenty six themes, eight theme clusters, and two categories, and considered the thoughts on the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, its influence on Korea, the relationship between science and society as a result of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, interested in social issues related to science, application in class, response from students and the influence on students. Teachers had a general understanding of science-related social issues, but did not have much interest in the subject. However, they mentioned that to apply the issues in the curriculum would have a positive influence and encourage scientific motivation in students and, furthermore, helped them to develop the awareness of science in their surroundings. A greater interest in socio-scientific issues need to require from teachers and, through including these issues in the curriculum, we should have positive influence in developing science education.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.206-224
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the elementary pre-service teachers' conceptions on 'the freezing point depression' focusing on the survey from a National University of Education. Eighteen pre-service teachers who had completed high school Chemistry II coursework were selected to participate in the study. Participants answered a four question survey to measure their scientific knowledge and conceptions of this phenomenon. Each answer was qualitatively analyzed to determine whether they have 'scientific conceptions' or 'quasi-scientific conceptions' or 'misconceptions'. The results from the study are as follows: First, it was showed that none of the eighteen participants had 'scientific conceptions', six had 'quasi-scientific conceptions' and eight had 'misconceptions' about the caused effect when $CaCl_2$ is scattered on the ice. Second, it was found that three participants had 'scientific conceptions', eight had 'quasi-scientific conceptions' and two had 'misconceptions' for the second survey question. Third, ten out of eighteen participants demonstrated 'scientific conceptions' about the phenomenon of salt water freezing. Fourth, only three of eighteen participants illustrated appropriate 'scientific conceptions' for the fourth survey question. Fifth, of all participants, none answered more than three questions correctly, and only three participants answered any combination of two questions correctly. Based on the findings of this study, five explanatory models were developed. And the models were proposed for pre-service teachers to enhance their understanding of the freezing point depression phenomenon.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2014

This study investigates the implementation of the Converged Science, and what teachers and students think of it in order to understand how it is taking root in schools. The results identify ways in which the new curriculum can establish itself in schools. One hundred and two science teachers, who had participated in the mandatory workshop for the 2009 Amended Course of Science, were given the first survey regarding their general perception of the converged science curriculum. A year after the first implementation of the new curriculum, one hundred and seventy one science teachers were given the second survey in order to determine their general perception and actual results in the classrooms. A similar survey was given to one hundred and forty nine tenth grade students. In addition, one hundred and forty eight tenth grade students, who had experienced the new science curriculum, took part in another survey revealing their general thoughts the course. The results show that the teachers' responses are rarely positive. The teachers claimed that the contents were too extensive while the level of fundamental concepts were too rigorous for tenth graders. They also asserted that the contents contained too much of a particular subject, and that it is necessary to lower the level of rigor. With regard to the level of unification of converged science textbooks, the teachers expressed that they are still slightly inadequate. The subject of science in the seventh curricula was criticized due to its lack of convergence: over 90% of the respondents answered negatively. On the other hand, the students responded more positively: they said that the new converged science was difficult to learn, but was interesting. In Busan, most high schools adopted the new curriculum in the first year when it was introduced for the first time. In most cases (over 80%), several teachers divided and taught the contents either according to their majors or regardless of their majors.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.63-79
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• 1985

