• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.567-578
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• 2022

In this study, we examine whether the description of the elementary science curriculum guide, the concept of evolution, and the beliefs of teachers affect the teaching practice in classes related to adaptation of elementary school teachers. First, we examined the alternative concept among the sentences described in the bio-adaptation-related unit of the 2009 Elementary Science Curriculum Teacher's Guide and identified the effects of this description on the teaching practice of elementary school teachers. Next, six elementary school teachers were classified according to the results of the evolutionary concept test paper and the evolutionary belief test paper, and based on the class recording data and interview data, whether there is a difference in teaching execution. As a result, it was confirmed that there were a total of 18 descriptions corresponding to the concept of evolutionary alternatives in the analysis of instruction descriptions, and that these descriptions influenced elementary school teachers' adaptation concepts and teaching practice. Next, the group with high and low levels of evolution differ in the areas of "recognition of importance in the unit, distinction between adaptation concepts in the general sense and adaptation concepts in the biological sense, errors in the class," and "recognition of evolutionary education needs in the elementary curriculum." This study is meaningful in that it qualitatively confirms the research on the evolution concept of elementary school teachers, which has been approached quantitatively, and in-depth, confirms how the description, evolution concepts, and evolutionary beliefs affect elementary school teachers' biological adaptation concepts.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.754-770
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• 2022

For teachers, noticing refers to paying attention to something, indicating they interpret it and how they are willing to react to it in the context of their own instruction. Analysis of noticing features enables us to understand the overall characteristics of the teacher's lesson design, practice, and reflection, which are core agents in the educational design and implementation. This can also be taken to be the basis of education design for competency reinforcement for teachers. Therefore, in this study, the characteristics of noticing shown in teachers' reflections after class design and demonstration were identified. For this purpose, the self-reflection journals of 106 elementary pre-service teachers enrolled in the College of Education in Gangwon-do were analyzed. In particular, the journals were gathered that were written after the demonstration dealing with the change of gas volume by temperature in science class. After designing a noticing analysis frame consisting of the five dimensions 'agent', 'stage', 'topic', 'focus', and 'stance', the frequency and ratio of noticing by each dimension's components were derived. The frequency and ratio of noticing for the dimension of 'focus' were analyzed for the dimensions of 'stage' and 'topic'. The results of the study were as follows. For the dimension of 'agent', the frequency of teacher and student was the highest, and for the dimension of 'stage', inquiry activity was the highest. For the 'topic' dimension, class design according to the teaching strategy appeared most frequently, and in the 'focus' dimension, the cases that did not specify the goal of the class and the competencies to be achieved by the students appeared most frequently. In the 'stance' dimension, description showed the highest frequency. From the analysis of how the 'focus' changes according to the 'stage' and 'topic', it was found that a characteristic focus appeared for each component of the dimension. From these results, the implications of the noticing characteristics of pre-service teachers for the design and implementation of teacher education were discussed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.406-418
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• 2015

