• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate how middle school teachers perceived major features of the 'Free Learning Semester'. In 2013, the Free Learning Semester has been proposed by Korean government to provide students with the educational programs which deals with various activities in classroom in order to increase student's learning ability. The Free Learning Semester helps students to figure out their dreams and develops their talents. The government plans to expand the Free Learning Semester to all middle schools by 2016. Since teacher's perception is an important matter in the application of the Free Learning Semester, this study seeks to document the changes in curriculum by observing the perception of teachers in the school that implemented the Free Learning Semesters and those that did not implemented the Free Learning Semesters. 172 teachers from nine middle schools in Busan that their school schedules allowed were surveyed. Two school which operated the Free Learning Semester were compared to seven schools which did not operate the Free Learning Semester. The results are summarized as follows: First, almost all (97.7%) teachers in the Free Learning Semester schools have completed a training whereas 74.6% of the teachers in the non-Free Learning Semester schools have not. The usefulness of the training was satisfactory, but the teachers in the Free Learning Semester Schools wanted more practical help with the curriculum. Second, the result, which was statistically significant(p<.05), revealed that the first grade second semester of middle school was the best time to implement the Free Learning Semester. In order for its successful establishment in schools, there needs to be a reliable and effective evaluation system. However, the results regarding the introduction and management of the new system were not statistically significant. Lastly, in the Free Learning Semester Schools, the changes in teachers' perception were statistically significant (p<.05). The results show that the teachers need the training and the teacher's community to implement the curriculum and set a basis for valuation.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.107-113
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• 2017

The results showed that the male teachers' have higher expectations of the free learning semester compared to the female teachers'. Furthermore, the teachers who had experienced the free learning semester felt less job burdens than the teachers who did not. In addition, the subject teachers showed higher expectations of the free learning semester than the general teachers or the homeroom teachers. Therefore, in order to establish a stable system of free learning semester, it should be preceded by development of differentiated program of special education, free learning semester, strengthening of advance training, establishment of the system for participating in the whole school and the simplification of administration.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2014

A total of 2,325 schools including all of the middle and high school have operated variation type since government announced the "Variation Type classroom System Promotion Plan" in May 2009. New education policy, free learning semester of middle school, was introduced after current government took office, followed by extended application of educational policy. Korean students have a low level of happiness and interest in the school due to admissions intensive competition and the investment memorize education and cramming education. Therefore, in consideration of youth development stage, free learning semester system introduction commitment was announced in November 2012, and free learning semester was operated by way of showing an example in 2013, and then expansion implementation plan of 2015 was established, because free learning semester introduction in middle school stage is increasing. This study considers concept and operation method to free learning semester of middle school which are newly introduced, based on the policy documents of Ministry of Education. Also, through the example of Japanese schools, this analyses creativity, personality, social skills, and healthy corresponding to a free learning semester curriculum of middle school, and present method to apply for Korea.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.273-288
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• 2014

In recent years, coding education has been globally emphasized and the Free Semester System will be executed to the public schools in Korea from 2016. With the introduction of the Free Semester System and the rising demand of Computational Thinking (CT) capacity, this research aims to design 'learning environment' in which learners can design and construct mathematical objects through computers and print them out through 3D printers. Furthermore, it will design learning mathematics by constructing the figurate number patterns from 'soma cubes' in the playing context and connecting those to algebraic and combinatorial patterns, which will allow students to experience mathematical connectivity. It is expected that the activities of designing figurate number patterns suggested in this research will not only strengthen CT capacity in relation to mathematical thinking but also serve as a meaningful program for the Free Semester System in terms of career experience as 3D printers can be widely used.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.289-299
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• 2016

The purpose of the study was to develop evaluation methods which would measure student achievement and progress without traditional paper-pencil tests such as mid-term and final examinations. More specifically, the main research focus were to establish general directions of student assessment during free semester, to build evaluation models supporting student's participation and learning, and to report and record various student evaluation results. As research results, we found that student evaluation of free semester should be organized to improve a) experience learning activity, self-regulatory and collaboratory study, b) high-order thinking ability and character-building, and c) teacher-student-parent cooperation. Since traditional paper-pencil tests were restricted in free semester, student achievement should be provided by a way of performance descriptions on transcripts rather than quantitative grade points. Student performance descriptions had to show not only subject knowledge but also students efforts, motivation, and participation. These multiple and educationally meaningful information would be collected by teacher-student-parent communication and collaboration.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.59
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• pp.133-159
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• 2019

