• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2006

The study investigates mental models of scientifically gifted, middle school students when it comes to tides. This was done by analyzing facet of conceptual types for two contexts. We carried out two performance tasks of tide with different context. A large number of students showed different conceptual types by context. As a result of analyzing facet of conceptual types by context, there was a slight difference in content-specific facet, but a remarkable one in strategic facet. We classified four mental models about tide by configuring facets of conceptual types: (1) Tide model (2) Force model (3) Phase model (4) Hybrid model. The Tide model is scientifically accepted model, but Force model and Phase model are incorrect models, and Hybrid model is mixed model. In cases of Force model and Phase model, conceptual types concur with each other, but these types of students comprehend tides as a result of joined forces of Moon & Sun and phase change of Moon, respectively. Arranging low mental models in proportional order, Tide model (45.0%), Hybrid model (30.0%), Force model (12.5%), and Phase model (7.5%).

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.567-592
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate effective teaching and learning method for teaching decision-making on Socio-Scientific-Issues(SSI) in science classroom. So we carried out new teaching and learning trial for decision-making about Global Warming issues. Our new trial focused on self-directed and cooperative learning in decision-making about SSI. And our participants were science gifted or science high-achieved students in middle school. We analysed students' written decision-making of the last process in our new trial. We can find our instruction made progress in informed decision-making, structure of argumentation, reflective thinking stage, using the scientific information and understanding of the nature of science. As a result, self-directed and cooperative learning in decision-making on SSI leads students to the meaningful decision-making scientifically.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes of students' modeling ability in terms of 'meta-modeling knowledge' and 'modeling practice' through co-construction of scientific model. Co-construction of scientific model instructions about astronomy were given to 41 middle-school students. The students were given a before and after instruction modeling ability tests. The results show that students' 'meta-modeling knowledge' has changed into a more scientifically advanced thinking about models and modeling after the instruction. Students were able to be aware that 'they could express their thoughts using models', 'many models could be used to explain a single phenomena' and 'scientific models may change' through co-construction modeling process. The change in the 'modeling practice' of the students was divided into four cases (the level improving, the level lowering, the high-level maintaining, the low-level maintaining) depending on the change of pre-posttest levels. The modeling practice level of most students has improved through the instruction. These changes were influenced by co-construction process that provides opportunities to compete and compare their models to other models. Meanwhile, the modeling practice level of few students has lowered or maintained low level. Science score of these students at school was relatively high and they thought that the goal of learning is to get a higher score in exams by finding the correct answer. This means that students who were kept well under traditional instruction may feel harder to adapt to co-construction of scientific model instruction, which focuses more on the process of constructing knowledge based on evidences.