Free Semester System Research Articles

디자인 씽킹을 적용한 친환경 건축 디자인교육 프로그램 개발 및 효과성 분석 - 중학교 1학년 자유학기제 예술·체육 활동 적용을 중심으로

The recently fast urban growth is leading to being deepened the severe environmental pollution and to being damaged the earth. According to the importance of the global sustainable power generation energy amid this destruction, the eco-friendly education is being carried out. Hence, in the wake of recognizing this issue, this study developed the eco-friendly architectural design education program by connecting the 2022 Revised Curriculum with the achievement standard for a free-semester system in middle school and applied it to the first grade of M middle school during the period of 5 weeks starting from April 29. And to verify effectiveness, the pre and post questionnaires and the student participation reviews were confirmed targeting 43 first graders of M middle school in Jungnang-gu, Seoul who take free semester arts and sports classes for 5 weeks from April 29, 2024 to May 20. As the pre and post survey questions include totally 3 realms such as ‘perception, problem-solving, environment’ in terms of the design thinking and the environmental problem, the item number corresponds to 10 pieces. As a result of t-test in the questions of all realms regarding ‘perception, problem-solving, environment,’ it could be known to have gotten higher after proceeding with the program at the significance level. This outcome shows that the implementation of a class with the application of design thinking leads to being capable of solving a problem by applying and using it even in daily life. It urgently needs the participation in social problem solving and the transformation of school education into self-directed experimental and practical education. In this situation, this study is expected to be likely able to be used as basic data that suggests the directivity of new design education.

An Empirical Study for the Operation of the Curriculum for Career Exploration and Creative Experience Activities in the Free Semester System

An Empirical Study for the Operation of the Curriculum for Career Exploration and Creative Experience Activities in the Free Semester System

중학교 자유학기제 사회과 주제선택 활동 수업 경험에 대한 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out the experiences of students who take the theme selection activity of “Community Human Rights Monitoring” in the first semester of the first semester of ◇◇ Middle School in 2023, and teachers who run the class. Methods This study conducted FGI (Focus Group Interview) twice before and after class and three times after class with one teacher and six students for qualitative research on social studies subject selection classes. Before attending the class, in an interview with a teacher, I was able to understand the class in general through data such as the activity log of the subject selection class and the recorded version of the class in 2021. Results As a result of data analysis, teachers felt that topic selection activities were classes that reminded students of the importance of community competency, and that both teachers and students were creating together without the burden of evaluation. It is also said that it is a class that can enhance both teachers and students' civic behavioral capabilities, which are their identity as citizens. Students felt that their communication skills grew through classes that created their values, classes that made them interested in society, and teacher feedback. Conclusions This study is meaningful in understanding what should be more emphasized and operated in future classes by grasping teachers and students' experiences in social studies subject selection activities in the free semester system. Teachers continue to interact during class to give students an opportunity to think about human rights that they usually considered important as social studies teachers and to be interested in society.

예비 음악교사의 학교현장 실습에 대한 만족도 조사 연구

Field training for pre-service teachers is an important process that helps future teachers understand the school environment and gain expertise in teaching the subject. This study aims to investigate the differences in satisfaction levels of pre-service teachers who have undergone two types of field training in schools, namely, the existing four-week training and semester-based training. For this purpose, this study surveyed pre-service teachers who participated in either four-week or 15-week field training programs to examine the overall content of the training, including class demonstrations, class observations, guidance, and classroom management, and investigated the subjects’ satisfaction factors to draw implications. The survey results showed that pre-service teachers who participated in the semester-based program had high satisfaction levels as well as a strong interest in school life and teachers’ work. In particular, the semester-based practice provided concrete and realistic experiences of teaching required in the actual field through creative activities, a student orchestra, the free-semester system, and music clubs, which were unavailable in the existing four-week program. The result implies that to further enhance the quality of the field training of pre-service music teachers, an organic linkage among schools, the Office of Education, and teacher training institutions is critical to enable the stable operation of semester-based training. To ensure the effectiveness of field training for teachers who will play a significant role in future education, the in-field teaching of major subjects should be considered, and the curricula of teacher training institutions and their continuous connections with partner schools should be systematically restructured.

