Values of Curriculum Cluster Program Sharing Physical Education Curriculum in Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore values of curriculum cluster program as a student-centered approach to complement an existing regular school curriculum. Focus group interviews (n=39) were conducted and participants were recruited from the four public high schools in Korea. This study revealed that first, the reason for students to participate in the curriculum cluster was that they were not satisfied with current offerings of the traditional physical education within their regular school curriculum. Second, the curriculum cluster promotes students’ learning motivation by cooperating with friends, resulting in building up trust between friends. Third, it is possible that the curriculum cluster could be expanded into the regular school curriculum as career exploration programs. Fourth, despite a variety of advantages, the pressure to move to another school site and the teachers’ indifference to the curriculum cluster may be indicative of the low participation rates. This study confirmed that the case of the curriculum cluster may be a good solution that addresses these and other practical challenges within school environments. Also, characteristics among instructors and cluster curriculum had a positive impact on occupational socialization that students cannot easily improve within the regular school curriculum.