• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-224
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• 2017

A model method has been known as the main characteristic of Singaporean elementary mathematics textbooks. However, little research has been conducted on how the model method is employed in the textbooks. In this study, we extracted contents related to the model method in the Singaporean elementary mathematics curriculum and then analyzed the characteristics of the model method applied to the textbooks. Specifically, this study investigated the units and lessons where the model method was employed, and explored how it was addressed for what purpose according to the numbers and operations. The results of this study showed that the model method was applied to the units and lessons related to operations and word problems, starting from whole numbers through fractions to decimals. The model method was systematically applied to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tailored by the grade levels. It was also explicitly applied to all stages of the problem solving process. Based on these results, this study described the implications of using a main model in the textbooks to demonstrate the structure of the given problem consistently and systematically.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.789-804
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• 2012

We developed $21^{st}$ century scientific literacy assessment instrument and applied it to explore the contents of seven Korean science textbooks. The $21^{st}$ century scientific literacy assessment instrument involved three dimensions (habits of mind, character and values, science as human endeavor). Each dimension consists of three sub-dimensions. Five science education experts assessed the content of textbook using criteria. We discussed issues in which the examiners responses did not match and reached an agreement on initial disagreement. As a result, we found that most Korean textbook contained contents on habits of mind, especially, communication, collaboration, and information management. We also found that most materials lacked information about character and values and science as human endeavor. Based on the result, we suggest that researchers and science educators need to consider all dimensions of the $21^{st}$ century scientific literacy when they develop curriculum and teaching materials. In addition, the rubric for $21^{st}$ century scientific literacy can be adopted as an assessment tool for examining curriculum, teaching materials.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.69-77
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• 2011

In an accredited engineering program, there are two important means for achieving program outcomes. Students participating in a program are expected to achieve program outcomes through the program curriculum, because during the course of the program, they spend most of their time following the curriculum. However, it is very difficult to achieve the program outcomes only through the curriculum. Therefore, it is necessary to provide and manage non-curriculum courses in a program to make students achieve those program outcomes that the curriculum itself cannot provide exclusively. In this study, we conducted a case study on non-curriculum management systems as a means for supplementing a curriculum in order to enhance achievement of program outcomes, specifically, so-called, soft skills. We studied about 40 accredited engineering programs in Korea and proposed 30 non-curriculum courses with their evaluation units as well as the weighing criterior given to each non-curriculum course.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.123-138
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• 2017

It is necessary to examine how operation and management of instruction in school field be affected by the curriculum. This study examines the actual conditions of instruction provided by teachers while expecting to be adjusted the curriculum with respect to the consideration given to individual student needs and regional specialization by focusing on the subject of mathematics. Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to assess and expect how well mathematics instruction would be being conducted in accordance with the goals of the curriculum. Furthermore, while reflecting the experimental result on teachers' opinions of the previous curriculum, this study suggests alternatives and supporting plans so that at the teacher level the curriculum might be successfully implemented.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

Curriculum content interest has been studied in terms of teachers rather than students in ways that help revise curriculum and develop textbooks. In this study, 227 first-year high school students were interested in what they learned in middle school and what they learned in high school, focusing on meaningful assumptions and contents for middle school and high school students. We analyze this difference in interest by gender and achievement level. According to the research results, first-year high school students, who are in the middle and high school transition period, have relatively high interest in themselves, such as youth development, compared to family needs or interest in family life. There were no gender differences, but there were differences in content interest depending on the level of achievement. This means that the content interest should be interpreted by considering various variables such as the development of learners, the situation of learners in the school-level transition period, and the entrance examination of universities. The results of this study will provide implications for future curriculum revisions, textbook development, and curriculum considerations, and will need to be carefully analyzed and utilized based on a learner-centered perspective.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.429-438
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• 2022

