• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 1989

In 1987 Ministry of Education published the 5th-revised version of curriculm, the main goal of which is to improve science and culture as well as to educate the students who are able to actively adapt to the 21st century's society. Howerver, the revised curriculum neglects the problems associated with the nature of and localized characteristics of science education. Therefore this research had its main objective to survey and analyze the status of science education of secondary schools in Kangwon Province and, based on the results, to develop the teaching/learning materials appropriate for science education in this province. This research is 3d-Year project and this paper is about its first year research results. The first year's main objective is to investigate and analyze the status of middle school science education, focusing on the curricular operation, science teachers, and lavoratory facilities and instruments. This research used the survey methods. The questionaires were sent to all the middle schools the number of which is 163, and 162 schools of which returned the survey questionaires. Based on the analyses of the data following conclusions were drawn. The average class size is 48.8 students. Almost all of the middle schools alocate the science class hours per week of 4,3,4 hours to first, second, third grade, respectively. However, the greater part of science teachers want 5,4,5 hours of science classes a week. Total number of science teachers exeeds the number actually needed, implicating that many science teachers are teaching non-major subjects. The lavoratory facilities and instruments are not sufficiently provided for lavoratory-based science education. Along with these conclusinons suggestions for better science educations are recommanded. Among the suggestions two are highly emphasized.They are: to increase science class hours; to use field lavoratory substituting for school lavoratory.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.162-172
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of science learning motivation and science self-efficacy on the science learning flow of preservice elementary teachers. The study recruited 77 preservice elementary teachers during their sophomore year from the B university of education. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient, and multiple regression were used for data analysis. The results were as follows: science learning motivation and science self-efficacy exerted a significant positive correlation with and a statistically significant effect on science learning flow. Satisfaction was the main influential subelement of science learning motivation. For science self-efficacy, the main influential subelements were emotional stability and language encouragement. Moreover, it was deduced that self-efficacy exerted a greater effect on science learning flow than science learning motivation.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the difference in the affective characteristics between science-gifted students and general students through the positive experiences about science (PES) index. We also explored ways to apply the characteristics of gifted classes suggeseted by the teachers of this study, which had a positive effect on science-gifted students, to general science classes. For this study, a PES survey was carried on middle school science-gifted students enrolled in the gifted education center in the central region and general middle school students in the same area who had no experience in gifted education. Based on the survey result, we conducted in-depth interviews with teachers, having teaching experience with both science-gifted and general students. The results revealed that science-gifted students showed a significantly higher PES index than general students in all five areas of PES. The area with the largest difference between the two groups was science-related self-concept and the smallest was science academic emotion. Teachers suggested ways to apply the characteristics of science-gifted classes to general science classes, such as organizing general science classes around inquiry activities, supporting class materials such as MBL or tablets, reconstructing the classes using materials reflecting students' needs, and changing the textbook content and narrative style, to induce students' interest and curiosity. Based on the study results, ways to enhance the PES through science classes for general students were proposed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.829-840
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• 2015

In this study, we analyzed the teaching practices of science teachers using smart technologies and investigated their difficulties in implementing smart education and their educational needs. We also studied their opinions on the application of smart technologies in science education. The participants were seven science teachers who participated in the smart education study group of a science teacher association in Seoul. We elaborated on the characteristics of smart education in science education during comprehensive analyses of instructional materials used in science classes and the initial interviews. We then analyzed the second interviews by categorizing their responses inductively. All the science teachers used the 'instant access as needed', but their interactions, simply answering students' questions, were found to be at a low level. They did not effectively use the 'collaborative interaction with SNS or wiki-based service' for the support for interactive learning. While most collected learning results of their students and provided feedback in the aspect of 'individualization according to leaner level', they were not aware of 'context, situation, and location of learners' in smart education. While all the teachers extended learning opportunities by using learning resources widely in smart education, most were not aware of 'support for self-directed learning'. Most teachers believed that smart education should be developed to help students learn interactively and in a self-directed manner. They also provided many opinions on teacher training programs and environmental support for smart education. Based on the results, some considerations for implementing smart education in science instructions effectively are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.299-309
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to categorize specific factors and characteristics of positive science experience by qualitatively analyzing the positive science experience cases in the memories of pre-service elementary school teachers. For this purpose, 101 essays written by pre-service teachers on the theme of 'my enjoyable science class experience' were analyzed. The collected data were analyzed using an inductive analysis method, and as a result, the characteristics of positive science experience cases in the memories of pre-service teachers were categorized into 4 categories and 12 topic groups. Specifically, 'experience of exploratory activities using special materials', such as long-term raising and observation of animals and plants, experiments using edible materials, and using special experimental tools had a positive effect on scientific experience. In addition, 'experience of activities emphasizing scientific inquiry' such as emphasizing observation activities, experiments accompanied by clear experimental results, making activities, and using various materials also had a positive effect on science experience. In addition, 'student-centered activity experience' such as strengthening student autonomy, emphasizing collaboration between students, and performing science activities outside of the curriculum also had a positive influence on the science experience. Lastly, 'positive influence of teachers', such as teachers' encouragement and enthusiasm, helped to positively recognize science.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.762-776
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to determined the conceptual structure used by earth science teachers to classify metamorphic rocks as well as the criteria applied in the process of classifying metamorphic rocks. To this end, the researchers collected verbal data uttered in the process of classifying metamorphic rock using think-aloud from 21 earth science teachers in middle and high schools in Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea. The collected verbal data were analyzed using the semantic network analysis method, and the following results were obtained. First, in the process of classifying metamorphic rocks, earth science teachers classified them based on characteristics such as color, compositional minerals, and particle size, which can be generally observed in rocks, and foliation that appears in metamorphic rocks. Second, earth science teachers recognize the classification criteria for metamorphic rocks and focus on metamorphism such as contact metamorphism or regional metamorphism. However, there were cases where rocks were mistakenly classified through incorrect identification. Therefore, it is necessary to provide sufficient observational information about, and experience of, metamorphic rocks to enable earth science teachers to recognize and relate to the scientific process of identifying metamorphic rocks through the phenomena observed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.514-525
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• 2005