This study was designed to enhance preservice teachers' self-efficacy beliefs and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) through scientific investigations based on current science education reforms. To do so, a science methods course was revised to include modeling effective scientific inquiry practices as well as designing and teaching scientific investigations in the K-5 practicum classrooms (Revised Science Methods Course). This study assessed the following research questions: (1) What level of PCK do preservice teachers have before and after the completion of RSMC; (2) To what extent do participants change their self-efficacy in science teaching after completing RSMC; and (3) Is there any correlation between participants' changes in self-efficacy and the level of PCK. Participants were 76 preservice teachers enrolled in a science methods course offered at a medium-sized university in the midwestern United States. This study employed the STEBI-B survey and the PCK rubric. There result of the study indicated that there was significant increase in Personal Science Teaching Efficacy (PSTE) of the participant preservice teachers after the completion of the course. Based on the PCK rubric analysis, there was a significant increase in mean scores of the post-RSMC lesson compared to those of the pre-RSMC lesson. The correlational analysis of participants showed a positive correlation between changes in self-efficacy and the level of PCK. Thus, it may be concluded that the reform-based science methods course had a positive impact on participants' self-efficacy in science teaching through correcting misconceptions, developing higher level of PCK, and modeling scientific investigation in their practicum schools.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.303-312
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyze classroom norms formed in inquiry activities of elementary science classes and to consider about the actual problems in enacting school science inquiry. Focusing on the inquiry activity cases of two classes, the data were collected through classroom observation, student interview, teacher interview and questionnaires. Firstly, classroom norms were categorized into three categories theoretically: norms for behavior guidance; general academic norms; and scientific inquiry academic norms. The subcategory norms of each category were extracted inductively and the features, the causes of formation, and the influences on inquiry of each norm were also analyzed. Based on the analyses on classroom norms, the researchers identified three actual problems in enacting school science inquiry. First, the collective traits of school science inquiry caused structural problems in science classrooms. Second, teachers used their authorities in different ways according to phases of instructions. Third, the conflict cases were reported between general values for education and specific values for science inquiry. Educational implications are discussed in terms of the practices of school science inquiry and of the understanding classroom phenomena.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.177-189
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• 2020

In this study, we implemented an education program to improve the responsive teaching ability of pre-service science teachers, and analyzed the responsive teaching practices revealed during the program process. Through this, we derived the types and characteristics of responsive teaching practice, identified factors that made it difficult for pre-service teachers to practice, and obtained empirical data on under what conditions the responsive teaching capacity of pre-service teachers was developed. For this purpose, a practice-based teacher education program was designed and carried out for 14 pre-service teachers who had no experience in responsive teaching. The program consists of four steps; observation of class, practice through rehearsal, application in practicum, and post-reflection on educational practice. In particular, qualitative analysis was conducted on the types of responsive teaching and their detrimental factors revealed during application in practicum. As a result of the analysis, four types were derived; discriminator type, communicator type, guide type, and facilitator type. Each type was identified as having a common responsive teaching step element. The education program implemented in this study was effective for pre-service teachers to recognize the importance of student-participation class and the educational effect of responsive teaching. However, three barriers that prevented pre-service teachers from responsive teaching practice were also analyzed. First was the pressure to achieve specific learning goals within a given class time. Second was the rigid belief of the fixed curriculum. Third was the obsession that the teacher should lead the class. Based on these results, it was suggested that in order to improve the responsive teaching ability of pre-service teachers, it is necessary to support the recognition of breaking out of the thinking the time constraint, the flexibility of the curriculum, and the role of teacher as a class supporter.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.263-278
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to introduce the development and application of STEAM education science camp program conducted in J university for high school students and to suggest the ideal class design method and procedures along with STEAM logics and viewpoints. The pre-service science teachers participated in the class developed teaching materials in accordance with STEAM education model and the teaching procedures and materials were modified and supplemented through the education specialist group's assessment and the actual class. The developed program was applied to the second-year students(N=45) of a science-focus school in Jeonju City and the first and second-year students(N=61) of 13 high schools in Jeonbuk province who participated in the 'STEAM experiment camp' during the summer vacation in 2012. After the class, the learners' average satisfaction level in the program content and activities was 4.02 point out of 5 point and the pre-service science teachers' average satisfaction level in the program and teaching-learning was 4.28 point. Therefore, the STEAM education program of this case study can be a model to the teachers who desire to plan the science-focus STEAM class and conduct it.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.635-645
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to identify elementary school teachers' perceptions, practices, and background factors related to introducing students' everyday experience in science teaching process. The participants of this study were four elementary school teachers who have different features such as major, teaching period, gender, growth area, and age. The data was collected through semi-constructed and in-depth interviews. The results of the research are as follows: Teachers mostly used students' everyday experience during the introduction phase of science lessons for the purpose of motivation. They hold a positive view of using students' everyday experience during science lessons and thought that science teaching needs to actively use more of students' everyday experience, while in actual practice they disregarded or only passively introduced students' everyday experience. The various background factors found to affect teachers' practice are as follows: positive memory on their science class; educational experience of their own children; their own childhood environment; their learning style; their insufficient knowledge or enthusiasm; perceived educational value of everyday life in science education; teacher's duties; importance of students' achievement; difficulty in guiding experiment; reaction of students on introducing everyday experience; characteristics of science textbook and teacher's guidebook; lack of lesson time; realization of national common basic education; characteristics of their students; demands from parents or students; effect of introducing everyday experience. In addition, we found that the teachers behave not in accordance with what they thought due to external factors related to their profession and that, for a more active use of students' everyday experience in their teaching, teachers need support from textbooks and teachers' guidebooks.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.295-313
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the teaching strategies used in the teaching practice of teachers charged with science-gifted middle school students. For this study, 4 teachers belonging to a professional gifted education institute were selected. Data for the study were classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, report of students, and photographs. The data were analyzed through the constant comparison method. As results show, the four teachers used different teaching strategies, and the teaching strategies had a close connection with each other. According to the learning types they chose themselves - acceleration or deepening - they used different teaching strategies. The 4 teachers' teaching practice were clearly different in teaching strategies, classroom atmosphere, interaction style between teacher-student and student-student, and report draw-up style. The teaching strategies identified in this study may be helpful to the teachers short in teaching experience in organizing their lessons and promoting their specialty in teaching for science-gifted students.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.501-514
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• 2022

