• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.331-341
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to explore relationships among the structural elements of Science Classroom as Community of Practice (SCaCoP). For this, we investigated the case of small-group activities in practical work of elementary school science in a qualitative way based on the five structural elements of SCaCoP, such as responsibility for learning, common interest, open participation, mutual relationship, and practice. We observed and interviewed five small-groups during five lessons with video- and audio- recording to collect data. The results of analysis are as follows. First, 'mutual relationship' was a necessary-condition for 'open participation.' We also found that 'common interest' has two dimensions related to their interest and related to learning topic. The former interacted with 'open participation,' and the latter was influenced by 'responsibility for learning. Lastly, 'practice' enhanced the features of other elements with dynamic relationships. Based on these results, we suggested the relationships among the structural elements of SCaCoP and discussed implications related to the perspective that regards learning as participation.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.131-142
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• 2015

The purposes of this study are to develop a measuring instrument for the analysis of science classroom culture from the perspective of Community of Practice (CoP) and to confirm its feasibility. We set the structural factors of CoP and developed preliminary questions through literature review. The validity and reliability of the instrument were examined and modified through the pilot survey participated by a total of 219, 4th, 6th, and 8th grade students. The modified instrument consisted of 5 factors of 'responsibility for learning', 'common interest', 'mutual relationships', 'open participation', and 'practice', comprising a total of 27 items. As the main survey, confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis of the instrument were carried out with a total 706 students of the 4th and 6th grade. This measuring instrument was validated and used for analyzing the culture of science classroom CoP of elementary school by comparing the data from the main survey in terms of structural factors, grade, gender, and teacher type. The measuring instrument is expected to be used not only for analyzing science classroom culture from the perspective of CoP, but also for offering implications for the desirable science classroom culture.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.169-179
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to see school science education from the perspective of CoP (Community of Practice) and to explore the possibility of strategic CoP in Korean school settings. To do this, we conducted a survey using SCaCoP instrument with more than 1600 students from 14 science core schools (SCSs), which were selected across the country, and analyzed their school curriculum, which can be summarized as follows: First, compared to other tracks in SCSs, like the Nature and the Humanity Classes, students of the Science Core Class (SCC) showed significantly higher scores of CoP features for all five factors of SCaCoP (i.e. responsibility of learning, common interest, mutual relationship, open participation, and practice). Second, students of SCC considered activities that require interaction and collaboration among community members (like experiments, hands-on activities, club activities, project works, R&E) to be very positive. Third, SCC students thought that the educational activities of SCSs were not only effective to CoP aims (i.e. self-driven learning, sharing learning outcomes, peer collaboration) but also positive to general aims of science education (i.e. acquiring knowledge, understanding scientific concepts, science-related attitudes). In other words, it appears that educational activities that were effective in vitalizing the CoP have positive effects on ordinary science education, too. These features of SCSs illustrate its possibility of forming strategic COPs in the context of often government-driven Korean education and of bringing in the innovations of school science education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.273-290
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• 2017

The purposes of this study are to develop a measuring instrument for perception of science classes based on the view of 'Community of Inquiry in Science Classroom' and to investigate elementary school students' perceptions with the instrument developed in the study. A total of 417 6th grade students participated in this study. As a result, first, we developed two set of questionnaire: (a) the questionnaire for the 'process of inquiry' consisted of six factors: 'problem recognition I: recognition of inconsistency,' 'problem recognition II: interests,' 'problem explanation I: hypothesis generation and examination,' 'problem explanation II: cooperative review,' 'problem solving I: reflection on the change of relationship with objects/conceptions,' and 'problem solving II: reflection on the change of relationship with community/ inquirer,' comprising a total of 42 items; (b) the questionnaire for the 'basis of inquiry' consisted of three factors:'will of conducting inquiry,' 'attitudes of conducting inquiry,' and 'structure of communication,' comprising a total of 17 items. Second, we found that elementary school students had positive recognition generally on their science classes in terms of the 'community of inquiry in science classroom,' but they had relatively negative recognition on the factors of problem recognition based on recognition of inconsistency, problem solving accompanied with reflection on the change of relationship with objects/conceptions, and attitudes of conducting inquiry based on severity and fallibilism, Finally, several suggestions for the science education were given.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to explore how a high school science teacher (Teacher E) shifted her understanding and facilitation of scientific modeling through participation in a professional learning community (PLC) for over a year. Based on socially situated theory of learning, I focused on examining Teacher E's frames about scientific modeling from her social interactions. Teacher E participated in her school-based PLC over a year and collaborated with other science teachers, coaches, and researchers to improve science instruction. I qualitatively explored her participation in 6 full-day professional learning opportunities-studios-where the PLC members collectively planned, implemented, and debriefed modeling-based lessons. Especially, I focused on two Studios (Studio 2, 6) where Teacher E became the host teacher and implemented the lessons. I also examined her classroom teaching in those Studios. To understand how the PLC inquiry affected the shifts observed in Teacher E's understanding and practice, I explored how the inquiry evolved over the 6 Studios. Findings suggest that in Studio 2, Teacher E viewed students' role in scientific modeling as to fill out the worksheet with "correct" answers. Meanwhile, in Studio 6, she focused on helping students collaborate to construct explanatory models of phenomena using evidence. The PLC inquiry, focused on supporting students' construction of evidence-based explanations and collaboration in scientific modeling, seemed to promote the shifts observed in Teacher E's understanding and facilitation of scientific modeling. These findings can inform educational researchers and practitioners who aim to promote teachers' professional learning to support students' epistemic practices.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.523-536
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• 2015

