• Journal of Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.99-112
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• 2015

This study aimed at investigating elementary teachers' stages of concerns and its changes about STEAM education. The participants of this study were 90 elementary school teachers implementing STEAM education in their schools. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) was administered after the permission was granted by Hall. Data were collected three times from April, June, and December in the year of implementing the exemplary STEAM school. The results indicated that elementary school teachers' concerns toward STEAM education, the differences of the percentile scores of each stages of concerns, showed slightly low. The SoC of teachers in April showed that Awareness(Stage 0) was relatively very high and Consequences(Stage 4) was very low. However, in December, both Awareness(Stage 0) and Management(Stage 3) were very low. In particular, the percentile scores of Consequence(Stage 4) showed the big difference from 54.7 to 74.3. In addition, teachers who took science track in their high schools showed the relatively low score in the stage of Management(Stage 3). Teachers having the degree of Master of Arts presented the relatively low percentile score in the stage of Management(Stage 3). Teachers who majored in STEM related areas at the university presented the relatively low score in the stage of Management(Stage 3). The findings of this exploratory study may provide the useful insights into the integrative approaches of STEAM education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.521-531
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• 2023

In this study, we analyzed contextualized NOS lessons planned by preservice teachers from the perspectives of PCK. Eight preservice teachers who had completed all of the curriculum at the College of Education located in Seoul participated in the study. CoRe and teaching and learning guidance were collected. Interviews were also conducted. We used analytical induction to analyze the collected data. The analyses of the results revealed that the NOS learning goals selected by the preservice teachers were different depending on the context of the NOS lessons. In addition, the preservice teachers were unable to sufficiently explain the value of learning NOS. All of the preservice teachers were worried that their students would not understand NOS properly, and they faced various difficulties in dealing with NOS and science content. They thought that if their students conducted experiments, errors could cause problems for students learning NOS. Meanwhile, they guessed their students' preconceptions and misconceptions of NOS based on their experience. The preservice teachers also thought that their students' concept of science and cognitive development stage would affect their NOS learning. Although the preservice teachers used various strategies to teach NOS, NOS was often not explicitly addressed. Also, they were reluctant to evaluate NOS in lessons. Based on the above results, educational implications for preservice teacher education were proposed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate teachers' perceptions on MBL (microcomputer-based laboratory) experiment training program for teachers, the expecting effects of MBL experiment and application of MBL experiment after conducting MBL experiment training for science classes in schools. This study showed that most of the teachers who participated in the training program thought that the MBL experiment training program was very useful and instructive. Many teachers considered that MBL experiments using a computer could decrease time spent in the experiment by accurate and fast data collection and analysis. They also thought that the reduced time could be used more effectively in the analysis of experimental data and discussion activities leading to correct concept formation as well as in the development of graphical analysis and science process skills. However, they thought that MBL experiments were ineffective in learning how to operate experiment apparatus. This study also revealed that most teachers intended to apply MBL experiments in real classrooms context right after the training course and they pointed out many obstacles in introducing MBL experiments into their classrooms such as a budget to purchase equipment, poor laboratory conditions, and few MBL experiment training opportunities. In order to apply MBL experiment into the real classrooms, further changes were suggested as follows; development of technologies to reduce unit cost of equipment for MBL experiments, production and supply of many kinds of sensors, development of MBL experiment materials, and expansion of the training program for teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1567-1579
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• 2012