The purpose of our survey study was to investigate the status on perception and actual state toward science educational evaluation and objectives of middle school science teachers in Pusan. The perception and actual state were surveyed by the questionaire which was developed by Jong-Ok Woo et. al. We developed two kinds of questionaire. One is designed to use Likert type scale and is composed of two main category(SE; Science educational evaluation, SO; Science educational objectives) which contains 21 question items, and the other has 16 question items From 313 science teacger's responses of 75 middle schools in pusan, the tendency. of total(SE+SO) and each sub category, and the contrast with their background and actual state were analized by SPSS program of KAIST. Some results of our survey study can be summarized as follows; 1. Total tendency of science educational evaluation(SE) and objectives(SO) of middle school science teachers in pusan shows a positive and right tendency of conception in general(m-85.8/100). 2. Tendency of SE(m-87.8/100) are slightly higher than SO(m-81.7/100). At the level of 5% significance, there are correlated but shows low correlation (r=0.12(4). 3. In each correlation toward total tendency(SE+SO), SE is highly correlated(r-0.8486) but SO is moderately correlated(r=0.6297) at the level of 0.1% significance. 4. Tendencies of 5sub category (PE, PC, PD, PO, PB) shows considerably right tendencies (m=$73.4/100{\sim}92.7/100$), there are moderately correlated foward total tendency(SE+SO) at the level of 0.1% significance (r=$0.49{\sim}0.60$). 5. At the level of 5%significance, total means are no differences which their background(Sex, Final alma mate, Major, Difference of training), but there is differences to teaching career at the level of 5% significance.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.719-731
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to analyze a group of pre-service elementary teachers experience on the cognitive terms of biology inquiry subjects, and experience on living materials related with the domain of life in the Korea elementary school science textbook. Firstly, elementary school pre-service teachers had the confidence of inquiry subjects related with the domain of life such as 'when we take breath what will happen in human body?' and 'Can we make the model of human body?' But they did have the most diffidence of 'The search for pieris rapae, a cabbage butterfly's life', 'Can we grow the little creature?' The reason why pre-service elementary teachers had diffidence of comprehending experiment procedure and planning ability was that 'they focused on understanding the scientific concepts instead of planning experiments by themselves', and 'they carried out the least amount of experiments' Secondly, elementary school pre-service teachers had never experienced biology materials related with the domain of life in the Korea elementary school biology science textbook such as 'tradescantia reflexa', 'Caddis larva', 'hydrilla verticillata', and 'Plantain lily.' According to the findings obtained from the study, the reason why they had never seen the biology materials was that they had the least opportunity of immediately observing life creatures due to memorization-intensive classes.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.281-292
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• 2014

This study was designed to examine the influence of gratitude enhancement program on preschoolers' aggression perceived by their teacher and mother. The subjects in this study were 40 four-year-old children in kindergarten in U city. This study employed a pre/post-test control group design, and so all subjects were assigned to an experimental group(gratitude enhancement program) or comparative group(general education program according to the year curriculum). Preschoolers' aggression was measured by the teacher and mother of the subjects and the collected data were analyzed by independent and paired t-test. This study also computed Cohen's d to estimate effect size of gratitude enhancement program on preschoolers' aggression. The findings of this study were as follows. Firstly, gratitude enhancement program and general education program were all effective in reducing preschoolers' aggression(aggression against things, verbal aggression and total aggression) perceived by their teacher except of aggression against others. But gratitude enhancement program was more effective than general education program in reducing these sort of aggression. Meanwhile, only gratitude enhancement program was effective in reducing preschoolers' aggression against others. Secondly, gratitude enhancement program was effective in reducing preschoolers' aggression(aggression against things, aggression against others, verbal aggression and total aggression).

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.15-26
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the teacher's and parent's recognition of kindergarten and elementary school about the public education in early childhood education. Especially they included the recognition of concept and necessity, preconsideration, and the direction of future policy of early childhood education to public one. The subjects were 182 teachers and 190 parents in kindergarten and elementary school in Korea. The data was analyzed by Frequency, Percentage, and Chi-Square. The main results were as follows; 1. Teachers and parents defined the concept of public education of the early childhood education as a system which puts a direction in operation and support the finances of national and local government for public and private kindergarten. In addition, teachers and parents thought that the public education was necessary because early childhood was important in developmental aspects. 2. Teachers and parents insisted that the expansion of understanding about public education should be preconsidered and various early childhood programs should be developed. 3. Teachers and parents also agreed that the public education policy should be based on the model and should be progressed sequentially. But they distrusted the current policy.