• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-18
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the needs of early childhood teachers in order to improve their competencies for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Methods: Two hundred fifty-four early childhood teachers working in the B area responded to a questionnaire developed by the researcher, assessing the importance and performance of various competencies. The data were analyzed using the Borich demand model and the Locus for Focus model. Results: First, in terms of educational needs by category, the competency to implement ESD was identified as the highest priority, followed by understanding the value of ESD and the economic aspects of ESD content. Second, 17 items were identified as the top priority for educational needs in each detailed item, and 6 items were identified as the next priority. Conclusion/Implications: By directly analyzing the needs of early childhood teachers to improve their competencies for ESD, this study was able to identify the competencies required to enhance ESD for young children. Additionally, it provided a basis for discussing the direction of teacher education for early childhood teachers in the context of ESD.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.443-452
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• 2016

Six preservice teachers who participated in the "2016 service of summer vacation daycare programs by university and college students" focused on the programs for the formation of art, music and physical education and recreation culture were selected as research participants. The meaning of the experience they had through the service process was qualitatively analyzed. The subjects accepted the purpose of the self-directed service in which they should themselves solve a series of the entire process, from planning a volunteer program through drawing up the budget and purchasing materials to practice, evaluation and expressed the intention of participation. A volunteer program was conducted including visiting a daycare program for lower graders of elementary school (1st and 2nd grades) with more than 40 class hours during vacation. As research materials, research participants' journals, transcripts of individual interviews and group interviews, transcripts of phone calls, e-mail messages, and self-evaluation records of each class hour were collected. To increase the reliability and validity of the study, triangulation, member check, advice and review of the experts were conducted. In the study results, the volunteering experience-related significance for the preservice teachers who participated in the self-directed service were broadly categorized into 'Becoming a capable professional teacher', that consists of 'Increasing the power of thinking', 'Realizing the importance of communication', 'Doing together itself is important' and 'Ability to apply information and resources is needed'. 'Increase the continuity between preschool and elementary education' was subdivided into 'Get to know the necessity of the continuity between preschool and elementary education' and 'Want to learn the continuity between preschool and elementary education.'

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.295-317
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• 2014

