• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.301-311
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• 2017

In this study, we observed the characteristics of students' small group discussions concerning the four friction problems. Participants in this study were 22 students of upper-level mechanics course and their small group discussions have been transcribed. As a result, we found that the phenomenon in this study is well defined by 'common context.' The process of formation of the common context was explicitly observed when students discussed about the identification of the problem situation (especially the movement of A in the second problem), the nature of friction and various forces, inertial frame, and noninertial reference frame. Meanwhile, the formation of common context was tacit when students thought they already had a common context. For example, students did not discuss about the friction rule itself because they had confidence about the knowledge. We also found that the presence of the questioner, receiver, and the other opinion were important for positive group discussions. The result of this study would be meaningful because it analyzed how the theme affects the group discussion beyond the limit of previous studies of just analyzing the form or pattern of discourse.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.801-814
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• 2011

The purposes of this study were to understand what is physics teachers' perceptions of idealization and to explore their teaching experiences about idealization in their physics classes. In order to achieve these research purpose, we conducted in-depth interviews with ten Korean physics teachers. The interview data was transcribed and analyzed interpretively. The results are as follows: (1) Physics teachers are not familiar with the term of 'idealization' but they understand the meaning of idealization and ideal condition. (2) Physics teachers understand the necessity of explicit mentions of idealization and ideal conditions in physics classes. (3) Physic teachers adapt conceptions of idealization and ideal condition into their lectures, experimental classes and evaluation strategies. Thus, the results of this study can provide theocratical understanding of idealization. It will help develop teacher education programs and physics teaching strategies. This research also suggested follow-up research questions about idealization in the physics education field.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the 7th national science curriculum (chemistry domain) regarding the meanings of ‘mulgil' (Korean), the particulate nature of matter, and the state of matter. It was found that the term of ‘mulgil' was being used vaguely as representing material, matter, or substance without clear definition. This was problematic by reason that it could hinder students from having the concept of substance. Regarding the particulate nature of matter, molecule was introduced as a basic unit of matter at grade 7, prior to atom and ion, which were introduced at grade 9 and 10, respectively. It is necessary to reconsider the sequence of each particle concept to provide students with more consistent and comprehensive understanding of structure of matter. In the case of change of state, key concepts such as conservation of matter or reversibility were omitted in the curriculum document, and explanations based on various aspects of particles were somewhat insufficient. The concept of matter is fundamental to chemistry, and we must recognize it as a concept that needs to be taught clearly. Implications for curriculum revision were discussed.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.225-237
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of elementary pre-service teachers regarding their interest in science. A survey was conducted among 187 elementary pre-service teachers enrolled at Non-Metropolitan Area A University of Education. Data collection was carried out concurrently with three elementary pre-service teachers who agreed to participate in online interviews. The survey responses provided by the elementary pre-service teachers were analyzed using a qualitative text analysis method. Interest in science was observed to decrease during middle school, followed by the upper grades of elementary school and then the lower grades. The reasons for the decline in interest in science were interpreted as stemming from negative experiences with science education within the context of individual circumstances in the school setting. Strategies to address the decline and enhance interest in science were discussed across individual, family, school, teacher, local community, and national levels, considering both short-term and long-term perspectives. These strategies encompassed various inquiry activities and experiences related to the field of science, engagement in science-related activities, student-centered instruction, teacher professional development, support for elementary students and teachers, and policy measures. The multifaceted approach and efforts aimed to open avenues for positive feedback regarding science on an individual level and foster experiences related to science were interpreted as part of an effort to counteract the decline in interest in science. Lastly, given the current situation of declining interest in science and the need to enhance students' interest, it was implicitly and explicitly discussed that pre-service teachers should focus on improving their expertise in curriculum instruction. This research, by exploring the conceptual characteristics of interest in science, perceptions of changes, and educational needs related to interest in science among elementary pre-service teachers, is expected to have academic significance as foundational research data for the current status of declining interest in science.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-57
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• 2021

In this study, mathematical analysis is conducted by focusing to the 'size' of the 'point' and the 'line'. The textbook descriptions of the 'point' and the 'line' in the geometry content area of middle school mathematics 1 by the 2015 revised Korean mathematics curriculum and US geometry textbooks were compared and analyzed between. First, as a result of mathematical analysis of' 'the size of a point and a segment', it was found that the mathematical perspectives could be different according to 1) the size of a point is based on the recognition and exclusion of 'infinitesimal', and 2) the size of the segment is based on the 'measure theory' and 'set theory'. Second, as a result of analyzing textbook descriptions of the 'point' and the 'line', 1) in the geometry content area of middle school mathematics 1 by the 2015 revised Korean mathematics curriculum, after presenting a learning activity that draws a point with 'physical size' or line, it was developed in a way that describes the 'relationship' between points and lines, but 2) most of the US geometry textbooks introduce points and lines as 'undefined terms' and explicitly states that 'points have no size' and 'lines have no thickness'. Since the description of points and lines in the geometry content area of middle school mathematics 1 by the 2015 revised Korean mathematics curriculum may potentially generate mathematical intuitions that do not correspond to the perspective of Euclid geometry, this study suggest that attention is needed in the learning process about points and lines.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.47-64
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• 2023