자기주도학습능력에 대한 자유학기제 효과 분석

본 연구의 목적은 미래교육 패러다임의 변화에 따라 자기주도학습의 중요성이 강조되고 있는 현실을 직시하여 청소년의 자기주도학습능력에 대한 자유학기제의 정책효과를 분석하는 데 있다. 자유학기제는 학습자의 다양한 성장경로를 모색하고 미래사회 핵심 역량인 자기주도학습 능력을 함양하기 위해 도입된 제도이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 유사실험설계(quasi-experimental analysis) 방법을 통해 한국교육종단연구2013 2차와 3차, 5차년도(초등학교 6학년, 중학교 1학년 및 3학년) 자료를 활용하여 자기주도학습능력에 대한 자유학기제의 정책 효과를 분석하였다. 구체적으로 이중차분법(Difference-in-differences, DiD)을 적용하여 자기주도학습능력의 인지적 영역과 행동적 영역 각각에 대하여 중학교 1학년 당시 자유학기제 참여에 따른 단기적 효과와 장기적 효과를 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 자기주도학습의 인지적 영역에 대해서 자유학기제 참여에 따른 차이는 없는 것으로 나타난 반면, 행동적 영역에 대해서는 자유학기제 미참여 학생에 비해 참여 학생의 자기주도학습 능력이 유의하게 높은 경향을 보였다. 이러한 차이는 중학교 1학년에 측정된 단기적 효과보다 중학교 3학년에 측정된 장기적 효과에서 더 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 그 외, 순차적 모형분석을 통해 학생의 자기주도학습 관련 장 · 단기 변화에 대한 자유학기제의 차등적 효과를 탐색한 결과 교사의 특성과 학교관련 변인에 의해 상당 부분 발현되고 있음을 확인하였다. 이러한 실증결과를 바탕으로 본 연구의 결론에서는 자유학기제의 발전방향에 대한 정책적 시사점과 관련 후속연구를 위한 학술적 제언을 논의하였다.

OECD 학습 나침반 2030에 기반한 청소년 기업가정신 교육 프로그램 개발

Objectives This study aims to develop an entrepreneurship education program for teenagers that can be applied to career classes or free semester system, taking into account the direction of future education and the competencies students should cultivate presented by the OECD Learning Compass 2030.
 Methods For program planning and design, first, the theoretical basis for program development was prepared by considering previous studies on OECD learning compass 2030, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, Design thinking, Lean Startup, business model, learner-centered education, and self-regulated learning. Second, implications were derived by analyzing cases focusing on the contents of the existing youth education program. Third, based on this, the direction, purpose, process, main contents, and effectiveness verification method of the educational program were presented.
 Results The direction of the program for entrepreneurship education suitable for teenagers was derived, and the program's purpose and program processes such as ‘discover’, ‘imagine’, ‘act’, and ‘reflect’ were presented, and the program's main contents and effectiveness evaluation plan were discussed in detail.
 Conclusions This study developed a youth entrepreneurship program that can be applied in terms of career education in the school field. It is believed to be in line with the 2022 revised curriculum, which emphasizes competency development because it is based on the OECD Learning Compass 2030, which overcomes the limitations of the existing youth entrepreneurship education program focused on startups, emphasizes entrepreneurship in various contexts. However, since this study has limitations that focus on planning and design, it is required to secure the validity of the program through field application and evaluation.

