• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.136-151
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in perceptions of the categories of environmental education and environmental education professionalism of teachers participating in a in-service teacher training programs for environmental education. For this study, surveys and interviews were conducted before and after participation of 20 elementary and secondary school teachers who had participated in 'in-service teacher training program for professional development in environmental education' in August of 2005. Before participation, most of teachers answered that 'Education for Environment' was essential factor among the categories for environmental education. After participation, 15 teachers retained their perception but 5 teachers had changed to 'Education about Environment' or 'Education for Environment'. Environmental professionalism was conducted in '5 ability categories of environment teachers' of Hungerford et al.(1994). Categories has goal domains such as 'Goal domain I (level of basic)', 'Goal domain II (level of conceptual perceptions)', 'Goal domain III (level of investigating and evaluation)', 'Goal domain IV(level of environmental action skill)', 'Goal domain V(level of educational apply)'. Before participation, teachers had a low level of professionalism in environmental areas, but after participation environmental education professionalism improved significantly into the all 'Goal domains'.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-182
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze the professionalism of elementary school teachers and to draw out factors which elementary teachers should try to improve their professionalism for environmental education. For the study, both Quantitative analysis and qualitative methodologies were applied: First, randomly selected 483 elementary teachers from Seoul and Gyeonggi self responded to 5 evaluation areas by Hungerford et al. (1994) to evaluate their environmental education professionalism through the use of five point Likert scale. Second, 2 elementary teachers' environmental classes were observed for the purpose of analyzing strengths and weaknesses in classroom instruction, and then the results of self-evaluation on environmental education professionalism and teacher professionalism as shown in the classes were compared. It was found that 483 elementary teachers including 2 teachers fer analyzing classroom instruction who performed a self-evaluation gave themselves mid-scores on the Hungerford et al.'s 5 evaluation areas. However, the result of self-evaluation did not correspond with the result of actual class observation and teacher interview. That is, the actual environmental classes conducted by 2 teachers did not seemed to reflect the evaluation areas which were the foundation of the study: the conceptual awareness, the investigation & evaluation, environmental action skills, and educational application. The results of this study can be used as the basis reference to develop teaching-learning program and in-service programs for professional development of teachers for successful application of environmental education in elementary school classes.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.54-66
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to find identity of the elementary environmental education and inquire elements of professionalism in environmental education that elementary teachers should have. This study performed a half-structured interview in twice to the eight of elementary teachers who completed the environmental education curriculum course in a graduate school or participated in the teacher training program before. As a result, this study found that the identity of the elementary environmental education consists of the unification comprehending various subjects, the well-rounded sensitivity balancing intellectual, emotional and behavioral aspects, and the grounding in forming environmentally friendly living-habit and academic basis of environments. Moreover, this study found that the teacher training program for the specialty of the elementary environmental teachers should comprise of the following twelve components: the knowledge of overall environmental curriculum, environmental life guidance and environmental classroom management, environmental teaching skills and function, the passion and commitment about environmental education, environmental sensitivity, understanding of education studies, the values and attitude about environment, environmental behavior, understanding the relationship between environmental psychology and developing stage of child, the general education and communication/cooperation with colleagues or local community, understanding of the role as an teacher for the elementary environmental education. More importantly, it would be very crucial that the teachers themselves who are the main body of education system should recognize the their role as the professionals in order to improve the quality of education.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.43-55
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• 2009

The objective of this study is to find out the professionalism of secondary school teachers in teaching environmental subjects. This research was conducted using a questionnaire survey of 431 secondary school teachers from 34 schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, Korea. A 5-point Likert scale self-evaluation questionnaire on their professionalism in environmental education was developed based on Hungerford et al.'s (1994) evaluation criteria. Two middle school teachers' classes were observed, and video taping and interviewing were also conducted. The survey analysis revealed that teachers evaluated their professionalism on environmental subjects to be a little above the middle of the scale. The mean values were 2.80 for the foundation level; 2.86 for the conceptual awareness level; 2.84 for the investigation level; 2.94 for the environmental action skills level; and 2.84 for the educational application level. However, class observations revealed that there was some gap between their self-evaluation of professionalism and their actual classroom application. Both classes were not that satisfactory with regard to 'the abilities to communicate and apply ecological concepts', 'the ability to clarify the roles of different value systems for environmental issues and personal values in decision making', 'the ability to clarify their own value system regarding solutions to environmental issues', and 'the ability to apply citizen action skills for solving environmental issues and for sustainable development'. The results provide a basic reference for the improvement of environmental-related education.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.21-38
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• 2019

