• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.30-45
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• 2012

Educational communities around the world have concentrated on integrative efforts among science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: STEM) subjects. Korea has focused on integrative education among STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) school subjects to raise talented human resources in the fields of science and technology. The purpose of this study was to analyze secondary school science, technology, and mathematics teacher's perceptions and needs toward integrated education and integrative STEM education. A total of 251 secondary school teachers from all areas of the country who have taught science, mathematics, and technology were surveyed by using a self-reported instrument. The findings were as follows: First, teachers have used little integrated education in their classes due to insufficient time in the actual preparation of the integrated education and the lack of expertise, teaching experience, and teaching-learning materials for the integrated education, while they have positive thoughts about the need of integrated education. Second, they presented several needs to facilitate the integrated education: development of a variety of integrated programs, school administrative and financial support, and in-service teachers' training. Third, overall perception toward integrated STEM education was not sufficient, but most teachers perceived the need toward integrated STEM education due to students' development in their creativity, thinking skills, and adaptability. Fourth, they perceived that it was imperative to develop the various integrated STEM education programs, distribute the materials, and help STEM teachers' understanding toward integrated STEM education. Fifth, they perceived that the most relevant method to integrate STEM subjects was the problem solving approach. In addition, they appreciate that the integrated STEM education is highly efficient in not only developing integrated problem solving skills and STEM related literacy, but also in positively impacting the rise of talented human resources in the fields of science and technology. In order to increase the awareness of STEM-related secondary school teachers and vitalize the integrated STEM education, it is necessary to develop and spread a variety of programs, effective teaching and learning materials, and teachers' training programs.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-97
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• 2019

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education has been at the forefront of K-12 curricula in the technology-rich 21st century, with emphasis on how these fields reinforce each other in preparing students for a dynamic future. However, there is a need for greater attention to STEM education research in the mathematics education community, in particular to pedagogical approaches that facilitate integrating the mathematics component of STEM education. Toward this end, the authors report the outcomes of a Project-based Learning (PBL) unit in which upper elementary students integrated STEM elements by researching, crafting, testing, and evaluating kites they created by applying scientific knowledge of aerodynamics and mathematical knowledge of polygons, surface area, graphs, and data analysis. This unit, which the authors developed, implemented, and assessed, demonstrates how STEM subjects and in particular mathematics can be effectively integrated in upper elementary school classrooms through PBL.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.125-147
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mathematics-centered STEAM program which was operated in free semester system classes on middle school students' interest in science, technology/engineering, and mathematics(STEM) career and integrated problem solving ability. The study was conducted with 40 first graders in a middle school for 12 weeks using mathematics-centered STEAM program developed for the use of free semester system classes by the support of the Ministry of Education/KOFAC in 2016. According to the results of STEM career interest survey, mathematics-centered STEAM program was effective for improving middle school students' interest in STEM career. And it was also effective in the development of students' integrated problem solving ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2011

Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (STEM) integrated education has been spotlighted as a new approach for promoting students' conceptual understanding and supporting their future career in STEM field. There is increasing evidence of the positive impact of using a whole design process that can be an example of STEM integrated activities to improve students' conceptual understanding and problem solving skills. However, there is a lack of information on how teachers should accomplish science and engineering integration activities in their classroom and what process they should pay attention. To answer this question, we research the relationship between an design process and students' conceptual understanding using an engineering design activity, called 'Save the Penguins', and study on how each step in an engineering design process in this activity enhance students' conceptual knowledge in science. We found that testing their prototypes and discussing with their peers were the most important process for students to understand and apply science concept for their design, even though the whole engineering design process (demonstration about radiation, discussion about examples in our lives, and testing and reviewing their prototypes, and making final design) helps the students understand the scientific concepts.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.81-89
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• 2010

The purpose of this research is to verify the influence of STEM integrate education using educational robots on improvement of the level of attitude towards Mathematics. The following hypothesis was formulated in order to achieve this purpose: There will be a meaningful difference in the level of attitude towards Mathematics between elementary school students educated by STEM integrated education with robots and by the traditional method of teaching Mathematics. To prove this hypothesis, 56 of first grade students were tested under the nonequivalent control group in the pretest-posttest designs. As a result of the study, it is showed that STEM integrated education has a positive effect on promoting the level of elementary school students' attitude towards Mathematics. Therefore, we need the instructional activities which can combine the knowledge gained from a variety of curriculum with activities by using educational robots.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.177-189
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• 2013