교육정책 변화에 대한 교사의 인식과 청소년 봉사활동 활성화에 관한 질적 연구

This study attempted to explore ways to revitalize youth volunteer activities for middle and high school teachers who operate volunteer activities in order to revitalize youth volunteer activities that are shrinking due to changes in education policy. Six teachers with experience in volunteer activity in middle and high schools were selected and a focus group interview was conducted on September 21, 2022. A semi-structured questionnaire derived through discussion among the researchers was used. From the analysis results, three major themes, nine sub-topics, and nine semantic units were derived. First, 'teachers' thoughts on system change' revealed concerns and regrets about the reduction and contraction of volunteer activity, the loss of educational opportunities and difficulty in incorporating new systems, changes in the quality of volunteer work and the possibility of incorporation into the curriculum. Second, 'the realistic challenges of volunteer activity' suggested the lack of specificity and capacity to realize the curriculum, the lack of teacher responsibility and recording methods for realizing small group volunteer activities, and the reality and feasibility of establishing educational plans. Third, 'the proposal for the operation of volunteer activities' suggested the introduction of volunteer subjects to have learning effects and internal stability and linkage the free semester system, linking with community-related organizations and experts for a greater leaps, and easing restrictions to recognize meaningful volunteer activities. Based on these findings, the development of volunteer subjects, preparation of specific measures to promote volunteer activities in clubs and career activities, meetings with community-related institutions and teachers, and the need for a qualitative approach to volunteer activities in terms of finding social problems and social participation were discussed.

Implementing artificial intelligence education for middle school technology education in Republic of Korea

The purpose of this study is multifold: First, to develop an educational program using artificial intelligence (AI) in middle school free semester system of South Korea. Second, to verify the program’s effectiveness, the study clarified the definition of AI and AI education and considered their meaning in technology education. This study used three steps: preparation, development, and improvement. In the preparation step, this study set the theme and purpose of the AI program and selected the free semester activity type “theme selection activity.” After analyzing the technology curriculum and extracting AI-related elements in the development step, this study laid out the program for 16 h of class time. In the improvement step, to augment the program’s validity, the researcher revised and supplemented it as a whole through expert consultation. This research differentiated the developed program from the AI education program of other subjects and specialized it, focusing on the specificity of technology education. The study emphasized the social impact of the latest technology, ethics of AI, physical computing using AI, and technological problem-solving activity using AI. The final developed program was applied to the students, and students participated in a pretest and posttest. The study used the PATT and AI competency test tools. The PATT results showed a significant increase in the mean of both constructs in “interest in technology” and “career aspirations in technology.” In AI competency, the mean of two constructs increased significantly in “social impact of AI” and “AI performance.” In particular, “AI performance” showed the largest increase. There was no statistically significant change in “interaction with AI.” The study results confirmed that the developed AI program was effective in technology education and career exploration, which is the primary purpose of the free semester. In addition, it was possible to confirm the technology educational value of the AI education program centered on technological problem-solving. These research results have implications for bringing AI into technology education.

국내 학술지에 게재된 교육정책 관련 연구 동향 분석

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze research trends targeting educational policy-related theses published in the Journal of Educational Administration, one of the Korean journals, as the subjects of analysis and to provide basic data about the future direction of research on domestic education policy based on the findings of analysis.
 Methods By searching for data from the database of the Korea Education & Research Information Service and the website of the Korea Educational Administration Society, this author collected data about theses on ‘education policy’ published in the Journal of Educational Administration in systematic ways, and for final analysis, 218 theses were selected. The criteria of analysis were set as sector areas and purposes, policy processes and levels, and research methods, etc. As part of reviewing the literatures, Excel program was utilized to conduct frequency analysis and cross-tabulation analysis.
 Results First, according to the results of analyzing research trends by sector areas with 218 educational policy-related theses published in Journal of Educational Administration from 2008 to 2021, elementary and secondary education, higher education, and teachers were found in order. Concerning the topics of research, free semester policy, innovative school policy, the teacher competency development & evaluation system, and principal competition system were found in order. Regarding the purposes of research, analysis on the current status and condition, political alternatives and measures for improvement, and verification and application were found in order. Second, about the trends of research in policy processes, policy evaluation, policy execution, and policy decision were found in order, and in policy levels, the national level, city/province level, and the unit school level were found in order. Third, in the trends of research regarding data collection methods, literatures, statistical data, and questionnaires were found in order, and about the forms of research, analytic research, descriptive research, and comparative research were found in order.
 Conclusions Based on the above results of analyzing the trends of research on educational policy, this researcher has derived following conclusions. Major research trends are associated with the areas of elementary and secondary education, research topics of the free semester system and innovative school policy, research purposes of analysis on the current status and actual condition, processes of policy evaluation, the national level, the method of collecting literatures, and the form of analytic research. Follow-up research will have to be conducted from the perspective of broadening the range of research regarding various sector areas, research purposes, or the pursuit of diversity in the forms of research.

