• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate how middle school teachers perceived major features of the 'Free Learning Semester'. In 2013, the Free Learning Semester has been proposed by Korean government to provide students with the educational programs which deals with various activities in classroom in order to increase student's learning ability. The Free Learning Semester helps students to figure out their dreams and develops their talents. The government plans to expand the Free Learning Semester to all middle schools by 2016. Since teacher's perception is an important matter in the application of the Free Learning Semester, this study seeks to document the changes in curriculum by observing the perception of teachers in the school that implemented the Free Learning Semesters and those that did not implemented the Free Learning Semesters. 172 teachers from nine middle schools in Busan that their school schedules allowed were surveyed. Two school which operated the Free Learning Semester were compared to seven schools which did not operate the Free Learning Semester. The results are summarized as follows: First, almost all (97.7%) teachers in the Free Learning Semester schools have completed a training whereas 74.6% of the teachers in the non-Free Learning Semester schools have not. The usefulness of the training was satisfactory, but the teachers in the Free Learning Semester Schools wanted more practical help with the curriculum. Second, the result, which was statistically significant(p<.05), revealed that the first grade second semester of middle school was the best time to implement the Free Learning Semester. In order for its successful establishment in schools, there needs to be a reliable and effective evaluation system. However, the results regarding the introduction and management of the new system were not statistically significant. Lastly, in the Free Learning Semester Schools, the changes in teachers' perception were statistically significant (p<.05). The results show that the teachers need the training and the teacher's community to implement the curriculum and set a basis for valuation.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.107-113
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• 2017

The results showed that the male teachers' have higher expectations of the free learning semester compared to the female teachers'. Furthermore, the teachers who had experienced the free learning semester felt less job burdens than the teachers who did not. In addition, the subject teachers showed higher expectations of the free learning semester than the general teachers or the homeroom teachers. Therefore, in order to establish a stable system of free learning semester, it should be preceded by development of differentiated program of special education, free learning semester, strengthening of advance training, establishment of the system for participating in the whole school and the simplification of administration.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2014

A total of 2,325 schools including all of the middle and high school have operated variation type since government announced the "Variation Type classroom System Promotion Plan" in May 2009. New education policy, free learning semester of middle school, was introduced after current government took office, followed by extended application of educational policy. Korean students have a low level of happiness and interest in the school due to admissions intensive competition and the investment memorize education and cramming education. Therefore, in consideration of youth development stage, free learning semester system introduction commitment was announced in November 2012, and free learning semester was operated by way of showing an example in 2013, and then expansion implementation plan of 2015 was established, because free learning semester introduction in middle school stage is increasing. This study considers concept and operation method to free learning semester of middle school which are newly introduced, based on the policy documents of Ministry of Education. Also, through the example of Japanese schools, this analyses creativity, personality, social skills, and healthy corresponding to a free learning semester curriculum of middle school, and present method to apply for Korea.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.93-122
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• 2016

The present study investigates librarians perceptions of Free Learning Semester, and their commitment to program development for coordination with Free Learning Semester, and whether they currently offer programs for Free Learning Semester. The study results are as follows. First, the results on perceptions of Free Learning semester showed that 54.20% of the librarians who participated in the study were aware of Free Learning Semester, and 80.15% had participated in training related to Free Learning Semester. Regarding the anticipated outcomes of implementation of Free Learning Semester, "Participation in various experiential activities offered through Free Learning Semester" was the most common response, and regarding special considerations in Free Learning Semester, "Need for instituting the dedicated workforce and enhancing their sense of responsibility and expertise" was the most common response. Second, regarding the library program development and provision for coordination with Free Learning Semester, 58.02% thought that the implementation of Free Learning Semester was an opportunity to expand the role of libraries, while insufficient budget was listed as a barrier. In addition, 63.36% stated that they had no experience in providing a program in a library. Finally, the results on the perception on the Free Learning Semester program they want to provide in a library showed that "Human Library" and "Read! Think! Dream!" were the programs they want to provide most, with the mean score of 3.939.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.187-211
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• 2016

The present study investigates the seventh and the eighth graders' perception of Free Learning Semester Programs offered by libraries by developing a survey questionnaire on students' needs for Free Learning Semester Programs of Libraries. The skills that middle school students want to improve in Free Learning Semesters are career exploration skills, and the type of Free Learning Semester that is most intensively implemented is career exploration activities. Programs are often offered in the form of experiential classes. Regarding the activities that the students want to participate during Free Learning Semester, the most preferred activities included field experience activity in the career exploration domain, cooking class in the student choice program, smartphone app development in club activities, design activity in the art domain, the badminton in the physical education domain, and using iPad in the information use skills. In addition, among the library programs in coordination with Free Learning Semester, the students liked the occupational experience program most. Future studies need to include the development and implementation of Free Learning Semester Programs based on students' opinions, and investigate their satisfaction with the Free Learning Semester Programs offered by libraries.

