• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.523-537
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• 2009

This research aimed to understand the current status of early childhood education and to develop a future direction of early childhood English education. One group interview and three private interviews were conducted with 10 early education teachers to obtain in-depth understanding of the problems inherent in English education. The findings show that there is an internal conflict in the teachers regarding the value of English education in early childhood. In addition, there are external conflicts with the children the parents, the English teacher, the program director, and the government in English education. It is concluded that the early childhood educators felt an internal conflict regarding the current, inappropriate execution of early English education which is lacking a suitable educational plan including goals and practices. Furthermore, the teacher's preference for English also contributed to the internal conflict regarding the belief in early childhood English education. Secondly, the external conflicts included: English teachers with inadequate understanding of comprehensive early childhood development, parents who show excessive interest in early childhood English education without regard to childhood development, the reality that early childhood English education is mostly influenced by the attitudes of the program director without regard for the conflicts experienced by the early childhood teacher, and the politics of the government continuing to ignore the reality that early childhood English education ontinues in practice without being included in the national curriculum.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.204-208
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to find out the teacher's awareness and needs for early childhood mathematics education and outdoor movement activities. The study participants were eight kindergarten teachers located in Korea. in-depth interviews were conducted with teachers on 2014.04. ~ 2014.07. Interviews were held twice each, semi-structured with the order and content of the questions adjusted. As a result of analyzing and categorizing the collected data, the results were 'Early teacher's awareness of mathematics education', 'Early teacher's awareness of outdoor movement activities', and 'Educational teacher's awareness of mathematics activities linked to outdoor movement activities'. The conclusions of this study are as follows. First, the model of early childhood teacher for mathematics education and outdoor movement should be presented. Second, there is a need for ways to improve the teacher's confidence in mathematics education and outdoor movement.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1125-1133
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to explore the perception toward qualification of early childhood English teachers and their teachers' sense of efficacy. The samples consisted of 201 early childhood English teachers in Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Gyeonggi area. A sample of early childhood English teachers completed a series of questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed with t-test, F-test, correlation. The results showed that most teachers were women between 30 to 40 years old, university graduate with job experience less than 3 years. In addition, half of teachers in this study majored on English studies or early childhood education and child studies. This study found that early childhood English teachers thought themselves to be qualified as a English teacher and early childhood teacher. And they rated teachers' sense of efficacy to relatively high. There were differences on the scores of qualification of early childhood English teacher and teachers' sense of efficacy according to education level and major. And years of job experience were positively related with the perception of qualification of early childhood teacher and teachers' sense of efficacy.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.67-87
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• 2020

Objective: In order to provide basic data that can strengthen the recognition of continuity of early childhood and primary education, early childhood education and early childhood special education teachers at inclusive child care and education settings participated in this study. Methods: The researchers conducted a survey on 192 early childhood teachers and 167 early childhood special education teachers in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do province. The collected data were analyzed statistically. Results: First, early childhood special education teachers were higher than early childhood teachers statistically on the prerequisite elements of continuity. Second, early childhood education teachers were higher than early childhood special education teachers statistically regarding the prerequisite educational techniques required for continuity of early childhood and primary education. In particular, early childhood teachers put more of an emphasis on learning and sociality-communication than early childhood special education teachers did. Conclusion/Implications: It is necessary that in-service education on prerequisite elements be stressed, and there be more detailed activities and education about programming and its utilization for early childhood special education teachers.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to classify early childhood educators' perfectionism types and to identify differences in teacher self-efficacy and teachers burnout according to the types of perfectionism. Methods: The participants of this study were 309 teachers working at early childhood education centers in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Daejeon, Se-jong, Kim-Cheon, and Hong-Sung, South Korea. Early childhood educators were surveyed regarding perfectionism, teacher self-efficacy and teacher burnout. The collected data were analyzed using K-means cluster analyses and analysis of covariance. Results: Cluster analyses with self-oriented perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism as cluster variables resulted in three types of perfectionism among early childhood educators; 'self-other directed perfectionism(33.0%)', 'other directed perfectionism(35.0%)' and 'non perfectionism(32.0%)'. Educators with self-other directed perfectionism reported higher teacher self-efficacy and lower teacher burnout than educators with other directed perfectionism or with non perfectionism. Conclusion/Implications: Early childhood educators' perfectionism may be a significant personality trait linked to quality of education and care in real education settings.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.163-168
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• 2023

The purpose of the study was to examine the mediating effect of early childhood teachers' professional development in the relationship between intrapersonal intelligence and teacher-child interactions. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 324 early childhood teachers working at kindergartens and child-care centers in South Korea. The empirical data using survey questionnaires were collected by administering the Adult Introspective Intelligence Scale, the Professional Development Scale for Early Childhood Teachers, and the Teacher-child Interactions Scale. SPSS and Hayes' PROCESS macro weres utilized. The results showed the statistically positive correlations between the major variable and the mediating effect of early childhood teachers' professional development in the relationship between intrapersonal intelligence and teacher-child interactions.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.41-51
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• 2000

This study discusses the interpretation and application of a post modern perspective to child development knowledge and early childhood teacher education. The survey of literature focused on the post modern approach to child development knowledge and early childhood teacher education, research in the reassessment of child development knowledge as it is challenged by the post modern perspective, and deconstruction of both child development knowledge and early childhood teacher education. It was concluded that child development knowledge is necessary but insufficient to early childhood teacher education. In the post modern perspective, the movement toward fostering "reflective practitioners" and basic knowledge base is more significant. Therefore, the responsibility of academics is to walk the fine line between presenting a formal knowledge base so that students gain assumption to guide their thinking and practice, critiquing both theory and derived practices.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.249-265
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service early childhood teachers' procedures for entering college, their perception of major areas of satisfaction and career progression. The subjects of this study were 522 students majoring in early childhood education in Busan. The findings of this study were as follows. First, the major motivation of entering into college for these students majoring in early childhood education was 'to become an early childhood teacher'. Second, the majority of students majoring in early childhood education were satisfied with their majors for their aptitude for studying in this area. Third, the most commonly expressed employment preference for such students was that of a public kindergarten teacher due primarily to job security and appropriate rates of pay.