The purpose of this study is to examine the educational effect of comparative observation activities influence on preschool children's scientific process skills and scientific attitudes at the area of science in the free time.
To examine this purpose...
The purpose of this study is to examine the educational effect of comparative observation activities influence on preschool children's scientific process skills and scientific attitudes at the area of science in the free time.
To examine this purpose, the following research questions are investigated:
1 : How will comparative observation activities impact on 5-years-old children's scientific process skills ?
2 : How will comparative observation activities impact on 5-years-old children's scientific attitudes ?
The subjects of this experiment were 56 five-years-old children (experimental group : 29, comparison group : 27) those who were selected from a kindergarten attached to the G Elementary School in Gun-po. These children were divided into two groups, 29 for an experiment group and 27 for an comparing group. Children's development level in two groups were normal, and they were the same ages. Also their parent's' financial and social level were upper middle similarly.
This study used two examination methods to examine the effect on children's scientific process skills and scientific attitudes through the comparative observation activities.
This researcher modified and complemented the examination of Martin(1997) which was translated by Lee, Kyung Min(2000) to examine the scientific process skills. Pre test and post test have used same activities but the case of post test has been changed the estimation method of activities material to exclude the pre test's effects. In discussion time, the pre test used plastic secret bags and the post test used cylindrical secret boxes to exclude the effect of pre test's memories. All examination were processed separately and took for 15~20min. For an accurate marking, this researcher consulted with 2 more assessors watching video taped screen. The scientific process skills consist of 5 factors; prediction, observation, classification, measurement, and their 5 points rating scale revised 10 points rating scale.
This study used examination for scientific attitudes made by Lee, Kyung Min(2000) based on the evaluation of scientific attitude by Yu, Kyung Suk (1999) and the instrument were modified by Cho, Jae eun (2006). The scientific attitudes consist of 9 factors; curiosity, positiveness, directness, objectivity, openness, critical ability, reservation of decision, cooperation, and perseverance. After four children participated in an activity, this experiment measured the attitudes to the activity. Children were given plastic bags for the pre test and cylindrical secret boxes for the post test. Then the children were observed for 20 minutes. This researcher recorded on video tape and gave marks in negotiation with two assessors after watching it. Nine components of the scientific attitudes, each composed of 3 sub items consist of a total of 27 questions . An evaluation of compliance is written in each question which is formed by 10 points measure.
Collected data processing analysis handled computing using SPSS for Window programs, verified whether executes t-test to compare difference for dictionary-the average of two group's pre test scores and post test scores's average and standard deviation. Two groups showed statistical differences in pre test scores so ANCOVA is used to analyze clearly-the pretest scores are made covariate variable and the post test score are made dependent variable.
Following is this study's results :
First, when ANCOVA is analyzed with setting covariate variable for pre test scores and dependent variable for post test scores, it showed comparative observation activities have more significant differences in scientific process skills than simple observation activities. It means comparative observation activities effect to scientific process skills more than simple observation activities
Second, when ANCOVA is analyzed with setting covariate variable for pre test scores and dependent variable for post test scores, it showed comparative observation activities have more differences in scientific attitude than simple observation activities.
Through this study's result, the 'comparison' activities which are basic concept of mathematics of pre-operational stage learned integrated and potentially from the play in the filed of kindergarten, the program of comparative observation activities has made.
This observation activities are effective in improving children's scientific process skills and scientific attitudes that is an important discovery for kindergarten science education. And these are activities for the improving of children's process course, so that it is meaningful as a basic data to vitalize comparing and observing activities.