In this study, we analyzed the co-reflection of pre-service teacher community in three years of post-class discussions (PCD) on the basis of cultural historical activity theory in the case of an biological laboratory class program. We figured out the sociocultural elements of co-reflection of community using activity system suggested by $Engestr{\ddot{o}}m$. We also analyzed the aspect of reflection in terms of both 'the diversity of reflection subjects' and 'the practicality of reflection.' Finally, limitations of co-reflection were sought in a process of continuos circulation of reflection and practice. The results show that the sociocultural factors of 3-year-PCD changed, and in these changes, 'regular PCD,' 'introduction of tools for facilitating reflection,' 'transition of the subject in PCD from researcher to pre-service teachers' are remarkable. And in these process, co-reflection made positive progress since the content of reflection became diverse and practical. However, in some subjects such as 'managing time,' 'participation of students,' 'mentor's role (a kind of teaching manual),' reflective practice have not developed and similar patterns of discussion were repeated. From these results, we suggested ways of facilitating pre-service teacher community's co-reflection from the viewpoint of an activity system.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 2007

The purpose of the study is to develop an effective model of a science teachers' professional development program. This study consists of two parts: (1) the theoretical review of science teachers' professional development and (2) a case study of a science teachers' professional development programme in the UK. After reviewing recent research on pedagogical content knowledge and new approaches to educational research, the following suggestions emerged: (1) Continuing Professional Development(CPD) should be embedded in teachers' real practice in the classroom and (2) embedded in the everyday life of learners' within the community. (3) CPD should support the development of teachers' communities of professional practice. The case study of 'CPD through Portfolios of Evidence' in the British programme indicated that collecting explicit evidence of good practice in the classroom and establishing agreement as to what constitutes good practice in a teachers' community helped teachers' professional development. Finally, what emerged from the case study of the CPD programme in the UK and the theoretical review of PCK was the following. An effective CPD model of science teachers should comprise these three stages: (1) providing opportunities of professional development, (2) changing practice in the classroom and research, and (3) spreading and sustaining change. The whole process is circular.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.564-579
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the change in the classes of the beginning science teachers through a cooperative mentoring program that induces the practice of reflective thinking. Participants in this study included three mentor-teachers, two teachers in doctorate or masters courses, one university professor, and three mentee-teachers who had less than four years of teaching experience. We collected data such as video recordings of mentee-teachers' classes and transcription, lesson plans, recording of one-on-one mentoring and transcription, mentor's and mentee's journals, and RTOP class observation reports. RTOP was used for the class analysis, and the cognition and changes in mentee-teachers' classes were determined from their journal entries and one-on-one mentoring interview materials. According to mentee-teachers' recognition of changes in their classes during the mentoring program, they themselves recognized their teacher-centered teaching styles, misconception, and lack of content knowledge. Furthermore, there were changes in the mentee-teachers' classes through their reflective practice and improvement. Based on the result of this study, however, the teachers' reflection was not all accompanied with reflective practice even if the beginner science teachers made some partial changes in reflective practice by reflection. This means that it is hard to instill a reflective practice in mentee-teachers through mentoring in a short period. Therefore, we consider that more systematic and long-term mentoring is necessary for beginner science teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.115-131
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• 2021

As the global climate change emergency is escalating, the need for 'Social Action-Oriented SSI (SAO-SSI) on climate change topics' in science education that can change society through social activity is increasing. By employing sociocultural theory, this study explores the challenges of limiting teacher's agency in implementing SAO-SSI on climate change topics in science education. Data from participant observation for 46 lessons, in-depth interviews with participants, field notes, and teacher reflection notes were analyzed by the structure of into micro- (classrooms), meso- (school), and macro- (Korea society) level. At the micro-level, the teacher's new attempts of SAO-SSI on climate change topics class made it difficult for him to identify students' understanding of climate change, because they have a low sense of perception that climate change is also their problem. In addition, the teacher had difficulties leading students' into an engagement for social action because students were skeptical about the feasibility of planned social behavior by positioning themselves as children or had difficulty in understanding social action and sympathizing with its values. At the meso-level, a school culture that encourages the implementation of a curriculum similar to that of colleagues, it was difficult to implement one's own curriculum. And it was difficult to develop expertise without the support and communications with colleagues who revealed the burden of unfamiliar science topics of climate change. In addition, conflicts arose in the process of implementing out-of-school social actions with the principal's passive support. At the macro-level, the insufficient proper material resources for SAO-SSI on climate change topics class, and negative perceptions on the students' social action in the society were acting as constraints. We offer implications for what kind of structural support and efforts from various subjects in the educational community should be provided to implement SAO-SSI on climate change topics class in science education.