• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of the national preschool curriculum on children's development in Korea, focusing on teachers' daily practice. By comparing the effect of the teachers' curriculum practice to that of quantitatively measured free play, it tried to add practical implications beyond the statistical significance. Methods: Participants were 512 three-year-old children who participated in the Panel Study of Korean Children and their teachers. National curriculum practice and free play time at the age of three was put in the hierarchical linear regression models to discover children's developmental outcomes at the age of four, in domains of language, cognitive development, and social development. Results: Results demonstrated the significant positive influence of national curriculum practice on every domain of developmental outcomes. However, no facilitative influence of free play time was observed. Conclusion/Implications: The importance of teachers' practice of the national curriculum was emphasized. It was implied that the quantity of free play time itself did not assure the sound development of children. Policy implications were discussed regarding teacher practice and education.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.19-31
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the difference between teachers' traumatic experience and teachers' organizational commitment while considering individual differences of the childcare teachers and to investigate the effect of childcare teachers' traumatic experience on organizational commitment. Methods: This study used an online survey and collected data from 235 respondents. Then the data were analyzed by using a one-way ANOVA test, Scheffe post-hoc analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: First, this study found that there was a statistically significant difference between the traumatic experience of childcare teachers and teachers' organizational commitment depending on the age and career stage of the childcare teachers. Second, the childcare experience of childcare teachers showed a positive correlation with experience, and the traumatic experience showed a negative correlation with the organizational commitment. Third, childcare teachers' traumatic experience had a negative effect on normative and continuous immersion, respectively. Conclusion/Implications: This study contributes to the literature by recognizing the events that occurred in the process of childcare and identified the cause of the decrease in childcare teachers' motivation to work. It also suggests the need for continuous research on traumatic events that childcare teachers' experience during work in order to protect the rights and interests of childcare teachers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the tendency of research in relation to childcare curriculum for 0 to 2 year-olds, and then to analyze and understand the results of precedent research about the status of the operation of Childcare Curriculum. Methods: The analytic data utilized in this research contains a total of 45 research results about childcare curriculum for 0 to 2 year-olds. Results: First, the research methods were focused on quantitative research. Regarding research topics, the status of the operation of Childcare Curriculum, and contents and programs of Childcare Curriculum received high attention. Second, while, childcare teachers showed an awareness of the Childcare Curriculum, they made few efforts to investigate and understand it in depth. It was reported that a lack of multiple support systems would serve as an obstacle to the operation of Childcare Curriculum. Conclusion/Implications: There is a need for childcare centers, academic circles and the government to pay an even greater deal of attention to the childcare curriculum for 0 to 2 year-olds. In addition, structural and policy support is required, such as revitalizing case-based teacher training, lowering the ratio of teachers to children, and improving working conditions for infant teachers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-27
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• 2023

Objective: This study designed an Augmented Reality-based intervention program for children with conflicted shyness and examined its effects on social avoidance motivation and preference for being with others. Methods: Sixteen six-year-old children were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in a six-week AR-based program. Both teachers and children rated social avoidance motivation and preference for being with others to evaluate the program's effectiveness. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Social avoidance motivation decreased only for the experimental group. Conversely, the control group showed increased motivation scores as reported by the children. The preference for being with others increased in the experimental group based on teacher reports. For the control group, preference scores reported by teachers and children were maintained and decreased, respectively. Conclusion/Implications: This study highlights the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing social avoidance motivation and maintaining a preference for being with others in children experiencing conflicted shyness. Furthermore, the use of AR technology provided a psychologically safe environment for them to initiate social interactions without fear of negative evaluation, highlighting its potential as a primary intervention tool for this population.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1-19
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a recognition scale for childcare teachers' rights. Methods: Statistical methods for data analysis involved the use of SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. To confirm the reliability and validity of the developed scale, various analyses, including item quality assessment, item discrimination, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis, were conducted. The maximum likelihood estimation method was employed for model fitting. Goodness of fit was assessed using SRMR, RMSEA and its 90% confidence interval, CFI, and TLI. Through these analyses, the scale's reliability and validity exceeded the standard. Consequently, 5 factors and 30 questions were ultimately selected as the recognition scale for childcare teachers' rights. Results: First, a recognition scale for childcare teachers' rights was developed to reflect changes in childcare settings. Second, an objective measurement was incorporated into the recognition scale of childcare teachers' rights. Third, the analysis using the proposed scale revealed a correlation between the recognition of childcare teachers' rights and life satisfaction. Conclusion/Implications: The study developed a scale capable of objectively measuring the recognition of childcare teachers' rights.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.91-111
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore trends in institutional evaluation research in early childhood education through keyword network analysis. This aims to understand trends in academic discourse on institutional evaluation and gain implications for follow-up research and related policy directions. Methods: A total of 6,629 keywords were extracted from 572 dissertations and journal articles published from January 2006 to October 2023 for the purpose of analyzing and visualizing the frequency and centrality of keywords, as well as the structural properties of keyword networks. The analysis and visualization were conducted using the TEXTOM, UCINET6, and NetDraw programs. Results: First, the number of institutional evaluation studies increased steadily from 2006 to 2010 and then decreased, with a higher frequency of studies on daycare centers compared to kindergartens. Second, the most frequently occurring keyword in the analysis was 'daycare center,' and the highest connection strength was found in the term 'daycare-center-evaluation.' Third, network analysis revealed that key terms for institutional evaluation research included 'evaluation certification,' 'recognition,' 'evaluation indicators,' 'teacher,' 'daycare center,' and 'kindergarten.' In the ego network analysis for each institution, 'parent' emerged as a highly ranked keyword. Conclusion/Implications: This study confirmed the perspectives of previous studies by revealing the structure of core concepts in early childhood education institution evaluation research, and provided implications for follow-up and direction of institution evaluation

