• Journal of Science Education
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.354-368
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore the direction of application and quality management plan of science curriculum of elementary and middle school according to the 2009 revised curriculum. In order to do this, nationwide survey was administered. The subject was 126 elementary school teachers and 88 middle school science teachers. It was founded that teachers had negative opinion on the introduction of the grade cluster system. They considered that it was appropriate to link the contents of Science subject with Practical Arts(Technology Home Economics) subject by similar topic. Science classes were implemented without changing the number of class hours in most schools. They recognized the necessity of differentiated instruction in science classes, but they seldom applied the differentiated instruction. And they suggested that the teaching-learning materials, evaluation materials and contents be provided to apply the STEAM. This study designates the following strategic supports for the effective implementation of 2009 revised science curriculum; 1) the science teachers training program to provide useful information for understanding and teaching the 2009 revised science curriculum, 2) the teachers' community in the school, 3) the development and provision of the feasible STEAM plans.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 1998

The main purpose of Iowa Chautauqua Program(ICP) and Iowa-Scope, Sequence. and Coordination (Iowa-SS&C) was to educate K-12 science teachers so that they could teach science in a human context using the constructivist strategies. The major task for the participating teachers to perform was to develop modules with the emphasis on STS and constructivist approach. which were supposed to be taught in the respective classrooms. Teachers worked together for two weeks for the development of modules during the summer, and attempted the modules with their students. The participating teachers met regularly during the autumn semester to share and reflect their experiences and obtain additional information on science education reform and its implications. During the winter break. the teachers improved and extended the STS modules. The Iowa Chautauqua Program and Iowa-SS&C had two important implications for Korean science education. First, they made the most of the resources they had in order to provide the practicing teachers with recent research findings on the nature of science. science learning and teaching, that is. the constructivist approach. Second, they emphasized both cooperation of teachers and long-term training to realize the reform in school science education.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.44-64
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• 2022

This study explored the elementary school teachers' experiences while teaching students with low achievement in science based on the grounded theory. In-depth interviews and analysis were conducted on 13 teachers with experiences in teaching students with low achievement in science within the last three years and more than five years of field experience until the theoretical saturation of data on the teaching experiences for students with low achievement in science. The analysis results were as follows. First, the teaching experiences of elementary school teachers for underachievers in science were classified into 119 concepts, 41 subcategories, and 17 categories. Based on the paradigm model, the categories were structured and presented as causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, action/interaction strategies and consequences based on the central phenomenon of 'difficulty in teaching students with low achievement in science'. Second, the core category of elementary school teachers' teaching underachievers in science was assumed to be 'overcoming difficulties and teaching underachievers in science'. And according to the properties and dimensions of the core category, teachers who teaching students with low achievement in science were divided into four types: 'compromising-', 'overcoming-', 'accepting-', and 'conflicting-reality type'. Third, a conditional matrix was presented to summarize and integrate the results of this study by classifying the teaching experience of elementary school teachers for underachievers in science into educational providers and educational demanders. On the basis of these findings, educational implications for teaching students with low achievement in science were discussed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.463-471
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the association between psychosocial work environment and depressive symptoms among Korean teachers. Methods: Data on 235 elementary school teachers and 341 middle and high school teachers was obtained from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey. The effect of psychosocial work environment on depressive symptoms was determined by multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18 % in elementary school teachers and 24 % in middle and high school teachers. When adjusted for demographics and other socio-psychological and environmental factors, 'social community at work' served as a protection factor for Korean teachers' depressive symptoms. In addition, 'cognitive demands' in elementary school teachers and 'social support from supervisors' in middle and high school teachers were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Interventions to increase 'social community at work' and 'social support from supervisors', and to decrease 'cognitive demands' may be helpful for Korean teachers at risk of depression.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.157-169
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• 2010

Scientific observation has been recognized as one of the fundamental aspects in scientific inquiry. However, more detailed discussions and practical guides for teachers' and students' understanding about the nature of scientific observation have not been conducted. Therefore, based on literature reviews, we described the nature of theory-laden scientific observation as 11 detailed statements. Using theses statements, we investigated science teachers' and students' recognition of each statement. According to results, certain aspects of theory-laden scientific observation were determined as important aspects to be considered for science teachers' in-service programs or for students' learning activities in understanding the nature of science.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.374-384
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• 2023

This study investigated the impact on pre-service teachers during the development of an integrated science education program, emphasizing group intelligence, values, and software application in response to societal demands. The results revealed several key findings. Firstly, the development of an integrated science education program utilizing group intelligence enhanced the learning motivation of pre-service teachers, particularly demonstrating improvements during the implementation phase. Secondly, the group intelligence-based development of the integrated science education program cultivated the group intelligence competence of pre-service teachers, manifesting positive effects throughout the entire process of program development, demonstration, and feedback. Thirdly, it was evident that the integration of software and individual values into science curriculum requires specialized support.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1044-1070
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• 2002