Erratum] 2022 개정 중학교 교육과정 총론 개정안의 쟁점과 과제에 관한 시론적 탐색

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the problems and issues that the recently announced 2022 revised curriculum summary will cause in light of the middle school curriculum operation experience, and further explore improvement tasks and suggest alternatives. Methods The contents of major issues were analyzed and critically understood in light of the 2015 curriculum operation experience. According to the revised announcement, the middle school curriculum is broadly designed to expand digital basic literacy and information education, connect free semesters and career-related semesters, reduce school sports club activities, secure 68 hours of school autonomous time per year, and expand the opening of school elective courses. Characterized by, etc. Reflecting the school field operation experience of the 2015 revised curriculum is expected to reduce another trial and error. Results According to the research results, first, if digital is basic literacy, science and technology subjects belonging to the same subject (district) share the role of information education from insufficient number of hours in information subjects, so that many information education contents are included in science and engineering subjects. It is necessary to strengthen IT convergence education such as artificial intelligence and maker in middle school technical education by separating technology and home subjects. Second, it is important to abolish the free semester system for the first year, which causes academic decline due to the corona virus, and to properly operate career-related education in the second semester of the third year as practical career guidance is continuously provided within the curriculum. need. Third, instead of dispersing creative experiential activities such as physical education club activities in several places, including school sports club activities, it is necessary to integrate them all into the ‘Physical Education’ section. Fourth, democratic citizenship education, ecological transformation education, and labor human rights education, which were decided to be applied to all subjects by using the use of school autonomous time secured at 68 hours per academic year, are not forcibly injected or reformed in accordance with the Voitelsbach Convention. It is necessary to keep in mind that political citizenship education takes place. Conclusions Therefore, the revision of the general summary of the middle school curriculum will greatly reduce the overlap of school-level goals, human image, and core competencies, actively utilize the school autonomous time to raise the basic academic ability that has plummeted, and focus on facts and scientific content, but avoid controversial content. By introducing the Wojtelsbach Agreement, brainwashing and infusion are avoided, and the revision can be better if it reflects the operational experience and wisdom of the field.

Exploring the perception of changes in student competency and its implications: Focusing on the 2019 free semester system

