• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.541-557
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• 2012

Interest is acknowledged to be a critical motivational variable that influences learning and achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interest of the elementary students when free inquiry activities were performed through a brain-based evolutionary scientific teaching and learning model. For this study, 106 fifth grade students were chosen and performed individually free inquiry activities. The results of this study were as follows: First, after free inquiry activities, as to free inquiry science related attitude, a statistically significant difference was not observed. But they came to have positive feelings about the free inquiry. Especially students marked higher mean score in openness showed consistency in sub-areas of free inquiry science related attitude. Second, students had interests in various fields, especially they had many interests in area of biology. They chose inquiry subjects that seems to be easily accessible from surrounding and as an important criterion of free inquiry they thought the possibility that they could successfully perform it. And students who belong to the high level in the science related attitudes and academic achievement diversified more topics. Third, most of students failed to further their topics. However, the students who specifically and clearly extended their topics suggested appropriate variables in their topics. On the other hand, students who couldn't elaborate their topics were also failed to suggest further topics and their performance of inquiry was more incomplete. In conclusion, the experiences of success in free inquiry make the science attitude of students more positive and help them extend their inquiry. These results have fundamental implications for the authentic science inquiry in the elementary schools and for the further research.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-193
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• 2016

We examined the inquiry activities in the material domain of the elementary science textbooks and experimental workbooks based on 2009 revised curriculum. The analysis framework was SEP (Science and Engineering Practices) - 'Asking questions and defining problems', 'developing and using models', 'planning and carrying out investigations', 'analyzing and interpreting data', 'using mathematics and computational thinking', 'constructing explanations and designing solutions', 'engaging in argument from evidence', and 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information'. Sub-SEP of each grade band were also used. The results showed that the $3^{rd}{\sim}5^{th}$ grade science textbooks and workbooks mainly emphasized 'make observations and/or measurements', 'represent data in tables and/or various graphical displays', or 'use evidence to construct or support an explanation or design a solution to a problem' among around 40 sub-SEP. In the case of the inquiry activities for $6^{th}$ grade, majority of sub-SEP included were also only 'collect data to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions or test design solutions', 'analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena' or 'construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources'. The type of 'asking questions and defining problems', 'using mathematics and computational thinking' or 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information' were little found out of 8 SEP. Educational implications were discussed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.449-463
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• 2020

This study was to analysis teaching strategies, types of inquiry activities and the relationship between science concepts and inquiry activities presented in science textbooks. As a result of the study, first, the inquiry-based teaching strategies presented in science textbooks were experiment, simulation, demonstration, and field study. Second, there were 53 inquiry activities presented in 8 units related to the earth science area of science textbooks, and the types of inquiry activities were experimental observation (EO) 18, mock activity (SA) 20, investigation discussion and presentation (IP). It was analyzed as 12, data interpretation (ID) 2, and express (EX) 1 piece. Third, the relationship between inquiry activities and science concepts presented in science textbooks was analyzed. As a result of the analysis, out of a total of 42 inquiry activities, 21 inquiry activities corresponded to EA (explicit activities), in which the result of inquiry activities was directly and explicitly linked to science concepts. And IA (implicit activities), which is an implicit inquiry activity in which science concepts must be inferred using the results of inquiry activities, were analyzed as 21. In particular, IA (implicit activities), which is an implicit inquiry activity, can be said to be the result of reflecting the characteristics of earth science areas where many simulated activities (SA) are used. This is considered to be a matter to be considered in the process of developing various elementary science textbooks in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 2000

The present study was carried out to investigate the actual condition of the evaluation of science learning in the secondary school, and to develop the basic data for the improvement of the science learning assessment. Various questions for three evaluative domains were asked to 51 science teachers with the questionnaire during the in-service training course for certificate on summer in 1998. The cognition of the table of specification appeared high as 98% responses to the questionnaire, but the teachers' ability to distinguish behavioral elements was low as 47% responses. The evaluative rate of three domains for knowledge, skill and attitude appeared as 45%, 35% and 20% evaluation in both diagnostic and formative evaluation and 40%, 40% and 20% evaluation in summative evaluation. The evaluation of process skill appeared a tendency depending on laboratory reports as 61%, and was higher rather than in the formative evaluation or summative evaluation. In the evaluation of attitude domain, about a half of teachers answered that they evaluated the domain with laboratory reports as 43%, and some teachers evaluated the domain with teacher's observation as 33%. Also there were a few teachers who did not evaluate the attitude domain as 8%. The rate for the elements of the process skill appeared 86% responses in the interpretation of data, 31% in the observative ability, 18% in the predictive ability, 14% in the classified ability, 12% in the measuring and data-investigating ability, 4% in the discussion ability, and 2% in the investigating ability. We could find out that many teachers had given higher rate in the evaluation of process skill and attitude rather than before the present study, therefore there was more improvement in the evaluation for process skill and attitude domain after the 6th curriculum.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.457-464
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• 2019

This study aims to explore meta-modeling knowledge of gifted students through the modeling. To do this, five gifted students were asked to do modeling related to candle burning, and all the processes of modeling were observed and then individual interviews were conducted. As a result of the study, two students were classified as first level and three students were classified as second level. The students of the first level did not have any model generation or model-based prediction activities, and observation was the most meaningful activity. On the other hand, the students of the second level performed all four modeling processes. However, the generation of the model and the prediction using the model were relatively strong. The data they gained from the experiments was perceived as just confirming the absolute model. No student was found in Level 3 or Level 4. The results of this study show that gifted students remain at the progression level of recognizing the model as an objective reality, and in order to cultivate a true scientist, it is necessary to educate the gifted students to recognize the subjectivity of the model.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.127-148
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• 2023

