• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to survey secondary school science teachers' teaching styles and to recognize students' science anxiety about science teachers' different teaching styles. One hundred seventy-four science teachers and 2,122 students participated. The teaching style questionnaire and the science anxiety measurement scale (SAMS) with teaching style were administered to teachers and students, respectively. Teaching styles were analyzed in terms of teacher's individual variables, such as gender and school level. The science anxiety related to each teaching style was analyzed and compared in terms of students' gender and school level. The results were as follows. First, the secondary school science teachers were classified into four types based on their teaching styles: expert, provider, facilitator and enabler. Most teachers fell under the expert style category and the least under enabler style. This indicated that numerous science teachers in secondary school employ a teacher-directed style rather than a student-centered style in class. Second, students felt the highest science anxiety with experts and the lowest science anxiety with enablers. The students' science anxiety showed statistically significant differences with different teaching styles (p<.05). Even though female students felt higher science anxiety than male students towards all four teaching styles, no statistically significant gender differences were found. Middle school students were more influenced by teaching style than high school students. Some suggestions were made for teachers to reduce students' science anxiety in classes based on results.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1110-1120
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of gender differences in students' mathematics and science learning ability. The sample included 289 elementary and secondary school gifted teachers. The teachers filled out the survey, asking their perceptions of gender differences in mathematics and science learning ability, as well as of the reasons of the differences. The results were as follows: 1) 65% of the teachers responded that gender differences existed in students' mathematics and science learning ability, 2) 63% of the teachers perceived that the differences began around higher elementary or middle school ages, 3) 57% of the teachers thought that gender differences existed in the high-achieving student group. Teachers perceived the reasons of differences were 1) differences in inborn ability, 2) the different expectation, and 3) the different ways of parental cares. Since teachers' perceptions of students' ability would impact teachers' attitudes on students, implications and suggestions were included in this article to provide teachers insights that promote students' better learning.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.611-625
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to investigate the characteristics of beginning science teachers' subject matter knowledge (SMK) as revealed in their classroom teaching methods. In this research, we explored six beginning teachers' classroom teaching episodes on the 'work and energy' unit. Using open-ended interviews with the teachers and group discussions taking place on a regular basis to analyze and compare the classes of six beginning teachers, we extracted the features of beginning science teachers' SMK. Using grounded theory methods, the characteristics of beginning science teachers' SMK drawn from this research are: (1) beginning teachers' positivistic epistemology on science, (2) claiming the teacher's authority based on rich subject content knowledge, and (3) beginning teachers' science elitism. These epistemological characteristics are realized such PCK as (1) representational errors caused by the teacher's own science misconception, (2) doing harm to students with too much content knowledge, (3) sporadic content presentation lacking a focus, and (4) surplus class hours with lack of effective science teaching explanations. Suggestions for alternative perspectives on science SMK are presented by experienced teachers. In conclusion, science teachers' SMK is necessary, but not sufficient, for effective teaching. Science teachers' SMK does have an effect on science teaching, mediated by other types of teacher knowledge. The beginning teachers need a systematic support to transform their SMK into a viable PCK.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1378-1389
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• 2012

Environmental education is usually taught across the curriculum in most of the countries. This teaching approach has been a challenge for teachers to implement it especially in the Malaysian curriculum context. Thus, science teachers require effectual Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Environmental Education (PCK-EE). The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of teaching option and teaching experience on science teachers' PCK-EE. Five components of PCK-EE were investigated in this study, which were: a) knowledge of curriculum, b) knowledge of content, c) knowledge of student, d) knowledge of teaching strategies, and e) knowledge of evaluation. 347 secondary science teachers from the state of Selangor have participated in this survey study. The questionnaire used had 60 items. The findings revealed teaching option has a significant influence on science teachers' knowledge of content (p=0.000); knowledge of student (p=0.000) and knowledge of teaching strategies (p=0.016). In the case of teaching experience, it was found that there is a low correlation on knowledge of content (r=0.174) and knowledge of evaluation (r=0.170) only. Implication of this study leads to the suggestion in enhancing teachers' service training to improve their PCK-EE and subsequently their ability in teaching environmental education across curriculum.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to get an implication on teacher education program, by exploring the difficulties pre-service elementary teachers have with their science lessons. 37 pre-service teachers were requested to write an anecdote about their science lessons during their 4 week practicum. By analyzing these anecdotes, the difficulties were grouped into several categories by the researcher, and then reconfirmed by the pre-service teachers themselves. The result showed that there were far more difficulties with practical work (cases: 48), than with content knowledge teaching (cases: 17). Among practical work related difficulties, the most frequent cases were: 1) when they have unexpected result different from scientific theory (cases: 10), 2) when they teach process skill and usage of lab equipments (cases: 8), and 3) when they do not have enough preparation for practical work (cases: 7). Unlike the result of preceding research on secondary pre-service teachers, there was no affective aspect problems. These difficulties also can be divided into 'problems' and 'dilemmas'. Whereas 'problems' can be settled by removing obstacles, 'dilemmas', a conflict-filled situation, require choices between competing values or aims. The use of scientific language, the decision on the level and amount of knowledge they teach, and disposal of unexpected experiment results caused such dilemmas in science lessons. The research results imply practical work should be more strengthened in the elementary teacher education program. And both teacher educators and pre-service teachers need to understand that practical teaching is a complex enterprise accompanying some 'dilemmas'. The role of science teachers as managers of dilemmas could be considered.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.361-373
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• 2001