The most important factor in providing education to gifted students as well as to students in general are the teachers themselves. However, at present in Korea, most of the teachers in charge of education for the gifted are educated by in-service training programs only for a short period of time. It is doubtful whether the teachers, who have taught ordinary students in general, can teach gifted students effectively only after completing such a short course. This research investigated the relationship between the teachers' beliefs about educating the gifted and the teachers' classroom practices in a Science Academy through case studies. The guiding questions for this study are as follows: First, what beliefs do the participating teachers have about education for the gifted? Second, how are the participants' beliefs reflected in their classroom practices? Of the five participants, two are physics teachers, two are biology teachers, and one is an earth science teacher. I observed and videotaped four classroom practices for each participant and conducted an in-depth interview with each participant. Further data were collected through e-mails with the participants. All data were carefully transcribed and analyzed. The results are as follows: Beliefs about education for the gifted do not exist independently, and form a belief system connecting with beliefs about teaching and learning, and subject matter. And the belief systems of participants can be divided into "student-centered," "teacher-centered," and "conflict chaos." In the classes of the participants who have "student-centered" belief system, students' questions or opinions played an important role and the participation structure in the classroom was determined by the students. On the contrary, participants who have "teacher-centered" belief system focused on teaching contents as much as possible in their classes. These teachers played a heavy role and formed a participation structure where students depended on their teacher's intellectual authority and therefore participated in their class passively. A participant who have "conflict chaos" belief did not form a firm belief system yet, and traditional beliefs about teaching and learning were reflected a lot in her classes. The research results imply teachers' beliefs play an important role in classroom practices and beliefs about teaching and learning and subject matter as well as beliefs about education for the gifted are important factors for teachers who guide gifted students. Additionally, I make some suggestions for the improvement of teacher education for the gifted.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.461-470
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perception about 'Science Field Trip(SFT) to Korean historical sites'. Ninety-seven teachers were asked to reply the questionnaire about SFT to Korean historical sites. This questionnaire was divided into three parts: educational value, teaching method, and difficulty of management. Firstly, teachers indicated that SFT to Korean historical sites had much educational value in that it could give students chances to understand Korean culture, to acquire investigative process skills, to experience divergent investigation and cooperative learning, to raise integrated thinking skill concerning science and other subjects, and to learn contents related with science curriculum. It also had advantages of caring for students out of school and giving the information for future occupation. Secondly, teachers suggested the desirable teaching method: teachers' explanation about SFT to Korean historical sites with worksheets before it, students' group work during it, and the presentation and discussion after it. Finally, the most frequent answer in the difficulty of management was the lack of teaching materialsfor SFT to Korean historical sites.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.451-465
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges of pre-service teachers for good science teaching with focus on the process of imparting meaning of teaching subject. We have detailed research questions such as, 'What the pre-service teachers thought about teaching subject? How they grasped the meaning of the teaching subject? and What kinds of methods they have used to expose the meaning in their classes?'. We had four pre-service teachers who took the class 'Teaching methods in physics teaching' as voluntary participants in the first semester of 2017. The results show that there are common features in the process of imparting meaning of the teaching subject. The participants started to think about fundamental/existential answer to the question, 'Why should we teach science to students?'. In addition, they grasped the meaning of the teaching subject by using the specific key words. And they tried to link the teaching components with the teaching subject as the center. This challenging process led pre-service teachers to form teachers' identity and to enhance teacher professionalism.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.344-364
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• 2021

The study explored how two elementary school teachers perceived computational thinking, reflected them into curriculum revision, and taught them in the classroom during longitudinal professional developed program (PDP) for nine months. Computational thinking is a new direction in educational policy-making including science education; therefore we planned to investigate participating teachers' perception of computational thinking to provide their fundamental understandings. Nine meetings, lasting about two hours each, were held with the participating teachers and they developed 11 lesson plans for one unit each, as they formed new understandings about computational thinking. Data were collected through PDP program while two teachers started perceiving computational thinking, revising their curriculum, and implementing it into their class for nine months. The results were as follows; first, elementary school teachers' perception of computational thinking was that the definition of scientific literacy as the purpose of science education was extended, i.e., it refers to scientific literacy to prepare students to be creative problem solvers. Second, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) lessons were divided into two stages; concept formation stage where scientific thinking is emphasized, and concept application, where computational thinking is emphasized. Thirdly, computational thinking is a cognitive thinking process, and ICT (informational and communications technology) is a functional tool. Fourth, computational thinking components appear repeatedly and may not be sequential. Finally, STEAM education can be improved by utilizing computational thinking. Based on this study, we imply that STEAM education can be activated by computational thinking when teachers are equipped with competencies of understanding and implementing computational thinking within the systematic PDPs, which is very essential for newly policies.