• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.487-500
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• 1999

Observation is one of the important aspects in science and science education. However. observation has so many varieties that the purpose and the meaning of scientific observations used in science education are different in persons, contexts, and subjects. In this study, we tried to understand the natures of scientific observation and investigated students' observational activities using four observation tasks: candle, double pendulum, iron filings around bar magnet, two electric bulbs connected in series. We required the subjects to observe the given tasks and described what did they observe. Based on students' observational descriptions, students' observational activities could be classified in four categories: primitive, interpretive, operational, and interfered observation. Also, we could find that some of the descriptions were non-observational activities such as predicting and questioning and so on. Finally, implications for the teaching of observation in science education are suggested.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.679-691
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• 2017

Despite the growing importance of socio-scientific issues (SSI), little work has focused on teachers' pedagogical knowledge, and few studies have examined how in-service teachers use and apply SSI-related instructional methods and strategies. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to explore how science teachers with lots of SSI teaching experience determined teaching orientation, selected and revised instructional methods, and devised assessments in science classroom. We used a case study approach aimed at a deep description of these teachers' teaching experiences and employed semi-structured and in-depth interviews with five experienced teachers. Our findings indicate that teaching orientation and learning objectives seemed to influence the selection and modification of instructional strategies and methods. In addition, students' learning experiences or classroom environment were considered and modified in light of achieving these learning objectives. However, introducing SSI into the classroom assessment is not seriously considered by most teachers. This study can provide teachers with useful information when designing and developing SSI classes, taking into account various aspects of the PCK such as learning orientation, instructional methods, learner expereince and curriculum standards.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.142-157
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• 2022

Heuristic is a empirical method that is used quickly when uncertainty or insufficient time and information are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to find out what heuristics appear in the processing of the experimental manual among science experiment activities of elementary school students. To do this, 20 fifth-grade elementary school students (female 10 and male 10) were required to conduct scientific experimental activities as research participants to collect experimental behavior data and gaze movement data, and retrospective interviews were conducted. The collected data extracted and conceptualized behavior by heuristics. As a result of the study, there were five heuristics that appeared in the processing of the experimental manual: "reducing the difference between the target state and the current state," "guessing the experimental procedure," "paying attention to the expected results," "comparing with the picture of the experimental manual," and "using a trial and error strategy." According to each concept of heuristics, there were favorable and unfavorable aspects for experimental activities. In science experiment activities that students experience for the first time, there is a lack of information and the situation is uncertain, so behavior by heuristics appears in nature. Therefore, educators need to understand students' heuristics and guide scientific experimental activities.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to show that epistemic considerations can be used meaningfully in the argumentation of elementary students, and to provide data on students' epistemic considerations that will be the basis for designing and evaluating scientific argumentation. The epistemic considerations in students' small group argumentations were explored based on Epistemic Considerations in Students' Epistemologies in Practice: EIP' suggested by Berland et al. (2016). The major results of this study are as follows: First, epistemic considerations in elementary school students' small group argumentation appeared in all four aspects: Nature, generality, justification and audience. The epistemic considerations varied according to context in each discussion situation. Second, epistemic considerations did not exist independently. They influenced each other and helped to reveal new types of considerations. The results of this study confirmed that argumentation can be used in elementary school science class. Understanding how students are involved in argumentation and how these epistemic considerations can affect students' argumentation can be helpful to teachers who design and evaluate small group argumentation. Students' achievement level affected epistemic considerations but learning approach types did not affect on. In addition, epistemic considerations may have a positive or negative effect on each other depending on the discussion situation in the process of interaction. So consideration of normative argumentation rules and teaching strategies should be considered in order for epistemic considerations to positively affect each other.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.431-440
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the K Teachers' Community, which brought about changes in the perception of SSI education by teachers with experience in SSI, and to explore its relevance to the development of SSI professions. This is a case study that describes in depth the characteristics of the K teachers' community. The study conducted semi-structured as well as in-depth interviews with six teachers who have more experience in SSI education activities for over 20 years. The K teachers' community has three characteristics. First, the K teachers' community formed identity by discussing the nature of science and technology, which allowed teachers to share a common orientation toward the goals of science education. Second, the teachers who participated in the K teachers' community formed professionalism and confidence in SSI teaching in the course of producing, sharing, and spreading SSI through its various practices. Third, the K teachers' community is continuously growing by opening themselves to external communities and co-evolution through solidarity. The success of K Teachers' Community may inform other teachers how the community of teaching practices can develop and maintain, and in turn can help the members of the community develop their professional identity as teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.708-717
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• 2013