This study is intended to improve parental capacity from the viewpoint of children's happiness. It extracts a core parental capacity for children's happiness from the international index such as OECD well-being, UNICEF Children's welfare, International survey of children's well-being, and Korean children's key index. Based on the extracted core parental capacity, this study developed a self-checklist aiming to perceive parents' capacity status and suggest a political plan in order to improve parents' capacity for children's happiness. The self-checklist has a total of 66 questions and is composed of 7 domains; Child development, Health and Safety, Family relation, Physical and material environment, Play, Guidance in life, and Community engagement. The results from the survey are as follows. The domains of Development of children as well as Health & Safety are reported as the highest value at 4.1 point; on the contrary, those of Guidance in life and Community engagement are reported as the lowest value at 3.8 point. In terms of age, it was reported that the capacity of parents under 35 years-old was better than that of parents over 35 years of age. As for family income, it was revealed that the order of parents' capacity generally depends on the family income.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.93-97
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to suggest implications for early childhood SW·AI education considering the characteristics of early childhood education through a survey on SW·AI education in kindergartens. For this study, data were collected from 194 kindergartens through convenience sampling. The data was analyzed using frequency distribution, and it was found that 44% of kindergartens are conducting SW·AI education. 22% are conducting SW·AI education in the form of regular curriculum, and 70% are conducting SW·AI education in the form of special activities after school. SW·AI education was found to be conducted mainly by external instructors (97%) in the classroom (80%). For SW·AI education, block coding-based programs developed by companies such as Naver and the Clova were used, and all of these programs used programs and teaching aids in a package format, including teaching aids and materials developed by companies. 56% answered that they are not currently conducting SW/AI education, and lack of awareness on SW·AI education and lack of human/environmental infrastructure were the main factors. In order to realize SW·AI education considering the characteristics of early childhood education based on this survey, First, SW·AI education programs should be developed to develop play-centered computational thinking skills. Second, systematic teacher education at the national level should be conducted. Finally, the establishment of a department dedicated to early childhood SW·AI consisting of early childhood education experts and SW·AI education experts and financial support at the national level should be provided.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.93-110
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the early childhood education teacher's ability to implement play-centered curriculum that is recognized by an early childhood education expert based on an analysis of focus group interviews. Methods: Two professors of early childhood education, two directors of daycare centers, and two early childhood education teachers participated in the focus group interview. The interview was conducted three times. The interviewed data were categorized and compared. Results: The action competence of the play-centered curriculum required for early childhood teachers were categorized into the following categories; comprehending play, recognizing play, and practicing child-centered play. Detailed factor competencies were required for understanding play, reflective thinking, reading play, recording play, playing like a child, and supporting play. Conclusion/Implications: For actualizing play-centered curriculum, early childhood education teachers needed to comprehend, recognize, and practice for child's play. Furthermore, we discussed the necessity and direction of teacher education to improve the teacher's action competence for play-centered curriculum.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.199-204
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors and reasons for hiring kindergarten teachers and to provide information for successful employment to the college. 12 private kindergarten chiefs over 10 years of experience were conducted in - depth interviews. In-depth interview data were analyzed using open coding analysis. 11 sub - factors of each core concept were derived, and they were nominated as 4 outline (character, sociality, personality & professionalism factors). All of the researchers perceived the sincerity, interpersonal stability, honesty, and ability to perform the curriculum as the most important factors to consider, and the teacher with good personality was perceived as the precondition of successful teacher's job performance. In the college, through the production of portfolios by subject, we raised the necessity of institutionalization of educational volunteer activities such as vacation - based education in addition to on - the - spot education at school and development of liberal arts curriculum to develop capacity for community life. And to develop and operate a field-oriented comparative education program to strengthen the competence of the majors.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.101-122
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• 2014

The purpose of this research is to analyze research trends of kindergarten and child care center directors focusing on the articles in a journal of early childhood education in Korea. For this, I divided and analyzed 162 articles of related early childhood education directors contained in the National Research Foundation of Korea. The National Research Foundation of Korea listed eight journals from 1991 to 2013, according to the study period, study topic and study method. As a result of this research, first, the research trends in the study period show that until 2003 less than 5 articles were published while gradually increasing since 2004 and the director-related papers were published in the 20 pieces every year from 2009. Second, concerning the study topic, the most common topic was about 'institutional management of director', and 'director leadership', and 'role and duties', and 'quality' were followed. Third, types of study included many quantitative studies but they are decreasing recently and qualitative studies tended to increase since 2006. There are many studies for the teacher and data collection methods have been utilized frequently having questions marked distinct by quantitative research. Data analysis was being used a lot with quantitative analysis. These results of the study imply that it is necessary to execute studies of topics such as a director's leadership and core competencies and to diversify study subjects and methods on the kindergarten and child care center directors.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.53-72
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to reveal early childhood teachers' perceptions of teacher competency for ESD using concept mapping and demonstrating its importance. Methods: 16 early childhood teachers in charge of 3-5 year olds conducted statement writing, and then the importance of selected statements were rated by 160 early childhood teachers in charge of 3-5 year olds. Selected statements were analyzed through multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results: Early childhood teachers perceived teacher competency for ESD in early childhood as concept mapping with two-dimensions and six clusters. The following six clusters were established (1) ethics for sustainable development, (2) willingness to participate in ESD, (3) development and operation of a sustainable development curriculum, (4) recognition and practice of environmental issues, (5) realization of value for sustainable development, and (6) practical thinking for ESD. And then among the six clusters, the most important cluster was recognized as 'ethics for sustainable development', and among the statements 'having an open mind to understand multiculturalism and the disabled' was considered relatively important Conclusion/Implications: Based on these results, we discussed the importance of teacher competency for ESD in early childhood, development of teacher competency scale, and preparation of a teacher education plans for each competency.