• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.228-242
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop a student-led instructional strategy that is central to the teaching-learning process and to investigate its effects. For this study, we analyzed the learner-centered learning types (discovery learning, problem-based learning, inquiry learning) and extracted elements applicable to newly developed teaching-learning. Based on this, a student-led class strategy was established using pre-learning, teacher collaboration, small group composition, and limited open data and product presentation, and then science classes were conducted. As a result of the post-tests of the five science core competencies of the experimental group using the student-led instructional strategy and the comparative group conducting lecture-based classes, the experimental group showed higher scores than the comparative group in the scientific thinking, scientific communication, and scientific attitudes (p<.05). Based on these results, it was confirmed that the student-led class, in which the student self-adjusts the entire process of designing, exploring, and presenting learning, can help the student's scientific ability. In addition, I would like to discuss the implications of teachers' teaching-learning composition.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.63 no.6
• /
• pp.486-504
• /
• 2019

This study analyzed achievement standards in the 2015 Science Education Standards as well as activities and assessment items in the Integrated Science, Chemistry I, and Chemistry II textbooks using science core competencies and subcomponents. All five scientific core competencies, in order of scientific thinking capacity, scientific inquiry capacity, scientific communication capacity, scientific problem solving capacity, and scientific participation and lifelong learning capacity, were included in the achievement standards of Integrated Science. Scientific thinking capacity, scientific inquiry capacity, and scientific communication capacity were included in the achievement standards of Chemistry I. The achievement standards of Chemistry II only included scientific thinking capacity. All five scientific core competencies were involved in activities of Integrated Science, Chemistry I, and Chemistry II textbooks and the highest propotion was scientific thinking capacity and scientific inquiry capacity. All five scientific core competencies were involved in assessment items of Integrated Science, Chemistry I, and Chemistry II textbooks and the highest proportion was scientific thinking capacity.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.495-504
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to develop items to measure scientific core competency based on statements of scientific core competencies presented in the 2015 revised national science curriculum and to identify the validity and reliability of the newly developed items. Based on the explanations of scientific reasoning, scientific inquiry ability, scientific problem-solving ability, scientific communication ability, participation/lifelong learning in science presented in the 2015 revised national science curriculum, 25 items were developed by five science education experts. To explore the validity and reliability of the developed items, data were collected from 11,348 students in elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. The content validity, substantive validity, the internal structure validity, and generalization validity proposed by Messick (1995) were examined by various statistical tests. The results of the MNSQ analysis showed that there were no nonconformity in the 25 items. The confirmatory factor analysis using the structural equation modeling revealed that the five-factor model was a suitable model. The differential item functioning analyses by gender and school level revealed that the nonconformity DIF value was found in only two out of 175 cases. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance by gender and school level showed significant differences of test scores between schools and genders, and the interaction effect was also significant. The assessment items of science core competency based on the 2015 revised national science curriculum are valid from a psychometric point of view and can be used in the science education field.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.325-337
• /
• 2022

This study aims to determine the implications of the efficient and effective implementation of science core competency (ScC) education by examining the state of science core competencies derived from the 2015 revised elementary school science curriculum and analyzing teachers' and students' perceptions. To this end, this paper investigated the reality of reflecting the science core competencies of science textbooks in a group of third and fourth graders from seven elementary schools who passed the test. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with four elementary school teachers who participated in qualification textbook selection, and 156 elementary school students were surveyed to determine their perceptions of science core competencies. Findings showed that, first, 1,586 science core competencies were reflected throughout the textbooks, with an average of 227 per textbook and biology being the most salient area. Second, teachers did not understand the difference between previous inquiry activities in textbooks and ScC education. Third, no statistically significant differences were observed in the perceptions of male and female students on science core competencies, the highest average of perceptions being those of scientific thinking ability. From these results, this study concluded that for ScC education to be realized as a curriculum, textbooks must be organized according to the purpose of core competency education, implementing practical changes, and efforts must be directed toward changing the perceptions of individuals who deliver education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.535-547
• /
• 2014