The current elementary mathematics curriculum does not include intensive quantity. However, other subjects also deal with intensive quantity. In order to find a solution to this problem from a pedagogical point of view, the curriculum of mathematics, science, social studies, and elementary textbooks were compared and analyzed, focusing on intensive quantity. As a result of the analysis, the learning contents of intensive quantity were not explicitly presented or the term was not used in the elementary mathematics curriculum. However, intensive quantity was used as a material of activity and word problems in elementary mathematics textbooks. In science and social studies, it was also found that the learning order and content did not match, such as calculating the intensive quantity. For effective learning, it is necessary to consider presenting intensive quantity in elementary mathematics, and to be careful in the composition of learning order and content.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2023

In this study, six types of 2015 revised curriculum ChemistryII textbooks were analyzed for conditions, definitions, whether or not critical points were displayed, and real-life examples of phase diagram. In this study, it was confirmed that the problems pointed out in several previous studies were not reflected in the 2015 revised curriculum ChemistryII textbook. The same as the situation defining the phase diagram, the translation of the phase diagram into a phase equilibrium diagram, the distinction between phase and state being unclear, the critical point not being shown in the phase diagram, real life examples are very limited what is being presented as is suggested as a problem. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect the results of various previous studies in the revised curriculum ChemistryII textbook that will be made in the future, specify the conditions under which the phase diagram is drawn, newly model the situation defining the phase diagram, and translate the phase diagram as a 'phase diagram'. It is necessary to use the term, clarify the distinction between phase and state, mark the critical point in the phase diagram, and develop various real-life examples.

• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.217-242
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• 2018

This study was conducted to compare and analyze the curriculum of early childhood education in South Korea and North Korea in order to establish the direction of early childhood curriculum. Based on this, the purpose of the study is to propose educational alternatives for possible integration. The comparison of North and South Korean early childhood education curriculum was conducted in terms of educational goals, early childhood curriculum area and daily management, teaching and learning methods, and assesment. As a result of the study, there were more differences found than similarities in various areas due to differences in the educational philosophy between South and North Korea, and the following implications were drawn. First, in order to integrate North and South Korea's early childhood curriculum, a new educational ideology that reflects the unique function and purpose of education should be established first, and specific curriculum and contents should be developed accordingly. Second, the most significant difference in the content and operation of North and South Korean early childhood education curriculum is political ideology education, which is the most important content of the North Korean early childhood education course. Third, in order to integrate the South and North Korea early childhood education curriculum in preparation for unification, it is necessary to organize and standardize the terms related to early childhood education in order to unify them. In order to do this, it is necessary to try to integrate them gradually starting from areas showing similarities, and to endeavor to overcome discrepancies through mutual exchange between South and North Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to analyze the 6th national secondary science curriculum and classroom practices to collect the basic data for developing secondary science program focusing on creative problem-solving ability. The creative problem-solving ability was conceptualized as an active process of producing new solutions to problems and consisted of five components: general knowledge, domain-specific knowledge, motivation, divergent thinking and critical thinking. The research questions were generated as follows: (1) Whether creative problem-solving elements-domain specific knowledge(declarative knowledge and inquiry methods) were included or not in the 6th secondary science curriculum, textbooks and teacher's guide? If so, how are they represented? (2) Whether the teachers tried to enhance divergent and critical thinking of their students. Through content analyses, observations and interviews, these research questions were answered as follows: (1) Inquiry methods, which are important to develop creative problem-solving abilities in science, were underestimated in comparison with declarative knowledge. In other words. inquiry methods were regarded only as tools to understand the scientific concepts and principles. (2) It was hard to find the situations which teachers provided opportunities for divergent and critical thinking to their students. Based on these results, the followings were recommended: (1) Inquiry methods should be regarded as a goal not as a tool and be used to acquire inquiry methods themselves. (2) Teachers should not stick to the prescribed inquiry methods prescribed in the textbook, but to give opportunities for thinking various kinds of inquiry methods to improve divergent and critical thinking.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.92-100
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum and the 2015 Revised Curriculum for the comparative analysis of disaster safety education contents in the national level curriculum. The main results of this study are as follows: First, the content of disaster safety education for preschoolers in the 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum was clarified as 'Knowing how to react in case of accident, fire, disaster, abuse, kidnap etc.' in 'Living safety' category of physical exercise and health sections. Second, in the 2015 Revised Curriculum, disaster safety education contents for elementary school students were found to have the difference between school year in same elementary school curriculum. For first and second graders, 'Disaster safety' was cleary presented in one of major categories of 'Living safety', which was newly created at the creative activity in the Revised 2015 Curriculum. On the other hand, for third to sixth graders, safety education is dispersed in the related subjects such as physical education, science, practical courses or in the creativity activity. Third, the safety contents in the Revised 2015 Curriculum for middle school and high school were also found to be dispersed in social studies, physical education, science, technology-home economics and creativity activity. The results of this study showed that the contents of disaster safety education in the national curriculum did not have continuity and systemicity from kindergarten to high school. Therefore, efforts should be made to ensure continuity and systemicity of disaster safety education contents when the national curriculum is revised in the future.