Initial science teacher education in Hong Kong is provided by the Post-graduate Diploma in Education Programme (PGDE) for both pre-service and in-service secondary school teachers. This programme includes a balanced treatment of subject curriculum and teaching in science, general pedagogical knowledge and skills, educational psychology and school administration. The science courses in this programme also have some units that equip science teachers with the knowledge and skills that are essential for teaching a science curriculum that emphasises conceptual change and understanding of the nature and methods of science. This emphasis is illustrated by two studies: (1) Developing a conceptual change model of instruction in Biology teachers, and (2) Constructing understanding of the nature and methods of science.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.96-106
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to identify the actual conditions of operation in school and investigate the perceptions of science teachers and students regarding the 7th elective-centered curriculum of high school science subjects. For this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted for the selected subjects including 127 high school science teachers and 763 high school students in their third year who had experienced the 7th elective-centered curriculum. As a result of the study, concerning the way to present the elective subjects of science, many cases were the alternative way and the group-elective way in humanity courses while natural science courses had the alternative way and the free-elective way in most cases. In other words, in many cases, the right of elective was given within a limited range. The result of the investigation on science teachers' perceptions on the elective-centered curriculum was that negative views dominated as a whole. Especially, earth science teachers showed the most negative attitudes. The number of biology and chemistry teachers who supported students' right to opt subjects were lower than that of physics teachers and earth science teachers who were against it. To help students make a right choice, many viewed that the system of the college Scholastic Ability Test should be complemented in order to prevent any disadvantage to each elective subject or that it was necessary to have systematic and realistic career education. As the result of investigating the perception of high school students in their third year regarding the elective-centered curriculum, they were usually not very satisfied with it. As the reason for it, many said the selection right was limited. Many others also expressed that there were lack of public relations and education on subjects and careers. Based on these results, limits still exist in accepting all demands although there are a lot of efforts made to smoothly adjust supply and demand of science teachers as well as students' electives in the field of school. It is considered necessary to come up with counterplan and complements to prevent basic science from being neglected or lower academic achievement in the subject of science from happening, and at the same time to harmoniously deal with supply and demand of science teachers as well as the issues of students' demands given the actual conditions of school.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate pre-service science teachers' motivation factor and satisfaction of teaching choice in Korea. For this purpose, we surveyed 815 pre-service science teachers in 11 universities in Korea. The questionnaire used in this study was the FIT-Choice scale (Factors Influencing Teaching-Choice) developed by Richardson and Watt (2006). The most significant factor in choosing teaching science as a profession was 'intrinsic value,' followed by 'social utility value,' but lower than the average of other countries in the previous research results. The confidence in teaching professions was low because the percentage of respondents about 'ability' was low and 'task demand' was high. Satisfaction with teaching choice was 5.36, and it is lower than the average of responses in Australia and USA. As for the differences according to gender, male pre-service teachers responded that they chose teaching because they have the proper ability to teach, while female pre-service teachers perceived that the influence of others was greater. Also, female pre-service teachers felt the burden of job such as hard work and emotional demands more than men. Finally, the motivation which showed the highest correlation with the satisfaction of choosing to teach was the intrinsic value. Therefore, finding ways to increase the intrinsic/social utility motivation for pre-service science teachers and differentiated approach considering gender differences are needed.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

This study aims to find out the effect of pre-service elementary teachers' experiences of inquiry performance in the life on their images about a scientist and science teaching anxiety. Thus, this study selected 162 college juniors who completed 'Science Teaching Material Research & Teaching Methods' for one semester at a university of education. Groups of 3 to 4 pre-service teachers were made to select one of the 10 experimental topics and inquired it for themselves, and make a presentation about the results before the other pre-service teachers. The results of this study can be summarized as below. Firstly, as a result of investigating pre-service elementary teachers' opinions about the characteristics of scientists, it was found that they thought of scientists prudent, intellectually superior, creative, and hard-working, but did not consider them artistic or religious, no matter if they had inquiry performance experiences. Especially, to such characteristics as intellectually-superior, creative, open-minded, outgoing and responsible, they showed more positive responses after inquiry performances. Besides, in scientists' activity types shown in pre-service elementary teachers' drawing pictures of a scientist, 'Experimental Activity' increased most after their inquiry performances, and in the place of activity, 'Laboratory' was most since it was related to activity types. Secondly, as a result of examining per-service elementary teachers' science teaching anxiety before and after inquiry performances, it was found that they showed statistically significant differences in all the domains, scientific knowledge, inquiry class preparation and inquiry class management. This finding could be interpreted as their inquiry experiences had positive effect on their having confidence in teaching science.