본 연구는 자유학기제가 2016년도 이후 모든 중학교로 확대되어 운영되고, 2018년도 이후 자유학년제로 확대되는 환경의 변화를 바탕으로, 자유학기 경험 전후로 학생들의 역량이 어떻게 변화하는지를 탐색하고자 한다.연구 결과는 크게 2 가지로 도출되었다. 먼저, 자기관리 역량은 평균이 증가하였지만 통계적으로 유의하지 않았으며 지식정보처리 역량, 창의적 사고 역량, 심미적 감성 역량, 의사소통 역량은 평균이 증가하였고 통계적으로 유의하였다. 아울러 공동체 역량은 평균이 감소하였으며 통계적으로 유의하였고, 6개 역량을 모두 평균한 값의 차이를 비교하면 3.70점에서 3.73점으로 0.03점만큼 증가하였으며 이러한 차이는 통계적으로 유의하였다. 이를 종합하면 중학교 1학년의 자유학기 경험은 지식정보처리 역량, 창의적 사고 역량, 심미적 감성 역량, 의사소통 역량 변화에 긍정적으로 연관되어 있다고 추정된다. 다음으로, 자유학기를 마친 후 중학교 2학년 기간 중에 학생역량에 의미 있는 변화가 있었는지를 확인하기 위하여 t 분석을 시행하였고, 2학년이 마무리되는 12월에 시행된 조사 결과 학생들의 역량 평균은 영역에 따라 3.55~3.99의 점수를 보였다. 결국, 의사소통 역량이 가장 높았으며(M=3.99), 심미적 감성 역량이 가장 낮게 나타났다(M=3.59). 이는 학생들이 교육 프로그램에 얼마나 흥미를 느끼고 적극적으로 참여하는지가 역량의 변화에 유의하게 연관되어 있는 것으로 볼 수 있다.This study aims to explore how students' competencies change before and after the free semester experience based on the change in the environment where the free semester system has been expanded to all middle schools since 2016, and the free school year system has been expanded since 2018. The results of the study were mainly derived in two ways. First, the average of self-management competency increased, but it was not statistically significant. The average of knowledge information processing capacity, creative thinking capacity, aesthetic emotional capacity, and communication capacity increased and were statistically significant. In addition, the average of community competency decreased and was statistically significant. Comparing the difference in the average value of all six competency, it was statistically significant. Taken together, it is estimated that the free semester experience of the first year of middle school is positively related to knowledge information processing competency, creative thinking competency, aesthetic emotional competency, and communication competency change. Next, t-analysis was conducted to check whether there was a meaningful change in student competency during the second year of middle school after the free semester ended. In the end, the communication competency was the highest (M=3.99), and the aesthetic emotional competency was the lowest (M=3.59). It can be seen that the degree of interest and active participation of students in the educational program is significantly related to the change in competency.

Analysis of the effects of the free semester system on academic achievement and career maturity

In this study, we examined the longitudinal effect of the free semester system on middle school students’ academic achievement and career maturity using the Korean Education Longitudinal Study data, cohort 2013. We performed Difference-in-Difference (DiD) method to analyze whether the free semester system has effects on academic achievement and career maturity using the model moderated by parental academic support. We furthermore utilized quantile DiD method to examine whether the effects of the free semester system differ across the distribution of academic achievement and career maturity. As a result, we first found the significant positive effect of the free semester system on middle school students’ academic achievement and career maturity. Second, we found that parental academic support mediated its effects on math performance. Third, our findings indicate that the free semester system improves students’ academic achievement and career maturity, especially among students who performed to the bottom of its distribution. Based on these findings, practical implications and future research are discussed.

자유학기제에 활용 가능한 학교상담자용 학급단위 집단상담 모형 개발

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a class unit group counseling model for school counselors to use the free-semester program. In order to accomplish the purpose, first of all this study reviewed the previous research studies, and conducted a survey, a focus group interview, and an expert meeting to develop a proposed model, which consists of the content area, the organizational frame area, and the required resource area. The proposed tentative model was confirmed as the final model by securing content validity through the first and second Delphi surveys of panels of professional counselors who are 40 school counseling field experts. The research results of this study are as follows. The class unit group counseling model for school counselors that can be used in the final proposed free semester system consisted of a total of three areas (content area, organizational frame area, and required resource area). The content area includes three sub-areas(understanding and accepting oneself, making a decision, understanding others and getting along well). The organizational framework includes four sub-areas(available time, number of operational sessions, a most suitable model among the free-semester models, and program operation). The required resource area includes five sub-areas (program operator, required capacity, capacity development method, financial support, and administrative support). This study is significant in that it provides a model for looking for a solution to establish the role of school counselors and to enhance their competency to manage class unit group counseling with middle school students.