This study identified significant variables that influence the science teaching self-efficacy beliefs of Kindergarten teachers. Data was obtained from 317 kindergarten teachers who responded to the questionnaire, the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (Riggs & Enochs). Results indicated that science teaching experience, teachers' attitudes about science and teaching science, and children's interest in science influenced science teaching self-efficacy. Science related experiences of childhood and schooling negatively affected science teaching outcome expectancy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.355-366
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the elementary school pre-service teachers' and in-service teachers' and STEAM leader school teachers' difficulties and requirements in the relation to STEAM Education. For this study, 49 pre-service teachers, 57 in-service teachers, 16 leader school teachers in G Area were selected. And they conducted the survey. The results of this study were as follows. First, in order to minimize elementary teachers' physical burden actually, it is necessary to distribute STEAM teaching materials including various and specific programs to the schools in the booklet. Second, for the fast and effective spreading of STEAM, it also should be permitted the pre-service teachers to access STEAM homepage, which is limited to teachers. Third, we should make circumstance to research on STEAM through collaboration with colleagues freely. Therefore, we should give intensive training and consulting opportunities to science teacher. Because they who is getting stronger in this field to do this can furnish other colleagues to teaching tips and information in the relation to STEAM education. By all this fulfillment simultaneously, STEAM will be settlement in elementary school in the short period.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.691-697
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• 2007

This study investigates how well pre-teachers in preschools aware the importance of science teaching methods, goals and efficacy, and how different the pre-teachers recognize the importance of methods and goals in science teaching according to the levels of their science teaching efficacy. The subjects were 207 pre-service preschool teachers in Chonnam University and Chonbuk University. The data were collected by using three questionnaires("Science teaching efficacy", "Science teaching goal" and "Science teaching method"). The data were analyzed by a t-test and descriptive statistic. The results are as follows: first, the efficacy levels of the pre-teachers are higher than the average. The pre-teachers perceive a 'process-oriented' goal more importantly than a 'content-oriented' goal in early science education. Also, they recognize science teaching methods as being significant in the order of an 'interactive' approach, an 'activity-discovery' approach and a 'knowledge-transmission' approach. Second, the pre-teachers with high teaching efficacy recognize a 'process-oriented' goal as being more important than those with low teaching efficacy do.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.240-249
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• 2011

The purposes of this study is to compare the beliefs in the nature of science, science teaching and learning of the elementary teachers in charge of the gifted and the general teachers. For this study, a survey on beliefs of the nature of science, science teaching and learning was conducted to 88 elementary teachers for the gifted and 90 elementary general teachers. Data was analyzed by their academic career and major. The results of this study were as follows: There were no significant differences in beliefs in the nature of science and science teaching between the elementary science teachers in charge of the gifted and the general elementary teachers, but the former has a more constructivism in science learning than the latter. In the some sub-domains of the beliefs of the nature of science, science teaching and learning, there were statistically significant differences according to their academic career and major. Implications from findings of this study were suggested, such as recruiting and in-service training system for teachers in charge of the gifted.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.58-71
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• 2015

Ability of understanding students' ideas and thinking is critical to teachers' professional growth. In this study, 'pedagogical reasoning' was conceptualized as teachers' reasoning ability of students' misconceptions and possible causes of misconceptions when they hear and observe students' science discourses. To investigate elementary pre-service teachers' pedagogical reasoning levels, children's science discourses on light reflection and electric circuit were video recorded and 43 pre-service elementary teachers were asked to identify children's misconceptions and possible causes of misconceptions after watching the video clips. In conclusion, pedagogical reasoning levels of pre-service elementary teachers were not high enough, showing significant difference in light reflection and electric circuit. Possible explanations of this difference and educational implications were discussed.