This study carried a survey to investigate teacher's cognition on preference and actuality about science laboratory and class environment targeting 262 science teachers. The results of this study are as follow: First, the actuality cognition of science teachers on science laboratory and class environment was lower than preference (p<.05). Second, there were no differences between preference and actuality regardless of gender (p<.05). However, the cognition on all of subordinates of preference appeared higher in females than males (p<.05). Third, at all levels of schools, preference is higher than actuality for science laboratory and teaching environment (p<.05). In case of preference, all of the subordinates indicated the difference between elementary and high school teachers (p<.05). On the other hand, in actuality there was a difference between elementary and middle school teachers in 'science laboratory facilities condition' domain only (p<.05). Fourth, the preference was higher than actuality in all school locations (p<.05). And in case of preference, there was no difference in all subordinates regardless of school sites. Whereas the cognition of small-medium city teachers was lower than metropolitan in actuality on the three domains of 'science laboratory facilities condition,' 'teaching condition and service support,' and 'staff policy and practice' (p<.05). As a result, this study informs that upgrading is necessary to achieve inquiry activity in science class in overall teaching environment including science classroom and laboratory.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.133-143
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to analyze elementary school teachers' perception on application of STEAM education. For this study, a survey was administered to 80 primary teachers. The result showed as follows: First, even though, elementary school teachers have known about the meaning and aims of the STEAM education in detail, they often took a neutral attitude toward the actual teaching method. In addition, they take a negative attitude toward having the gathering. Second, only a few elementary school teachers prepared and used the teaching materials related to the STEAM education in class and teach students the concept based on the STEAM education. Only a few elementary school teachers said that they used the developed modules. However, the demand, developing the modules, was extremely high. This result means that the easy and available modules should be developed to establish the STEAM education. Third, only a few elementary school teachers applied the subject, activity, and estimation related to the STEAM education in actual class. Forth, even though, after applying, there much be the positive affects, most elementary school teachers could not recognize the positive affects. At the same time, elementary school teachers suggested the curriculum should be reorganized for students to connect between the results of the STEAM education and the contents of the textbook, and the easy and available program should be developed and spread, also. The attitude of elementary school teachers toward the application of the STEAM education was normally negative. Therefore, it is needed to include more STEAM related contents in the science textbooks and to develop various STEAM education materials and circulate them as well as to establish adequate teaching and assessment methods for STEAM education.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.334-345
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to find out inservice teachers' teaching skills and relevant educational settings that could be applied to an instruction of problem-based learning (PBL). Participants have been instructed PBL teacher training programs and applied PBL into teaching and learning process. Three elementary teachers were selected to participate in the study, and data were collected with semi-structured interviews. The interviews of the teachers in relation to PBL were analyzed by two main topics: (1) the teachers' teaching skills required in PBL and (2) the educational settings in implementing PBL. The results are as follows: First, there is a difficulty involved in the implementation of PBL in that its preparation and teaching process are different from the traditional teaching methodology. However, as a helper who guides the students to self-directed learning in the free and permissible learning environment in which students are motivated to develop their potential effectively, the teachers are to invest their time consistently and to put their efforts into making an effective class in the entire process of PBL. Second, as a method to apply the problem-based learning to the education settings, the teachers must spread the awareness of PBL to fellow teachers, students, their parents and the administrators in education and form the community of the teachers. Most importantly, when the teachers apply PBL in the directly, from the joy of witnessing the changes in the students, they will choose to adopt PBL.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.660-670
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• 2003

This study examined the conceptions of high school students, In-service chemistry teachers, and chemistry teachers related to the electrolysis phenomena by questionnaires and follow-up interviews. High school chemistry II textbooks were analyzed for finding the cause of the misconceptions of the teachers and students. From the analysis, it was found that many teachers represented to students the reduction-oxidation reaction and the electrodes of electrolysis are opposite to the reaction of a chemical cell without explanation of the principles. It means that students would learn the electrolysis phenomena by rote. But the teachers thought that it was not necessary to explain the principles to students because the students could not understand. Also, some of the teacher had misconceptions in electrolysis of solution taking no account of water electrolysis. They only considered the reduction-oxidation reactions of the ions already were contained in solution. They did not considered the ions generated by the electrolysis. This tendency is similar to In-service chemistry teachers and high school students. Also, this tendency can be found in chemistry II textbooks.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.691-707
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• 2015