In this study, we propose a way to improve science teacher expertise through infographics creation teacher training program by analyzing the infographics types focusing on the Earth Science subject of the 2015 revised curriculum, and inspecting the teachers' utilization of graphic tools. The data visualization characteristics of Earth Science textbooks were analyzed, the execution results of the infographics creation teacher training program were presented, and a survey on science teachers' change in perception and competency of infographics. As a result of the Earth Science textbook analysis, diagram-type, map-type, and comparative analysis-type infographics were frequently used, and were mainly presented as text-assisted-type infographics. The infographics creation teacher training program was conducted five times for 112 science teachers to create the complete, text-assisted, incomplete, and gradient-type infographics. Incomplete infographics for development of evaluation questions were most needed. Although many science teachers recognize the importance of infographics, they lacked the competency to create high-quality infographics because there were no training opportunities for infographics creation. After completing the training, 74.1% of teachers felt that the quality of developments of supplementary textbooks and evaluation questions had improved, and answered that it was helpful in re-educating knowledge and improving teaching-learning methods. Based on the research results, ways to improve science teacher expertise through infographics creation teacher training program were suggested.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.397-417
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to discuss information literacy in mathematics education by comparatively analyzing mathematics education experts' perception of information processing and information literacy in mathematics education. We collected mathematics education experts' opinions using the modified Delphi method and focus group interviews, then analyzed their responses with an analytic framework through a constant comparative method. Even though we used different methods, we could compare their perceptions under the common themes. The findings are in three-folds. First, most experts focused only on the use of technological tools or statistics as a way of developing information literacy. In addition, even though mathematics education experts recognize the need for information literacy in mathematics education, their definition and meaning of information literacy somehow varied. Secondly, teachers as practitioners emphasized social competency which could be developed through information literacy. Thirdly, they asked for concrete and systematic plans for school practice in order to well develop information literacy in schools. Even though there were some differences in their perception of information literacy in mathematics education in terms of their prior experiences and background, it is very meaningful that there were commonalities among their perceptions which would allow us to find the ways of developing information literacy in mathematics education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.403-414
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• 2023

In this study, we examined the adaptive practices of science teachers in their classrooms and their perspectives on the distinguishing features of these practices within science subjects. Our analysis comprised 339 cases from 128 middle and high school science teachers nationwide, and 199 cases on the characteristics of adaptive practices in science disciplines. The primary findings were as follows: First, the most significant characteristic of adaptive practice in science disciplines pertained to experimental procedures. Within the 'suggestion of additional materials/activities' category, the most frequently cited adaptive practice, teachers incorporated demonstrations to either facilitate student comprehension or enhance motivation. Additionally, 'experimental equipment manipulation or presentation of inquiry skills' emerged as the second most common adaptive practice related to experiments. Notably, over 50% of teacher responses regarding the characteristics of adaptive practices in science pertained to experiment guidance. Second, many adaptive practices involving difficulties experienced by students in learning situations were presented, particularly in areas such as numeracy and literacy. Many cases were related to the basic ability of mathematics used as a tool in science learning and understanding scientific terms in Chinese characters. Third, beyond 'experiment guidance', the characteristic adaptive practices of science subjects were related to 'connections between scientific theory and the real world', 'misconception guidance in science', 'cultivation of scientific thinking', and 'convergence approaches'. Fourth, the cases of adaptive practice presented by the science teachers differed by school level and major; therefore, it is necessary to consider school level or major in future research related to adaptive practice. Fifth, most of the adaptive action items with a small number of cases were adaptive actions executed from a macroscopic perspective, so it is necessary to pay attention to related professionalism. Finally, based on the results of this study, the implications for science education were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2016

The purpose of the present study is to develop and validate an instrument to assess STEM career motivation. We developed 32 items for 7 constructs (i.e. education experience, career value, academic self-efficacy, career self-efficacy, career interest, parents' support, and career motivation) on STEM career motivation based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al.,1994). 767 first year high school students participated in this study. The items were validated by Messick's framework (1995). In this study, we examined the validity of items in four aspects (i.e. content, substantive, structural and generalizability of validity). Methodologically, we used Rasch analysis, Exploratory factor analysis, confirmative factor analysis based on structural equation modelling. We confirmed that our instrument with 32 items as valid and reliable for measuring the STEM career motivation. In addition, we tested the STEM career motivation model based on SCCT. Our model explained the data well, suggesting that external factors (education experience and parents' support) and cognitive factors (perception of value, self-efficacy and interest) were significantly related to STEM career motivation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.173-180
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• 2020

This is the report of a case study to describe the results of applying an evaluation tool for communication ability when performing core basic nursing skills in fundamental nursing practice education. The communication ability evaluation tool was constructed based on a literature review and expert advice. The tool was applied to test 94 students who were taking fundamental nursing practice courses from October to November 2019. As a result, five factors (self-introduction, eye contact, emotional support, information provision, and therapeutic touch) were derived as evaluable items of communication ability to be evaluated when performing core basic nursing skill, and were evaluated when performing core basic nursing skills to measure vital signs. The average communication ability was 3.96 out of 5 points. According to the rubric, 95.8% of all students attained 'medium' and reached their goal achievement level. The findings of this study are meaningful in providing an important basis for improving the performance outcome evaluation process and for constructing a systematic evaluation system in fundamental nursing practicum. Further studies to secure the validity and reliability of this communication ability evaluation tool and comparative studies with various evaluation tools are suggested.