This study analyzed the characteristics of National Science Curricula in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Korea with respect to core competencies. In the case of overseas countries, literature review on their curricula was conducted, and four common features were extracted: 'association of cross-curricular competencies with science-specific competencies', 'a combination of science contents and scientific practices', 'an emphasis on communication skills', and 'representation of an achievement level of competency'. In addition, the common core competencies of science education were 'critical thinking', 'creative thinking', 'problem solving', 'inquiry skills', 'communication skills', 'cultural literacy', 'ability to integrate discipline', 'application skills', and 'personal/social competency'. In relation to these features, this study also investigated Korean science teachers' perceptions of core competencies in science education. A survey was conducted on 135 teachers in elementary, middle, and high school in Korea. Teachers were not well aware of what core competencies are, and after introduction, they thought that they wanted to and needed to teach core competencies to their students. Teachers claimed that critical core competencies in science education are 'creative thinking', 'problem solving', and 'inquiry skills'. Teachers thought that core competencies-based science class would help develop students' scientific literacy and communication skills. However, they have difficulties in conducting core competencies-based science class because they are not familiar with how to conduct the class and they expect that it will take a long time to prepare such a class.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.66 no.2
• /
• pp.107-123
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of learning using computer-based science inquiry program. To this end, the three lessons computer-based science inquiry were developed in domain of material's properties. The developed program was put into K middle school located in Seoul and the effects were verified. For the experimental group, the three lessons computer-based science inquiry related to the separation of mixture were introduced, and for the comparison group, the contents presented in the textbook were introduced as a teacher-centered teaching method. To verify the effects of the program, 2-way ANCOVA was performed on positive experiences about science and science core competency, and 2-way ANOVA was performed on academic achievement. As a result of the study, there were significant differences between the two groups in positive experiernces about science and scientific core competencies and academic achievement (p<.05), and group^*gender interaction effect was only significant in academic achievement (p<.05). From the results of this study, we could see the possibility of using a computer-based science inquiry program as a chemistry teaching method that enables sustainable scientific inquiry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.49-59
• /
• 2024

In this study, we investigated the philosophical background and progress of the 2022 revised curriculum development in the high school earth science field. Research that was not covered in the research report includes the relevance of the transformative competency of OECD Education 2030, and that core ideas and achievement standards are organized around knowledge understanding, process functions, and value attitudes that constitute the learning compass needle. In addition, the composition of core ideas and Earth science electives in light of the understanding-centered curriculum, and IB type inquiry-based teaching and learning. Main research results include that the 2022 revised Earth science curriculum emphasized the student agency to foster the transformative competency and scientific literacy, and the curriculum document system in the field of earth science uses a learning compass needle. In addition, based on the understanding-centered curriculum, core ideas of Earth science were derived, and elective courses were organized to help students reach these core ideas. Also, IB-type inquiry-based teaching and learning was emphasized to foster student agency with knowledge construction competency. Based on the research results, slimming of the national and general level curriculum, the need to develop process-centered assessment methods for value and attitudes, the need for curriculum backward design, and ways to develop student agency through inquiry-based teaching and learning were suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.48-58
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the contents related to the strata in the elementary science textbooks and to investigate the strata concepts of preservice elementary teachers. As a result of the study, most of the strata knowledge in elementary textbook has an explicit sentence structure, such as A is B. it is limited to being used as a subject of discussion and debate among students in science classes. Formal knowledge, although its meaning is clear, is disadvantageous as a material for core competency education. Regarding strata concepts, 70% of preservice elementary teachers thoughts that heat and pressure were the only key factors in turning sediments into hard rocks. Regarding whether information about the natural information in the geological period can be obtained through the strata, 20% thought that information on the natural environment could be obtained only through fossils and not from the strata. Even 80% of preservice elementary school teachers who thought that informations on the past natural environment could be obtained from the stratum showed a lot of scientific misconceptions in the information contents. In conclusion, in order to increase the effect of core competency education through elementary science education, it is necessary to review the form and contents of strata knowledge presented in elementary science textbooks.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.707-715
• /
• 2019

The self-directed inquiry to improve students' core scientific competency is an important teaching method. Students experience a variety of difficulties in carrying out their inquiry tasks, sometimes fail to produce the desired results, or fail to perform a meaningless inquiry. This study was conducted to identify the causes of difficulties and failures in students' self-directed scientific inquiry. The study involved 16 high school students with experience in science research at science high schools and science-focused high schools. The data collection consisted of in-depth interviews centered on semi-structured open questions. Qualitative data analysis was imputed by finding paragraphs from the interview material that might reveal the difficulties and failures experienced by participants and the reasons for them. The study found that most of the causes of failure were lack of ability, incomplete procedures, and selection of complicated tasks. A variety of cognitive biases, such as overconfidence, planning fallacy, and groupthink, were also analyzed as causes. Based on the results of the study, it is necessary to develop an educational strategy that students can be fully prepared to reduce their trials and errors in a self-directed inquiry maximally.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
• /
• v.68 no.12
• /
• pp.1338-1346
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze the curriculum of a university-affiliated science gifted education center based on the core competencies and to suggest a direction for improving the education at the gifted education center. For this purpose, we set the 12 core competencies as follows: 6 cognitive competencies such as knowledge, creativity, scientific thinking ability, inquiry ability, problem solving ability and fusion ability, and 6 non-cognitive competencies such as task commitment, self-directed learning ability, motivation reinforcement and challenge, communication skills, collaboration ability and leadership. The curricula of the science gifted education centers reflect all the competencies, but some competencies are only potentially included in the contents of the programs. In this study, we present examples of education programs by each competences and suggest additional descriptions for the development of gifted education centers.