Exploring The Potential growth model of Career Maturity According to Activities Related to Free Semester System

본 연구는 청소년의 성장에 따른 진로성숙도의 변화궤적을 자유학기제 경험만족을 조건으로 한 추이를 탐색하였다. 이를 위해 부산교육종단연구(BELS)의 패널 조사 1차년인 2016년의 중 1학년 자료를 활용한 자유학기제 경험의 만족 정도가 2020년(고 2학년)까지의 5개년 동안 진로성숙도 변화궤적에 어떠한 영향을 미쳤는지 살폈다. 본 연구의 종단적인 연구 수행을 위해 잠재성장모형을 적용하여 먼저, 기술통계와 상관분석을 수행하였다. 그리고 가장 적합한 연구모형을 찾기 위해 무조건모형으로 설정한 무변화모형, 선형변화모형, 이차변화모형을 비교하고 가장 적합한 모형으로 이차변화모형을 채택하였다. 채택된 모형은 초기값, 변화율, 이차항 모두 유의하였으며 초기값과 변화율의 상관, 변화율과 이차항의 상관이 통계적으로 유의한 것으로 나타났다. 변화선 추정 결과에서도 감소하다가 다시 증가하는 이차변화양상을 확인할 수 있었다. 채택된 연구모형을 적용하여 자유학기제 활동을 조건으로 하는 진로성숙도의 종단적 변화양상을 확인한 결과, 진로성숙도의 초기값인 중1의 진로성숙도에 유의미하게 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 하지만 시간의 경과에 따른 변화양상에 대해 자유학기제 활동은 변화율과 이차항에 유의미한 영향을 미치지 못했으며 자유학기활동은 일차변화율에 유의미하게 부적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 중학교 이후 고등학교 시기의 진로성숙도의 변화까지 추정하였으며, 중학교 시기 전면실시 된 자유학기제의 시간효과를 중학교와 고등학교 시기에 걸쳐 탐색했다는 점에서 본 연구의 의의가 있다.

Impacts of the Free Semester System on middle-shcool students’ choices of high-school type

목적 자유학기제 시행 전후에 중학생의 진학희망 고교유형 선택행위에 영향을 미치는 요인이 어떻게 변동되었는지를 분석함으로써, 학생의 진로역량의 함양을 목표로 한 자유학기제 시행의 정책 효과를 평가하고자 하였다. 방법 경기도에 자유학기제 시행이 본격화된 2015년을 기준으로, 자유학기제 시행 전인 학생패널1(2012년~2014년)과 시행 후인 학생패널2(2015년~2017년)로 나누어 데이터마이닝 기법 중 의사결정나무을 이용하여 두 패널의 고교유형 선택 시 결정요인을 추출하고, 랜덤포스트 분석을 이용하여 우선순위 리스트를 순차적으로 나열하여 비교하였다. 결과 랜덤포레스트 분석결과, 패널1의 키워드 리스트는 수학점수, 영어점수, 영어효능감, 월총교육비, 국어점수 등의 순서로 나타났고, 패널2의 키워드 리스트는 영어점수, 수학점수, 자기효능감, 진로계획성, 국어점수 등의 순으로 나타나, 자유학기제 실시 전과 후에, 고교유형 선택 시 주요 상위 결정요인이 ‘내신 성적’으로 추출되어, 그리 큰 차이가 없음을 보여주었다. 다만 일부 진로역량 관련 변인, 곧 진로계획성, 독서활동, 진로자기이해도 등의 우선순위가 상승한 것으로 나타나 자유학기제 정책의 긍정적인 부분이 없는 것은 아님을 확인할 수 있었다. 결론 이 연구는 자유학기제를 거치고 간 중학생이 고교유형을 선택할 때 얼마나 진로 적성과 관련되어 선택하는지를 분석해봄으로써, 진로역량의 함양을 목표로 도입된 자유학기제의 정책 성과를 평가하려고 한 것이다. 따라서, 자유학기제 시행 전후에 중학생의 고교유형 선택에 미치는 요인에 대한 변화가 그리 크지는 않은 것으로 나타난 이 연구결과는 자유학기제 정책의 실효에 대한 재점검을 시사해 주었다.

