Abstract

The Seventh School Curriculum Reform in Korea was introduced in 2000 to prepare school-aged Koreans for an information and knowledge-based society. The reform effort emphasises information and communication technology (ICT) in the K-12 curriculum and a learner-centred pedagogy. This study examines the contributions of ICT, specifically, computer-assisted instruction (CAI), in Korean science classrooms. A sample of 234 Korean middle school students was categorised into five achievement groups. Data were collected from pre- and post-achievement test scores and pre- and post-questionnaires for attitudes toward science, future courses, and career aspirations in science. Findings include: (1) the lowest achievement group showed the most significant improvement after CAI (p = 0.000); (2) an improvement in student achievement in science significantly influenced students' attitudes toward science (p = 0.019), future course selections, and career aspirations related to science (p = 0.000); and (3) boys tended to perform better with CAI than girls. This research provides evidence that CAI has the potential to help lower achieving students in Korean science classes and may encourage enrolment in science. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)

Citation

Park, H., Khan, S. & Petrina, S. (2009). ICT in Science Education: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Achievement, Attitudes toward Science, and Career Aspirations of Korean Middle School Students. International Journal of Science Education, 31(8), 993-1012. Retrieved August 10, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/71608/.

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Keywords

• Achievement Tests
• Career Choice
• Computer Assisted Instruction
• Course Selection (Students)
• curriculum development
• Educational Change
• educational technology
• Foreign Countries
• gender differences
• Grade 7
• Low Achievement
• Middle School Students
• Pretests Posttests
• Program Effectiveness
• Quasiexperimental Design
• Science Achievement
• science education
• Science Instruction
• student attitudes
• teaching methods
• technology integration