Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education (한국과학교육학회지)

The Korean Association for Science Education (한국과학교육학회)
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Qualitative Inquiry into the Characteristics of Science Teacher Learning Communities: Cases Within and Across Schools

과학 교사 학습공동체 특성에 대한 질적 탐구 -학교안과 학교밖 공동체 사례-

  • Received : 2021.06.24
  • Accepted : 2021.08.13
  • Published : 2021.08.31
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Abstract

This study explores the characteristics of within-school and across-school science teacher professional learning communities (hereafter, PLC) qualitatively. In-depth focus group interviews were conducted with science teachers belonging to seven PLCs within the science core school and three PLCs across schools. Interview questions include identity and motivation, major activities, and outcomes of PLC, as well as shortcomings and support plans for PLC. The results include both within-school and across-school science teacher PLCs formed for professional development related to science teaching and learning. Both science PLCs participated in the study showed the characteristics of a 'practice community' that developed a cooperative relationship through reciprocal participation, focusing on shared issues among members. Regarding issues, within-school PLCs focused on microscopic problems such as curriculum reconstruction of subject-matter, while across-school PLCs focused on macro problems such as teacher professional development. Regarding activities and roles as PLC, within-school and across-school science PLCs shared such features as collaborative professional development, and interpersonal education such as mentoring for novice teachers. In terms of PLC's influence and outcomes, science teacher PLCs has a positive effect not only on the teachers themselves, but also on the students and the teacher culture in the school. In addition, science teacher PLCs need improvement of the physical conditions for community operation, and software support such as protocol provision for PLC operation and joint research or re-education with universities. In particular, joint research between universities and science teacher PLCs shows the future orientation of the PLC as an 'inquiry community'. Based on the results, the necessity of active support for science PLC, the necessity of developing a cooperative system between science teacher PLC and universities, and ways to spread the PLC of science core schools to that of general schools were proposed.

이 연구에서는 교과교육전문성 함양을 목적으로 모인 과학교사 PLC를 학교안 PLC와 학교밖 PLC로 구분하여 그 특징을 탐색하였다. 이를 위하여 과학중점학교 7개교에 속한 과학교사 PLC와 학교밖 과학교사 PLC 3개 단체에 속한 과학교사들을 대상으로 학습공동체로서의 정체성과 동인, 활동 내용, 운영 성과, 부족하거나 지원이 필요한 부분 등에 대하여 초점집단 심층면담을 실시하였다. 주요 연구결과를 살펴보면, 학교안 과학과 PLC와 학교밖 과학과 PLC 모두 교수·학습과 관련된 전문성 개발을 위해 학습공동체를 구성한 것으로 나타났다. 연구에 참여한 학교안과 학교밖의 과학교사 학습공동체들은 모두 구성원들이 공통으로 경험하는 쟁점 문제들을 중심으로, 호혜적 참여를 통해 협력관계를 형성하는 '실천공동체'의 특징을 나타내었다. 한편, 쟁점 문제에서 학교안의 경우는 과학 교과 교육과정 재구성과 같은 미시적인 문제에, 학교밖의 경우는 교사로서의 전문성 향상과 같은 거시적인 문제에 천착하는 차이점을 나타내었다. 학습공동체로서의 활동과 역할의 경우 학교안과 밖의 과학교사 학습공동체들은 협업적 전문성 개발, 초임교사 멘토링과 같은 상호교학 등의 공통점을 나타내었다. 학습공동체의 영향력과 운영 성과의 경우, 학습공동체는 교사 자신뿐만 아니라, 학생과 학교문화에까지 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 학습공동체 지원과 관련하여 공동체 운영을 위한 물리적 여건 개선과 함께 PLC 운영을 위한 프로토콜 제공, 대학과의 연계를 통한 공동 연구나 재교육 등과 같은 소프트웨어 지원이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 특히 대학과 PLC의 공동연구는 '탐구 공동체'로서 교사 학습공동체가 추구해야 할 미래지향적인 방향을 보여준다. 연구 결과를 토대로 과학과 PLC의 원활한 운영을 위한 적극적인 지원의 필요성, 과학과 PLC와 대학과의 협력 체제 구상의 필요성, 과학중점학교의 과학과 PLC의 운영 성과를 중·고등학교 과학교사 PLC에 확산하는 방안 등을 제안하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 2020년도 대한민국 교육부와 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임(NRF-2020S1A3A2A01095782).

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