만 3-5세 담당 연령별 유아교사의 과학교육 실태 및 개선을 위한 요구

초록

The purpose of this study is to identify status and needs for improvement of early childhood teachers' science education by children's age and to seek ways to support science education by teachers. To this end, the study conducted focus group interviews with 9 early childhood teachers as participants. All of them responded that the science education for young children include content about 'nurturing exploratory attitude‘ and scientific activities about 'animals, plants and nature'. As for teaching and learning methods, 3-year-old class teachers said the current science education in their class is focused on ‘observation activities’ and teachers of 4-year-old classes responded that science education is concentrated on ‘science center'. Teachers of 5-year-old classes said science education aims at exploratory activities but the education is actually delivered in demonstrations by teachers. In addition, participants agreed that there is a lack of teaching-learning materials. Regarding the purpose and goal of early childhood science education, teachers of 3-year-olds mentioned ‘fostering basic ability to think in a scientific way' and teachers of 4 and 5-year-old classes referred to ‘nurturing creativity'. Furthermore, teachers of 5-year-old classes recognized science education as ‘developing science process skills'. With regard to teacher education, teachers of 3-year-old classes called for ‘workshop-style training based on theme', 4-year-old class teachers wanted ‘science training based on the Nuri Curriculum' and teachers of 5-year-old classes asked for ‘case study education considering connectivity with elementary school science'.

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