• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-193
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• 2016

We examined the inquiry activities in the material domain of the elementary science textbooks and experimental workbooks based on 2009 revised curriculum. The analysis framework was SEP (Science and Engineering Practices) - 'Asking questions and defining problems', 'developing and using models', 'planning and carrying out investigations', 'analyzing and interpreting data', 'using mathematics and computational thinking', 'constructing explanations and designing solutions', 'engaging in argument from evidence', and 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information'. Sub-SEP of each grade band were also used. The results showed that the $3^{rd}{\sim}5^{th}$ grade science textbooks and workbooks mainly emphasized 'make observations and/or measurements', 'represent data in tables and/or various graphical displays', or 'use evidence to construct or support an explanation or design a solution to a problem' among around 40 sub-SEP. In the case of the inquiry activities for $6^{th}$ grade, majority of sub-SEP included were also only 'collect data to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions or test design solutions', 'analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena' or 'construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources'. The type of 'asking questions and defining problems', 'using mathematics and computational thinking' or 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information' were little found out of 8 SEP. Educational implications were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2016

The cultivation of scientific literacy in recent science education can be improved by experiencing and understanding scientific inquiry by which scientific knowledge is formed. The National Research Council(NRC) released the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) including 8 practices of science that help students experience scientists' inquiry and subdividing achievement standards to perform 8 practices of science into by grade clusters. This study was intended to examine science inquiry activities included in 4 high school chemistry II textbooks developed by the 2009 revised curriculum using the 8 scientific practices and their achievement standards for 9th-12th grade. The science inquiry activities and the science practices included in the 4 textbooks were 173 and 678. The science practices included in the inquiry activities of 4 textbooks included the most ‘analyzing and interpreting data.’ The ‘engaging in argument from evidence’, ‘Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information’ were less than other practices. The ‘asking questions and defining problem’ and ‘developing and using models’ were not nearly included in the 4 high school chemistry II textbooks.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine how online knowledge-based search service is being used by students in science education. Reviewing information and summarizing data are important parts in scientific inquiry. As more and more information is available online, how to review and summarize online information for scientific inquiry also becomes an issue. In this study, we examined one of the popular online knowledge-based search services to see what kinds of information in secondary school chemistry are mostly sought and how reliable those information could be. The result indicated that users mostly seek scientific explanations and problem solving but about 30% of provided information appeared to be incorrect. It implicates that it is necessary to pay attention for teaching students how to obtain, evaluate, and communicate online information in science education to enhance students' ability for scientific inquiry.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.417-428
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• 2022

This study analyzed the frequency and level of scientific practices presented in secondary science textbooks. A total of 1,378 student activities presented in 14 middle school science textbooks and 5 high school integrated science textbooks were analyzed, using the definition and level of scientific practice suggested in the NGSS. Findings show that most student activities focus on three practices. Compared to the textbooks for the previous science curriculum, the practice of 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information' was more emphasized, reflecting societal changes due to ICT development. However, the practice of 'asking a question', which can be an important element of student-led science learning, was still rarely found in textbooks, and 'developing and using models', 'using math and computational thinking' and 'arguing based on evidence' were not addressed much. The practices were mostly elementary school level except for the practice of 'constructing explanations'. Such repeated exposures to a few and low level of practices mean that many future citizens would be led to a naïve understanding of science. The findings imply that it is necessary to emphasize various practices tailored to the level of students. In the upcoming revision of the science curriculum, it is necessary to provide the definition of practices that are not currently specified and the expected level of each practice so that the curriculum can provide sufficient guidance for textbook writing. These efforts should be supported by benchmarking of overseas science curriculum and research that explore students' ability and teachers' understanding of scientific practices.