Development of a Theme-selection Program Based on Blended Learning for Free-Semester System in Middle School

Development of a Theme-selection Program Based on Blended Learning for Free-Semester System in Middle School

자유학기제를 위한 진주검무의 교육콘텐츠 연구

The free semester system was operated by the Ministry of Education-designated test operation school in 2013, and as of 2016, this system got to be implemented at the middle schools around the country. The free semester system aims to build up one’s dream and talent through career exploration activity and diverse experience activity away from the burdens of taking an examination for one semester among the middle school curriculum.
 With the addition of ‘Creative Experience Activity’ to the 2009 curriculum, the code ‘Creativity’ was highlighted, but practical creative education wasn’t realized. To overcome such a limit, what was suggested at a national level was the very “Free Semester System.”
 In case of a school which put the free semester system into practice in 2015, unlike the fundamental purpose of this system, there were many cases where the programs, which were conducted in a club activity and after-school activity, were extended as the free semester system.
 The education which can serve to develop a potential talent through the free semester system is no other than arts education, and among others, the educational field stands in need of experience and education of the national intangible cultural heritages.
 It’s because the national intangible cultural heritages provide diverse elements which can be used as educational contents as they cherish our people’s identity, historicity and cultural prototype. At present, the transmission of intangible cultural heritages is in good progress, but they have not been properly used as cultural heritages which arouse sympathy between generations, and have the property of realism(presentness). In order for intangible cultural heritages not to be the heritages in the past, the existing cultural heritages should be recreated as the present ones through education contents. This researcher is intending to propose Jinju Sword Dance education contents which are suited for the free semester system on the basis of the experience in teaching the National Intangible Cultural Property No. 12, Jinju Sword Dance.

진로성숙도의 종단적 변화와 자유학기제 학생 만족도와의 구조적 관계 분석

This study was started to check whether the free semester system policy goal was achieved. The concept of career maturity was introduced to verify the free semester system policy, and the potential growth model was judged to be suitable as a research model in light of the concept of career maturity. As a result of the analysis, first, student satisfaction and career maturity were not low. Second, in the unconditional model, the longitudinal change in career maturity according to grade was statistically significant. Third, in the conditional model, student satisfaction in the free semester system had an effect on both the initial value and the slope of career maturity. In conclusion, the free semester system was analyzed to be achieving the policy goals. Based on the research results, support should be considered so that there is no difference in the level of operation of the free semester system between regional and unit schools, In middle school, they suggested a plan to maintain career maturity by using extracurricular activities after the free semester system, and the necessity of a plan to improve career maturity in the high school course.

2015 개정 수학과 교육과정 실행의 제약 사항 탐색

It is critical and timely to investigate how teachers implement the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum in their classrooms as it has been applied to all elementary to high school grade levels in 2020. For this reason, we aimed to examine limitations that teachers perceived in their implementation of the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum in terms of curriculum documents, classroom environments, and education policy. We first conducted focus group interviews with 4 mathematics education professors, 5 elementary, 7 middle, and 5 high school teachers to find shared issues related to curriculum implementation. Next, the nation-wide field survey was designed using the limitations raised in the focus group interview to examine overall opinions about those issues. We collected the survey responses from 258 elementary, 185 middle, and 139 high school teachers. The results showed that descriptions of the mathematical competencies in the curriculum documents should be more clarified in connection to achievement standards. It is also suggested to include more applicable instructional guidelines in the curriculum documents. Teachers mentioned that ways to implement the process-focused assessment should be described in detail, but they generally agreed to remove differentiated instructions by students’ achievement in the documented curriculum. Furthermore, teachers highlighted demands for improved learning environments for educational technology as well as alignment between the revised curriculum and other education policies like the free-semester system. These findings suggested an implication about how to support teachers to implement the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum appropriately: A teacher manual for curriculum implementation, software and applications, and classroom materials should be provided with an easy access. It is additionally suggested that participation of in-service teachers are important in not only constructing practicum-centered professional development but also better implementing of the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum.

Learning experiences of middle school students who participated in career experience activities in the free semester system and the free school year system

Learning experiences of middle school students who participated in career experience activities in the free semester system and the free school year system