In this study, we used an analysis of the literature on socio-scientific issues (SSI) classes to examine domestic SSI class research and to determine the characteristics of SSI class research for each subject. A search for papers related to SSI classes published in Korea Citation Index-listed journals and candidate journals of the Korea Research Foundation found 95 relevant papers, which were then categorized according to participants and topics. Studies with both pre-service and experienced teachers attempted to investigate SSI-related perceptions. Studies of pre-service teachers tended to examine the level and development pattern of argumentation or to analyze decision-making characteristics and informal reasoning. Studies of experienced teachers tended to analyze instructional expertise in SSI teaching activities, focusing on teachers with substantial SSI teaching experience. Middle and high school students-related studies examined student decision-making and reasoning processes in SSI learning activities, developed SSI class programs, and analyzed educational effects. Examining the characteristics of SSI classes for elementary school students was difficult because few such studies have been published. However, the characteristics that elementary school students show in SSI learning situations could be inferred. A plan to revitalize SSI classes in the elementary science education field from the perspective of teacher education and class research is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.194-202
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze how optics concepts and activities have changed according to the revision of the national science curriculum. For this purpose, the optics achievement standards presented in the middle-school science curriculum of the 7th curriculum, 2007 revised curriculum, 2009 revised curriculum, and 2015 revised curriculum, and the optics content presented in the textbooks developed for each curriculum, were compared and analyzed. The optics content is classified into four concepts: the process of viewing an object; light and color; reflection and refraction; and the image from a mirror and a lens. The main results are as follows: First, according to the revision of curriculum, some optics concepts have been added or removed. In particular, big changes have appeared in the concepts of "process of viewing the object", "dispersion", "reflection and refraction" and so on. Second, the content for 'image formation by a mirror and a lens' was gradually reduced, according to the revision of curriculum, and the level of activity was also adjusted. Third, attempts to present the content of textbooks in conjunction with the phenomena and tools that students can experience in everyday life have increased gradually. In addition, based on the analysis of the content of curriculum and textbooks, the implications for optics education have been discussed.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1025-1038
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• 2014

The purpose of this study the creative problem-solving of gifted children for elementary school science in order to improve and develop learning programs and STEAM projects by applying that effect would be to provide. To develop this STEAM program, we utilized the steps of the Project Learning method and the KOrea Foundation for the Advancement of science and Creativity(KOFAC) proposed STEAM program, learning the principles and criteria in configuration, the methodology. In order to verify the effectiveness of the developed STEAM program Elementary Science for gifted students with creative problemsolving Questionnaire were used. The program was developed a total of 18 classes, consists of first project to create a solar car, second project to create elastic car. The primary project was selected as one of the topics with the students and selected topics related to previous activities in accordance with articles examining the actual quest, consultation, representation activities in class and finishing with the deliverables and evaluation consisted of 12 classes. The second project is the first project based on a given problem to generate a deliverable by outlining a solution which consists of 6 classes. All of this project was composed by teachers and students to select a common topic on the subject of themselves through a process of problematization, the student-led science, technology, engineering and arts of the area so that the content can be made convergence. The results of the study indicate that this developed STEAM program has a positive effection creative problem solving in a gifted students.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.229-242
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the elementary teachers' conceptions on the inquiry activity about 'make a fossil model' focusing the 6th, 7th, 2007 revised, and 2009 revised elementary science textbook. This study is intended to find causes of teachers' conceptions and to derive educational implications. We have analyzed questionnaires which were collected from 77 elementary school teachers. It was carried out about comparisons actual fossil with fossil model in each step of the inquiry activity, the lesson goal, the thought for changes of the inquiry activity, the improvement of the inquiry and conception related fossil. Teachers have a general understanding about the contents of the inquiry activity but some of them have partially incorrect understanding. And they emphasize the understanding of the concept on lesson goal. It is necessary to improve inquiry activity reflecting teachers' thinking about the merit and weaknesses. There was not statistically difference in understanding of fossil related concepts according to teachers' career, teaching or training experience. Through this research, there is a need to improve a textbook, a guide book, a teachers' training. So, teachers who have professionalism about science textbook be able to teach students.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.96-108
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate how prospective elementary school teachers perceived teacher's inquiryoriented teaching practice, with an emphasis on students' scientific explanations based on scientific evidence. For this study, 94 prospective elementary school teachers were participated. 14 among 94 participants had chances to intensively experience this particular teaching methods for 15 weeks. All of the 94 participants observed the intended science teaching practice for 4th graders in two different elementary schools, which utilized the science talks emphasizing students' scientific explanation activity. For quantitative data analysis, they were asked to provide their reaction to the science teaching methods after their classroom observation. For qualitative data analysis, 5 among the participants, who had relatively long term experience with this teaching practice, were chosen to interview in order to understand their individual reasons of the ways they perceived about the inquiry-oriented teaching methods boosting students' scientific explanation. The results show that the prospective elementary teachers generally thought the emphasis of students' scientific explanation based on scientific evidence could enhance young elementary students' science content understanding, stimulate their curiosity/interests, and further develop their ability to engage actively in scientific discussions. However, some prospective teachers tended to think that the science teaching. methods would not be effective in terms of managing science classes, though. This study concludes that the prospective teachers tended to hold an endemic dilemma. On the one hand, they had their clear preference to the inquiry-oriented teaching practice as the most ideal teaching methods. On the other hand, they also had their persistent hesitance in using these methods due to their fear that elementary students might not adequately grasp the important science content when engaged in scientific discourse through an inquiry-oriented class.