This study aims to develop biology teachers' education program based on argumentation activity about core concepts of evolution and to analyze the characteristics of core concepts of evolution learned during the program. The eight core concepts of evolution in this study were variation, heritability of variation, competition, natural selection, adaptation, differential reproductive rate of individuals, changes in genetic pool within a population, and macroevolution. The performances of teachers participating in the program were compared before and after argumentation activities; consisting of seven sessions on the eight core concepts of evolution. The process of the program was specially designed by learning cycle model for teacher education, consisting of seven phases: identification of the task, production of a tentative argument, small group's written argument, share arguments with the other groups, reflective discussion, final written argument, and organization by an instructor. Participants in the study were two pre-service biology teachers and four in-service biology teachers. The results suggest that biology teachers reduced the teleological explanation for biological evolution and improve its adequacy after the intervention. Teachers lacked the opportunity to discuss variation, heritability of variation, competition, and macroevolution because science textbooks lack information on the concepts of biological evolution. The results of this study suggest that because the argumentation program developed for teachers helps to improve understanding the concepts of evolution and to reduce inadequate conceptions in biology, teacher education programs using argumentation activity and eight core concepts of evolution will play a role for efficient evolution education for biology teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.629-641
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• 2016

Understanding of how teachers change instruction can help predict what kind of educational materials is supportive or appropriate. On the basis of this idea, we explored elementary teachers' PCK progression on specific topics of astronomy: planet size and distance in solar system. To identify the development of PCK over time, we utilized learning progression (LP) as a conceptual framework. The progression of teacher PCK can also be illustrated as the hypothetical pathway from novice to expert like LP. Eight 5th grade elementary teachers participated in this study. We observed participating teachers' astronomy classes with the same topic. In order to document topic-specific PCK of participating teachers, we developed an analytic protocol consisting of four categories: knowledge of curriculum, knowledge of teaching strategies, knowledge of assessment, and astronomical thinking practice. In addition, we monitored the changes in the four participating teachers' PCK for two years in order to validate the evidences of the PCK progression. Participating teachers in this study took some intervention by attending a four-week pre-meeting with the researchers to profile an adaptive instruction. Through this research, we profiled four and five different levels of PCK progressions in three knowledge components (curriculum, teaching strategies, student assessment) and one astronomical thinking practice (systems thinking), respectively. Participating teachers demonstrated various levels and pathways in each component of PCK. This study released the empirical evidences in fostering instructional scaffolding, which is appropriate to the level of PCK of science teachers on specific topic.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.360-376
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• 2001

This qualitative research investigated in-service science teachers' perceptions about cooperative learning and their perceived barriers in implementing cooperative learning in their classrooms. The underlying premise for cooperative learning is founded in constructivist epistemology. Cooperative learning (CL) is presented as an alternative frame to the current educational system which emphasizes content memorization and individual student performance through competition. An in-depth interview was conducted with 18 in-service science teachers who enrolled in the first-class teacher certification program during 2001 summer vacation. These secondary school teachers's interview data were analyzed and categorized into three areas: teachers' definition of cooperative learning, issues with implementing cooperative learning in classrooms, and teachers' and students' responses towards cooperative learning. Each of these areas are further subdivided into 10 themes: teachers' perceived meaning of cooperative learning, the importance of talk in learning, when to use cooperative learning, how to end a cooperative class, how to group students for cooperative learning, obstacles to implementing cooperative learning, students' reactions to cooperative learning, teachers' reasons for choosing (not choosing) student-centered approaches to learning/teaching, characteristics of teachers who use cooperative learning methods, and teachers' reasons for resisting cooperative learning. Detailed descriptions of the teachers' responses and discussion on each category are provided. For the development and implementation of CL in more classrooms, there should be changes and supports in the following five areas: (1) teachers have to examine their pedagogical beliefs toward constructivist perspectives, (2) teacher (re)education programs have to provide teachers with cooperative learning opportunities in methods courses, (3) students' understanding of their changed roles (4) supports in light of curriculum materials and instructional resources, (5) supports in terms of facilities and administrators. It's important to remember that cooperative learning is not a panacea for all instructional problems. It's only one way of teaching and learning, useful for specific kinds of teaching goals and especially relevant for classrooms with a wide mix of student academic skills. Suggestions for further research are also provided.