According to a comparison study of international academic achievements, Korean students showed high academic achievements in science and mathematics, whereas their learning motivation appeared relatively low. Therefore, this work developed the robot-based STEM integrated education program reflecting an engineering class model. The title of the program is determined as 'animals' which are included in one section of the fourth grade science curriculum, are friendly to students, and are effective for robot application. Robot-based STEM program is consisted of three areas: robot education, subject-related course learning, and engineering education. The STEM program was reviewed by 14 teachers. The study result presented that regardless of knowledge of robot, most teachers gave positive response to program goal, composition of contents, application of robot.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.121-133
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• 2020

This study proposes a lesson design framework to design a science and engineering integrated lesson in a meaningful and easy way based on engineering design, which is the core feature of STEM education. The science and engineering integrated lesson design framework is developed based on the analysis of domestic and foreign theoretical and practical research papers and expert discussion on science and engineering integrated education as well as the feedbacks from science teachers. The science and engineering integrated lesson design framework uses engineering design as the main pedagogical method. The framework includes the core elements of the engineering integrated lesson suggested in previous studies and the achievement level of each grade group suggested in NGSS and provides a way for teachers to easily introduce engineering design into science classes. In addition, the framework developed in this study complements the shortcomings of the complicated Korean STEAM education framework. It can also provide specific guidance to in-service teachers as well as pre-service teachers to easily understand and apply engineering design and problem solving processes to science and engineering integrated lessons.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.45-69
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• 2016

In this study, we investigate integrated educations as an alternative educational method. I look around the developments of the integrated educations from MST education through STEAM education, especially in mathematics education. I analyzed integrated educations such as MST, STS, STEM, STEAM educations and compare them to each other, in mathematics education. And I discuss how to apply STEAM education to Korean mathematics education. I suggest a proper integrated education, in particular, STEAM education, as one that is suitable for Korean mathematics education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2014

Integrative STEM education is an engineering design-based learning approach that purposefully integrates the content and process of STEM disciplines and can extend its concept to integration with other school subjects. This study was part of fundamental research to develop an integrative STEM education program based on the science inquiry process. The specific objectives of this study were to review relevant literature related to STEM education, analyze the key elements and value of STEM education, develop an integrative STEM education model based on the science inquiry process, and suggest an exemplary program. This study conducted a systematic literature review to confirm key elements for integrative STEM education and finally constructed the integrative STEM education model through analyzing key inquiry processes extracted from prior studies. This model turned out to be valid because the average CVR value obtained from expert group was 0.78. The integrative STEM education model based on the science inquiry process consisted of two perspectives of the content and inquiry process. The content can contain science, technology, engineering, and liberal arts/artistic topics that students can learn in a real world context/problem. Also, the inquiry process is a problem-solving process that contains design and construction and is based on the science inquiry. It could integrate the technological/engineering problem solving process and/or mathematical problem solving process. Students can improve their interest in STEM subjects by analyzing real world problems, designing possible solutions, and implementing the best design as well as acquire knowledge, inquiry methods, and skills systematically. In addition, the developed programs could be utilized in schools to enhance students' understanding of STEM disciplines and interest in mathematics and science. The programs could be used as a basis for fostering convergence literacy and cultivating integrated and design-based problem-solving ability.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1072-1086
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• 2012

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in the U.S. has been identified as a significant national reform in K-16 education and curriculum in order to prepare students for the global economy of the 21st century. Korea has been facing very similar challenges to improve science, technology and mathematics education, in particular, the affective aspect of learning science and mathematics. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education has become a crucial issue in Korean education system. The major purpose of this exploratory study is to inform the exemplary framework of STEAM education in the U.S. for Korea and to provide descriptive and analytical accounts on STEAM teaching and learning as an innovative integrated convergence education. This study integrates the outcomes of research papers on STEM education and recent literature. It employs content analysis methodology qualitatively by analyzing and synthesizing the findings, conclusions, discussions, and recommendations of accumulated research works related to STEM/STEAM education. This study will help gain a stronger sense of the STEAM framework and will guide to develop the educational programs for Korea.