Elementary teachers\u2019 beliefs and perspectives related to smart learning in South Korea

Abstract

This study focused on elementary teachers’ perceptions of smart learning issues to suggest a better future teachers’ training program to support student’s smart learning in classrooms. Rapidly developing technology changes every aspect of our life. In order for twenty-first century learners to prepare for this technologically ever advancing world, teachers also should make any necessary adaptations to the changes. The use of smart devices and social networking systems is becoming more common in classrooms throughout the country. Thus, it is necessary for public schools to make appropriate changes in aspects of their technology infrastructures and instructional methods and resources for smart learning. To this end, teacher competencies are regarded as a critical factor in the successful implementation of smart learning. Smart learning is not just learning with smart devices but the learning that smart technology can afford. Prior studies have indicated that teachers’ positive perceptions and knowledge of technology are associated with the successful implementation of computer-based learning. Building upon the previous research, this study investigated to what extent teachers’ educational beliefs as well as teachers’ positive perception, and knowledge of technology are associated with teachers’ perception on smart learning. For this study, a total of 438 elementary teachers in South Korea participated in the survey on smart learning related questions including teachers’ educational beliefs, technology support system in their schools, teachers’ efficacy of technology-based teaching & learning, teachers’ perspective on computer-based learning and perspective on smart learning. First, the result showed that the correlations between the all measured variables were statistically significant. Then, a path analysis model of teachers’ perception on smart learning was constructed, and its statistical validity was confirmed. The path model revealed that teachers’ educational beliefs directly influence teachers’ ICT-related knowledge and usage in the classroom. In addition, teacher’s education beliefs also directly influence teachers’ perception on computer-based learning and smart learning. This indicates that the smart learning shares student-centered learning beliefs. Moreover, teacher’s perception on smart learning is influenced by their perception on computer-based learning, and this was in turn affected by the degree of teachers’ knowledge and usage of technology. In other words, teachers who have more students-centered learning beliefs and a higher level of ICT-related knowledge and usage seemed to have a more positive view on smart learning. Also, the more technology support system school provided, the more positive perspective the teachers have on smart learning. The results of this study have implications for both pre-service and in-service teacher professional development. The teachers who are responsible for the twenty-first century learners should be equipped with practical competencies of advancing technology in the classroom and firm beliefs regarding student-centered learning in technology-rich environments.