This study aims to reveal what is necessary for pre-service science teachers to make good use of online formative assessment in the context of online classes. For 22 pre-service physics teachers, first, the preliminary perception of online classes, online formative assessment, and formative assessment was investigated; second, the practice process of online formative assessment was examined. Then the differences between perception and practice were compared and analyzed. Data were collected in preliminary surveys, lesson plans, online formative assessment items, and interview data. As a result of the study, an interaction was mentioned as the difficulty of online classes in the preliminary perception, and pre-service teachers mentioned the use of technology, feedback, and adjustment as advantages of online formative assessment. In most cases of practice, the automated feedback was used using the platform's technology, but it did not lead to adjustment and interaction. In addition, the use of items in online formative assessment was not suitable for formative functions. The reason why the interaction using formative feedback did not occur seems to be because the understanding of formative assessment was insufficient. Pre-service teachers need to be prepared for the 'formative' function through the feedback of online formative assessment so that can lead to interaction in online classes. The shift to online classes is creating difficulties, especially in interaction. It is necessary to prepare and educate pre-service teachers on fundamental aspects that can overcome these difficulties.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.307-320
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• 2019

This study explores how an elementary school homeroom teacher who continued to lecture, can use diversified science teaching methods for learner-centered instruction. Using an auto-ethnographic approach over the course of a year, self-memory data, facebook diaries, class diaries, and interview data of an elementary teacher's day-to-day preparations and practice of elementary science, in the context of a Korean elementary school, were collected. The data was analyzed through cultural historical activity theory, examining how the interplay of key elements (i.e., the subject as a homeroom teacher with instructional expertise, norms, community, division of labor, tools, and goals) was characterized within and across distinct two-activity systems, and how these elements shaped the teacher's teaching methods into either lecture format or diversified teaching. The study revealed that a non-cooperative community, lack of division of labor, and norms that neglect preparation for science class were the elements that perpetuated the lecture format, and that a contradiction between goals and tools occurred in the activity system. However, these elements were able to be transformed into a cooperative community, shared labor, and norms that saved preparation time for both science class and diversified teaching methods, and those changed elements facilitated the teacher in using diversified teaching methods (e.g., experiments, subject-integrated classes, field work), thereby mitigating the contradiction. This study also discusses that diversified teaching methods can be facilitated when dealing with norms, community, and division of labor elements in an elementary school context as well as improving individual teachers' instructional expertise.