The free semester system, introduced on a trial basis in 2013, has been fully implemented in all middle schools since 2016. The free semester system for middle school students is divided into subject activities and free semester activities with the purpose of students' dream and career exploration. While the activities of various vocational groups linked to subjects during the free semester are discussed, studies on the industrial security career education in middle schools are hard to find. In addition, the career sites that provide diverse information on career path for teachers, students and parents with support from the Ministry of Education have not established any program regarding industrial security. This study aims to look at the status of career education by the analysis of keywords for industrial security in the career experience network currently operated by the Ministry of Education and in-depth interview with career education teachers, students and parents, and industrial security experts. Based on such analysis, this study attempts to figure out a comprehensive understanding of the free semester system and to explore strategies for promoting industrial security education. The results of this study found that the activation plan for industrial security education requires the industry security education through career network, development of industrial security education program, training and placement of professional industrial security lecturer, and establishment of support systems for experience in industrial security.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.92-108
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to develop a free semester program using sustainable materials therefore improving the clothing & textiles section of the middle school textbook and the systematic and in-depth sustainable fashion education based on theme selection activity, as one of free semester system activities in the middle school. Our analysis on the programs, which was performed from 2018 to 2019, showed that the clothing & textiles programs were majorly focused making simple household items through basic needlework and knitting. The programs that related to the sustainable fashion education were environmental programs associated with other textbooks, or mainly included simple upcycling and were mainly operated as arts & physical education or club activities, rather than theme selection programs. According to results from a questionnaire survey on teachers incharge of the system, they had an intention of starting sustainable fashion education program or clothing & textiles section but failed due to low number of participants, practice cost, and time burden. Based on our analysis, this study proposed a 17-session based free semester program that includes the understanding of the sustainable fashions concept, classification of sustainable materials and systematic and stepwise practice in association with the middle school textbook clothing & textile section. The teaching materials developed in this study are expected to be incorporated in the program that helps students understand the right concept of sustainable fashions and respond to the pending environmental issue actively and systematically.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.179-200
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• 2021

This study is aimed at analyzing cases of management focusing on a reading club using the blended learning at school library and the relevant programs of the free semester system. Therefore, the study has designed a research model for the blended-based management of school libraries, and cases of activities of reading clubs at school libraries for participants in programs linked with the free semester system have been analyzed. As a result of the analysis, first, the confidence level was satisfied in all areas of stability, consistency, predictability and verification on confidence level for related variables of the research model. Second, a meaningful relation has been verified in the correlation analysis between the blended activities and activities of the career search and the career design. Third, as a meaningful static effect has been shown in the contact-free activities in the areas of activities of the blended learning and activities of the career search and the career design, it was verified that programs linked with reading clubs of the free semester system have higher positive effects in the contact-free activities. Last but not least, programs related to local governments to support reading clubs at school libraries have been presented, and management of the blended learning at school libraries has been suggested.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.51
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• pp.89-132
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• 2017

The presidential records reflect the era of the times, and it has valuable evidence to support the administrative transparency and accountability of government operations. People's interest in the presidential records increased in response to its recent leak. The presidential archives were moved to Sejong in line with its desire to provide public-friendly services. This study will help users access the archives and utilize archiving information. The Ministry of Education introduced the free learning semester, which all middle schools have began conducting since 2016. The free learning semester provides an environment where education can be provided by external organizations. As middle school students are still unfamiliar with archives, the free learning semester provides a good environment for accessing archives and records. Although it serves as an opportunity to publicize archives, existing related studies are insufficient. This study aims to develop the free learning semester program using the presidential archives and records for middle school students during the free learning semester based on the analysis of the domestic and foreign archives education program. This study shows a development of the education program using presidential archives and records through literature research, domestic and foreign case analysis, and expert interview. First, through literature research, this research understood the definition of the free learning semester as well as its types. In addition, this research identified the four types of the free learning semester education program that can be linked to the presidential archives. Second, through website analysis and the information disclosure system, this research investigated domestic and foreign cases of the education program. A total of 46 education programs of institutions were analyzed, focusing on student-led education programs in the foreign archives as well as the education programs of the free learning semester in domestic libraries and archives. Third, based on these results, This study proposed four types of free learning semester education programs using the presidential archives and records, and provided concrete examples.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.105-121
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• 2013

This study aimed to investigate the validity and appropriate way of career education according to the integration of home economics subjects, as a way of revitalization of career education in technology and home economics subjects, after the implementation of free semester system. For this goal, the meaning and trend of free semester system, trend of subject-integrated career education, analysis of curriculum in technology home economics education subject, and trend of research about career education in home economics were investigated. The result was as in the following. First, in spite of the ambiguity of the meaning of free semester, the career education will be expanded as the importance of lifelong career education was more and more required. Second, the career paths separated from subjects had problem in its effectiveness, therefore, subject-integrated career education emphasizing on school subjects will become more crucial. Third, it was presented that extracting core achievement standard in subject-integrated career education in technology home economics education according to core achievement standard was critical. For these reasons, the objective and model of career education in home economics education under free semester system were illustrated.