• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.137-152
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• 2008

This study examined the organization and operation of home economics curriculum of specialized middle school in the form of regular school among alternative schools and analyzed the perceptions of teachers and students about home economics class. Interviews were conducted with teachers of 6 specialized schools in order to determine the operations and teachers' perceptions of home economics education. Students' perceptions for home economics class were gathered through surveys with students from the 3 (of the original 6) schools that authorized the questionnaire survey. The final analysis utilized 205 student responses. Survey data were analyzed using the SPSS program. The results of the research were as follows: First, home economics education within specialized middle schools was mostly conducted according to the form of the technology-home economics curriculum, which is the national common basic curriculum. Compared to the 7th national curriculum, the class of technology-home economics curriculum in 4 schools occurred 1 hour less each week. Each school incorporated various specialized curricula related to home economics. Second, as for the operation of home economics education in specialized schools, most home economics classes were conducted by teachers who had majored (or minored) in home economics. Moreover, all but 1 school, which used self-made materials, used the national textbook and dealt with the entire content of the textbook. For teaching-learning methods and instructional media, various means were utilized. For evaluation methods, most schools based grades on paper-and-pencil tests(50-60%) and performance tests(40-50%). Third, among teachers' perceptions of home economics education, the meaning of home economics education was focused on practical help and the pursuit of home happiness; the purpose was to realize the happiness of students and their homes by applying these to actual living, and increase students' ability to see the world. In regards to difficulties in educational operations, most pointed out poor conditions of practice rooms. As for differences from general schools, most teachers mentioned the active communication with students. Fourth, through the home economics class, it was found that students perceived the goal of technology-home economics curricula as lower than average. Among students' perceptions about home economics class, most were negative. Perceptions about goal of technology-home economics curricula and home economics class also showed meaningful differences according to each school. Students of the school, which had more home economics class hours and specialized curricula related to home economics, perceived more positively. Also, students who were more satisfied with school and learned from a teacher who majored in home economics tended to perceive home economics class more positively.