• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.401-414
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore the cognitive achievement characteristics by group of achievement levels in the PISA 2018 science domain compared to the results of the PISA 2015, and to compare and analyze the 'epistemic' knowledge in the revised curriculum 2009 and in the revised curriculum 2007. The average correctness rates in PISA 2015 and PISA 2018 were analyzed by sub category of the evaluation frame in the PISA scientific domain. In the competencies domain, especially, the average correct answer rates of 'evaluating and designing scientific inquiry' were the lowest in medium and lower groups, but the rates rose in all achievement groups compared to PISA 2015, which is encouraging. Although the answer rates were low for both 'living system' knowledge and 'epistemic' knowledge in the knowledge domain, the average answer rates of the upper and middle groups increased in 'epistemic' knowledge compared to PISA 2015. The changes in the curriculum experienced by students participating in PISA were analyzed in relation to the 'evaluating and designing scientific inquiry' competency and 'epistemic' knowledge, which increased in average correct answer rates. In terms of understanding science, the "What is science?" unit that explicitly presents epistemic knowledge, and nature of model in inquiry activities, were explicitly presented in the revised curriculum 2009. In terms of understanding the process of justifying scientific knowledge, the number of inquiry activities increased, scientific explanations based on experimental results strengthened, and the "Science and Human Civilization" unit was introduced to help students to understand STS while simultaneously conducting arguments. These findings confirm the educational performance of groups by achievement level in the PISA 2018 scientific domain and suggest that the direction of education relates to epistemic knowledge in Korea's Science curriculum.

• Journal of Science Education
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.165-181
• /
• 2018

This study compares and analyzes the characteristics and effects of various educational contextual variables according to students' achievement level and gender groups based on the results of PISA 2015 science domain. PISA 2015 included additional variables about teaching-learning and affective characteristics in the field of science, because science was the main domain of PISA 2015. The results of the mediation analysis using a multiple group structural equation model showed that the environment and strategy for the teaching and learning had a positive effect on the affective characteristics, and also positively affected science achievement through the mediator of the affective characteristics. Particularly, the environment and strategy for the teaching and learning was the most effective in improving the affective characteristics for the low achievement group. It was found that the difference of the mediated effect between achievement level groups was statistically significant, but that between male and female students was not. Therefore, the appropriate the environment and strategy for the teaching and learning will need to be emphasized consistently to improve students' cognitive and affective achievement. The implications and suggestions of these results were discussed.