The new paradigm of the 21st Century science education explores a wide range of possibilities that can foster students' interest toward science and creative convergence thinking. In this study, through the analysis of programs that were developed in 'STEAM leader school' and 'STEAM teacher association for research' supported by the 'Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology,' we analyzed the linking frequency with each of STEAM education's fields and teachers' perception for the convergence strategy of technology and engineering. The results of this study show that linking frequency of technology and engineering is lower than the field of arts and mathematics in elementary school, but higher in middle and high school. 'Introduction technology contents in lives' in technology and 'crafts activity' in engineering are the most used teaching and learning strategy in STEAM education. But, although 'crafts activity' is engineering's major way of learning, many teachers understand and use it as a technological teaching learning strategy. It is important to understand that each of STEAM education's field has a unique nature and educational implications, for the effective settlement of STEAM education, we need to consider teaching and learning strategy in various way.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to design and apply a pilot inquiry experiment focusing on the epistemological issues of scientific activities, and derive educational implications by analyzing experimental activities and reflective discussions. Three graduate students who major in science education participated in the study voluntarily. Participants showed the characteristics of stable enquiry in Experiment 1. However, the small but continuous changes in Experiment 2 led the experiment to a phase of fluid enquiry seeking new theories. Participants mobilized various resources, proposed new hypotheses, and models and requested additional experiments to verify them. In the process of reflective discussions, the participants led to the following three epistemological issues. First, at the beginning of the experiment, their observations were theoretically dependent. Second, when the observations were no longer coherent with theory, they face a crisis, and the adjustment of observation and theory proceeds. Third, stable enquiry and fluid enquiry are performed according to the relationship between observation and theory. The educational implications of school science inquiry based on the above process and results are as follows: First, this study shows that fluid enquiry can follow stable enquiry naturally, and examples of the activities are presented together. Second, in this study, it was confirmed that participants could draw up epistemological issues based on their experiences through reflective discussions following inquiry.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

This study aims to explore students' epistemic practices and considerations, which are explained as underlying epistemic thoughts that guide their epistemic practices, during argumentation in science classrooms. We also investigated how collaborative reflection facilitated the development of such epistemic considerations. Two seventh-grade classes participated in this study by engaging in argumentation activities and collaborative reflection after classes. A group with students' change in epistemic aspects and the influence of collaborative reflection clearly revealed from their practices was chosen as a focus group. We recorded their class discussions and collaborative reflections with the researchers. Transcriptions of the recordings and checklists we collected during the collaborative reflections were used for analysis. Results showed evident changes in the students' epistemic considerations and practices and four factors facilitating such developments were identified. First, the researcher facilitating the students to recognize each other as collaborators during collaborative reflection led development of epistemic considerations on "audience using the knowledge products." Second, the collaborative reflection facilitated construction of context for peer interactions where the students encouraged each other to participate in the discussion, resulting in the development of other students' epistemic considerations on "justifications in knowledge products." Third, the items provided on the checklists explicitly delineated expectations on their practices in argumentation, also facilitating development of epistemic considerations. Lastly, the students' imitation of the researcher's pattern of discourse facilitated construction of causal explanation and development of epistemic considerations on "nature of the knowledge products." This study will contribute to the construction of strategies that develop students' epistemic considerations and productive epistemic practices in argumentation.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.363-377
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• 2019

This study reveals the aspects of subjectivity in the test results in a science-specific aspect when assessing science-related affective characteristic through self-report items. The science-specific response was defined as the response that appear due to student's recognition of nature or characteristics of science when his or her concepts or perceptions about science were attempted to measure. We have searched for cases where science-specific responses especially interfere with the measurement objective or accurate self-reports. The results of the error due to the science-specific factors were derived from the quantitative data of 649 students in the 1st and 2nd grade of high school and the qualitative data of 44 students interviewed. The perspective of science and the characteristics of science that students internalize from everyday life and science learning experiences interact with the items that form the test tool. As a result, it was found that there were obstacles to accurate self-report in three aspects: characteristics of science, personal science experience, and science in tool. In terms of the characteristic of science in relation to the essential aspect of science, students respond to items regardless of the measuring constructs, because of their views and perceived characteristics of science based on subjective recognition. The personal science experience factor representing the learner side consists of student's science motivation, interaction with science experience, and perception of science and life. Finally, from the instrumental point of view, science in tool leads to terminological confusion due to the uncertainty of science concepts and results in a distance from accurate self-report eventually. Implications from the results of the study are as follows: review of inclusion of science-specific factors, precaution to clarify the concept of measurement, check of science specificity factors at the development stage, and efforts to cross the boundaries between everyday science and school science.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.106-117
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore students' argumentation in perspectives of epistemology and psychology and to find out how teacher can promote students' abilities of developing argumentation. The 60 hours of lessons from the interaction between one science teacher (Mr. Physics, who had 35 years of teaching experience) and his 26 students were observed, transcribed, and analyzed using two different analyzing tools; one is from the perspective of epistemology and the other from the perspective of psychology, which can portray how argumentation is constructed. Mr. Physics created the environment where students could promote the quality of scientific argumentation through explicit teaching strategy, Claim-Evidence Approach. The low level of argumentation was portrayed through examples from students' prior knowledge or experience in the form of an Appeal to the instance operation and the Elaboration reasoning skill. Students' own claims were developed through application of knowledge in a different context in the form of an Induction operation and Generativity reasoning skill. Higher level of argumentation was portrayed through Consistency operation with other knowledge or experience and Explanation reasoning skills based on students' ideas with more active teacher's inputs. The teacher in this study played a role as a helper for students to enact identities as competent "sense makers," as an elaborator rather than evaluator to extend students' ideas, and as a mentor to foster and monitor the students' development of ideas of a higher quality. It is critical for teachers to understand the nature of argumentation, which in turn is connected to their explicit teaching strategy with the aim of providing opportunities where students can understand the science enterprise.