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of early childhood teachers' current working conditions such as welfare and wages, working hours, ECEC center's environmental characteristics, and parental involvement and community engagement on the professionalism of teachers. Method: A total of 988 respondents participated in the nationwide online survey. The data were analyzed by correlation analysis and structual equation modeling. Results: First, there were no statistically significant direct effects of ECEC teachers' working conditions on teacher professionalism. Second, there were significant direct effects of teacher efficacy and well-being on teacher professionalism. Third, there were significant indirect effects of teachers' working conditions on their professionalism, via efficacy and well-being, linking the impact of working conditions and the professionalism of teachers. Conclusion/Implication: The results of this structural model imply that policy input for teacher welfare, wage increases, and the enhancement of teachers' well-being and efficacy are valid and significant for the professional development of ECEC teachers. These results provide the data-driven evidence for the importance of welfare and socio-cognitive approaches for teachers.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.51-61
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• 2011

In this study, the Korean alternative school teachers' perceptions of ecocentric environmental education were surveyed. A total of 80 teachers from 42 alternative schools across the nation answered to the survey. The results were as follows. Teachers were found to have a lot of interest in environmental issues and to practice some environmental actions inside and outside school. Over sixty percent teachers agreed with the ecocentric philosophy of environmental education. The most two important issues among 11 environmental education contents for teachers were "natural environment" and "environmental ethics". Teachers used and preferred "field work" for teaching environmental issues, and got teaching materials mostly from the internet. However, many of them were not satisfied with environmental activity in their schools because of their lack of professionalism. They had not enough experience of professional development for environmental education, and strongly wanted to learn about field work.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.607-615
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• 2014

Outdoor education emphasizes diverse experiences from the internal growth which is expected from the learners, to the ecological and environmental experiences. It is also the needs of this time and reflected in the education system of Korea. However the goal of outdoor education is not well defined and philosophical efforts to clarify it is also not enough. In this respect, we tried to define the goal and investigated professionalism of outdoor education. Specifically, we investigated the professionalism of teachers and instructors of physical education. The goal was investigated in two areas 1) holistic experience and problem solving skill and 2) aiming self-reflective practitioner. The idea was that educators must not aim simple educational efficiencies but have to become self-reflective practitioners through everyday life. The conclusions of this study are firstly, a safety manual is required to avoid possible injuries and to give first aid in an unfortunate occasion, secondly, an education program is required to train outdoor professionals and lastly, outdoor education should not remain in the boundary of formal education but should be included in non-formal education.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.224-241
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to review the research trends in school environmental education. We analyzed 383 research papers that specifically focused on the school context which were 66% of the total number (N=577) published in this journal between 1990~2011. We defined the characteristics of review and developed a review method by examining previous review studies in this area. The review framework for school environmental education research was devised in terms of seven research areas: 1) Theories and objectives of school environmental education, 2) Environmental awareness, attitude and behavior, 3) Current issues in environmental education in the school context, 4) Instructions and programs, 5) National Curriculum, 6) Environmental education contents, and 7) Teacher professionalism. In this paper, we present dominant features within each category with focus on the overall trends of research methods and themes. Finally, we discuss research issues emerging out of the empirical analysis for considering the value of research for enhancing the quality of environmental education in schools.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-20
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• 2011

The purpose of this research is to apply and evaluate the Water Environmental Education Program Using Streams(WEES) to pre-service teachers. WEES is developed to help the teachers increase their professionalism of incorporating a local environment into their inquiry teaching. The subjects of the study include the juniors of the Environmental Education Major at the Korea National University of Education. For the purpose this study, educational criticism about WEES was performed. The subject students were observed throughout the program application, after which a survey and in-depth interviews were carried out. As a result, the implementation elements and content organization of the WEES were found to be implemented in the application process in a satisfying level. In the content organization of the program, the preliminary preparation, visual assessment, and inquiry planning were organically connected with each other for inquiry purposes. The Intrinsic value of environmental education was also demonstrated in the implementation elements and content organization. Overall, the stream turned out to have a great value of environmental education and a potential as a place and material for environmental education. The great significance of the study can be found in that WEES took into account not only the characteristics of the ENVISION based on the watershed concept, but also the situations of Korea's environmental education and exploration from the perspective of environmental studies.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2007

This study aims to present and develop 'teacher professional model and standards of assessing students in environmental education for sustainability'. To achieve the purpose, this study was progressed in the following stages. First, based on the results of purposes and objectives developing in environmental education, the concept and components of environmental literacy, which are utilized in environmental education as a means of creating sustainable education were analyzed. Second, the qualities, which environmental teacher should have as an expert were identified through a process of researching literature and professional meeting. Based on the result, the categories and elements of the qualities which an environmental teacher should be have in order to provide expert evaluation of students in their environmental classes were extracted and teacher professional model assessing students was developed. Third, based on the above teacher professional assessing model, standards of assessing in environmental education for sustainability were established. Fourth, based on the teacher professional model and standards of assessing students in environmental education, assessing items corresponding to components of environmental literacy were presented. By presenting and developing 'teacher professional model and standards of assessing students in environmental education for sustainability' in this study, we expect that the model and standards can support to improve school teachers' assessing professionalism in selecting assessing methods, designing assessing process, and analyzing and applying the results of the assessment.