• Korean Educational Research Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.81-108
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to develop a standardized learning model for a free-learning semester, and to provide a practical framework of its curriculum. This paper is a state-funded study to design an instructional model for the free-learning semester. Instructional models that have been implemented in the practical school were constructed through collecting opinions from school teachers. The instructional model for a free-learning semester in this current study is a modification of the existing learning model into the Learning (Meaningful reception learning)-Practice-Production stage. These are designed to reflect the UNESCO proposals that emphasize knowledge, skills, and character, respectively. It is not easy to construct the instructional model for the free-learning semester activities. A three-step strategy that encompasses the UNESCO proposals will be a useful framework for teachers to systematically design and implement free-learning semester teaching.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1318-1333
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• 2015

The research aim of this investigation was to present implications and supplements in policy research middle school which has implemented free learning semester for 3 years from 2013 to now, through identifying and analyzing education program. In this study, the results were as follows. Firstly, it was needed to generalize career education programs. I was required to make a specialized program which was suitable for a characteristic of school and community rather than department-store-like program. Secondly, in considering career development stage of middle school students, it seemed that implementation of free learning semester was suitable for second grades. Thirdly, teacher interns should be used appropriately in order to manage efficiently free learning semester. Lastly, it was needed to develop a specialized program for career education through studying with expert groups.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.105-121
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• 2017

This study determined the reality of how middle school students are doing with their free learning semester and what they think about it. Also, the study looked at how many parts of Home Economics and the area of clothing curriculum are being taken and, especially, how many parts of this curriculum content are being required as free learning semester activities. This study aims to not only develop free learning semester activities according to student demand but also at providing a basic resource that can help activate the area of clothing curriculum in subject of Home Economics. In short: 1) Middle school students are attending activities such as career exploration activities, student selection activities, club activities, arts activities and physical education activities thoroughly through the free learning semester. These mostly take place in school and most of the students were taught by teachers from their own school. 2) The students are aware that the free learning semester's activities are helpful for them. The most helpful part was that it reduces the load they get from the school's exam and also the fact that they can investigate areas in which they are interested. 3) The number of students who have already taken or are taking activities related to Home Economics were 145, which is about 1/3 of the 451 students overall. The area where the most of the activities were held out of those activities related to Home Economics was the domain of food while the clothing curriculum accounted for a very small part compared to it. 4) The study found that need for a clothing curriculum for middle school student free learning semesters was about 2.79 on a scale from 1 to 5. The areas of most interest in this topic were highly related to 'making and mending clothes'.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.273-288
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• 2014

In recent years, coding education has been globally emphasized and the Free Semester System will be executed to the public schools in Korea from 2016. With the introduction of the Free Semester System and the rising demand of Computational Thinking (CT) capacity, this research aims to design 'learning environment' in which learners can design and construct mathematical objects through computers and print them out through 3D printers. Furthermore, it will design learning mathematics by constructing the figurate number patterns from 'soma cubes' in the playing context and connecting those to algebraic and combinatorial patterns, which will allow students to experience mathematical connectivity. It is expected that the activities of designing figurate number patterns suggested in this research will not only strengthen CT capacity in relation to mathematical thinking but also serve as a meaningful program for the Free Semester System in terms of career experience as 3D printers can be widely used.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.289-299
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• 2016

The purpose of the study was to develop evaluation methods which would measure student achievement and progress without traditional paper-pencil tests such as mid-term and final examinations. More specifically, the main research focus were to establish general directions of student assessment during free semester, to build evaluation models supporting student's participation and learning, and to report and record various student evaluation results. As research results, we found that student evaluation of free semester should be organized to improve a) experience learning activity, self-regulatory and collaboratory study, b) high-order thinking ability and character-building, and c) teacher-student-parent cooperation. Since traditional paper-pencil tests were restricted in free semester, student achievement should be provided by a way of performance descriptions on transcripts rather than quantitative grade points. Student performance descriptions had to show not only subject knowledge but also students efforts, motivation, and participation. These multiple and educationally meaningful information would be collected by teacher-student-parent communication and collaboration.