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the mediating effect of reflective thinking in the relationship between early childhood teachers' play-based curriculum implementation competences and their digital competences. Methods: An online survey was conducted targeting 330 early childhood teachers. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and The Process macro model 4 were performed using SPSS 28.0 and The Process macro 4.1. Results: The main results of this study are outlined as follows: first, a significant positive correlation was observed between overall play-based curriculum implementation competences, reflective thinking, and digital competences, including each of their respective sub-factors. Second, the study revealed that reflective thinking played a partial mediating role in the relationship between early childhood teachers' play-based curriculum implementation competences and digital competences. Conclusion/Implications: Through this study, it was confirmed that when reflective thinking mediated play-based curriculum implementation competences, digital competences were further increased. The findings suggest that not only positive play-based curriculum implementation competences of teachers but also reflective thinking should be considered to enhance digital competences.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.85-106
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of early childhood teachers in teaching young children with language development delays. Methods: Eight early childhood teachers with experience teaching children with language development delays were interviewed. The collected data were analyzed through transcription, coding, and theme generation processes, resulting in three main themes and seven sub-themes. Results: First, early childhood teachers mentioned difficulties in communication due to language development delays, the need for communication support with peers, and a lack of support from families. Second, the guidance for young children with language development delays was provided by considering the characteristics of these children and through collaboration among various stakeholders. Third, early childhood teachers requested tailored training for teaching young children with language development delays. They also called for the establishment of a cooperative system among early childhood education institutions, families, and specialized agencies. Conclusion/Implications: Based on the research findings, a discussion was conducted on the support needed for guiding young children with language development delays, and suggestions were made for further research in this area.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.417-438
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• 2013

This study studies the effect of student teacher's sense of humor, psychological well-being and ego-resilience by general characteristics and by examining the correlation with each other and influences. A sample of 323 student teachers was obtained from a college and a university in the Busan area. This study made use of an research instrument which was a questionnaire for sense of humor(Woo, 2008), psychological well-being(Lee, 2006) and ego-resilience(Park, 1997). For the data analysis connection analysis and regression analysis, SPSS version 18.0 was used. The results of study are as follows. First, student teachers have scores which are above average scores of sense of humor, psychological well-being and ego-resilience. Second, there was a positive correlation between the sense of humor and ego-resilience and a low grade variable of ego-resilience of student teachers and their sense of humor and psychological well-being and between their psychological well-being and ego-resilience. Third, When a multilinear regression analysis was made to confirm which variable would affect ego-resilience, sense of humor and a low grade variable of their was found to exert a statistically significant impact by 5%, and psychological well-being and a low grade variable of their was found to exert a statistically significant impact by 26%. Based on the results, the education training or programs for student teacher to use the sense of humor and psychological well-being should be developed according to the ego-resilience.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.339-368
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• 2013

This study aims to discover how three-year-old children to search for existence and its meaning, while they participate a programme, 'discourse among children through books' as a way of resolving curiosities. Data were collected between April 2, September 10, 2010 and the collected data included teacher's class records, pictures, discussion notes and interview materials. The results showed that 'discourse among children through books' follows steps in a process. The steps include: Deciding a topic that children should search for, choosing an appropriate book to resolve children's curiosities, spending some time for discoursing among children by using pictures in the book, and sharing what they had understood. Through this process, a pre-school teacher met with children who were full of abilities, ideas and motivation to explore with a little assistance. The pre-school teacher was able to overcome preconceived ideas that informational books could be difficult for children, and experienced various lessons, while the children led their own learning. It represents that the activity, 'discourse among children through books' can be a children centered inquiry learning teaching strategy, because the informational books ensure that the children gain knowledge and are actively in cogitation.