• 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 People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.289-298
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• 2019

As part of the free semester program, the 'Gardener for a day' program in the Korea National Arboretum was newly developed in 2018. The program was developed as a free semester program reflecting the works of a 'gardener' who performs the planning, preparation, maintenance and management of exhibition gardens. This 'Gardener for a day' program was applied to a total of 106 middle school students in October 2018. Educational elements were extracted from Korea National Arboretum exhibition gardens and career exploration of gardeners. The program was designed to provide education on theory and practices, including watching the gardener video, visiting the gardener booth, meeting with actual gardeners at Korea National Arboretum, visiting two exhibition gardens, and participating in three types of practical training as a gardener. A survey about program satisfaction and education was conducted after the program to analyze the students' satisfaction with the program (contents, management, instructor), free semester program (career planning, occupational attitude, independence), and education (awareness of forest biospecies, preservation will). The analysis showed that the following results: satisfaction with the program (score 4.0), free semester program (score 3.8), and education (score 4.0). Comparative analysis of the pretest-posttest questionnaires showed that there were significant educational effects in career planning, occupational attitude, and awareness of forest biospecies.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.131-138
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• 2020

This study was intended to explore the changes in teaching methods when freedom to choose curriculum, instruction, and evaluation methods is allowed and when 'free semesters' are free from entrance examination for high school. For this question, we analyzed free semester education plans of eight sample schools and interviewed 33 teachers and students respectively. The results were as follows. Firstly, all schools planned to use teaching methods for meaningful learning, although they are limited to those exemplified in guidelines for free semester. Secondarily, teaching methods adopted for free semester were characterized as activities enhancing student participation. Thirdly, teaching methods such as career exploration, scientific experimentation, cooperative learning, flipped learning, interdisciplinary learning were used only a couple of times in a semester. Changes in teaching methods were referred to enhance students' interest, confidence, self-regulation, creativity, problem-solving and cooperative learning.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.167-174
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• 2021

This study examined the influences of participation in the free semester on school life satisfaction and interest in classes and whether the effect persisted longitudinally. The participants were students from middle schools located in large cities: 451 students in the experimental group and 466 students in the control group. Only the students of the experimental group participated in the free semester. The data were collected at the end of the free semester for three years, and the results are as follows. First, the school life satisfaction of students in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the control group until the second year but not in the third year. Second, there was no difference in interest in the main subject classes between the experimental and control groups until the third year. Third, students' interest in art and sports classes in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the control group until the second year but not in the third year. These findings suggest that long-term planning and management of the institution rather than short-term introduction is required for the continuous effects of the free semester.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.51
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• pp.89-132
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• 2017

The presidential records reflect the era of the times, and it has valuable evidence to support the administrative transparency and accountability of government operations. People's interest in the presidential records increased in response to its recent leak. The presidential archives were moved to Sejong in line with its desire to provide public-friendly services. This study will help users access the archives and utilize archiving information. The Ministry of Education introduced the free learning semester, which all middle schools have began conducting since 2016. The free learning semester provides an environment where education can be provided by external organizations. As middle school students are still unfamiliar with archives, the free learning semester provides a good environment for accessing archives and records. Although it serves as an opportunity to publicize archives, existing related studies are insufficient. This study aims to develop the free learning semester program using the presidential archives and records for middle school students during the free learning semester based on the analysis of the domestic and foreign archives education program. This study shows a development of the education program using presidential archives and records through literature research, domestic and foreign case analysis, and expert interview. First, through literature research, this research understood the definition of the free learning semester as well as its types. In addition, this research identified the four types of the free learning semester education program that can be linked to the presidential archives. Second, through website analysis and the information disclosure system, this research investigated domestic and foreign cases of the education program. A total of 46 education programs of institutions were analyzed, focusing on student-led education programs in the foreign archives as well as the education programs of the free learning semester in domestic libraries and archives. Third, based on these results, This study proposed four types of free learning semester education programs using the presidential archives and records, and provided concrete examples.

• 대한공업교육학회지
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to provide a basic research data for increasing the satisfaction by analyzing perception of middle school beginning technology teachers 'technology home economics' class for free semester program. In order to investigate the class operation status, the survey questionnaires from 100 teachers were collected from middle school beginning teachers who teach technology home economics subject currently and analyzed by statistical program(SPSS ver.18). The main results of this study were as follows: First, there was no statistically significant difference to contents and satisfaction of lesson between teachers who experienced free semester program and not. In comparison of male teachers and female teachers, male teachers thought that free semester program was more helpful for student's 'career exploration' than female teachers, and there was statistically significant difference. Second, in the teacher's response according to have practice space and not, the satisfaction average of teachers who have practice space was higher(M=3.64) than those who have not at 'career exploration' and there was statistically significant difference satisfaction. Third, among the teachers who have experienced free semester program, male teachers were having more difficulty 'determining the assessment criteria' than the female teachers and there was statistically significant difference. Fourth, to improve the satisfaction of technical lesson, technology teachers asked to solve lack of practice material, increase of lesson-time, lack of practice space and lesson contents etc. Fifth, technology teachers asked free semester program seminars and information because free semester program lesson contents was given by internet and research groups of technology education.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.698-709
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• 2016

Free Learning Semester, the new education policy of middle schools in Korea, will be completely implemented in 2016. The purpose of this study was to explore the school experiences of middle-school students in the Free Learning Semester through qualitative approach. In-depth interview was conducted with 8 middle-school students from the purposive sampling. As a result of the analysis, 10 essential themes were identified. Themes were as follows: 'Struggling from the performance evaluation with biting the bullet', 'Great pressure on final examination that is only once a year', 'Inconvenience of career education experience', 'Higher level of friendship', 'Double face of discrimination and respect', 'Chance to adaptation between elementary and middle-school', 'Regret about fleeting time without thought', 'Ambivalence of freedom and suppression', 'Warm place with peer', 'Being pushed rehearsal wearing other's cloth'. In conclusion, the nature of lived experience of middle-school students in the Free Learning Semester is based on ambivalence of various aspects, but is predominant in 'higher level of friendship'. It suggested that the Free Learning Semester can be a positive alternative to existing education system that made students to compete each other. It is expected to be able to discuss the future policy direction using the result of this study which explored the nature of lived experience related to the Free Learning Semester.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.59
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• pp.133-159
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• 2019

The free semester system, introduced on a trial basis in 2013, has been fully implemented in all middle schools since 2016. The free semester system for middle school students is divided into subject activities and free semester activities with the purpose of students' dream and career exploration. While the activities of various vocational groups linked to subjects during the free semester are discussed, studies on the industrial security career education in middle schools are hard to find. In addition, the career sites that provide diverse information on career path for teachers, students and parents with support from the Ministry of Education have not established any program regarding industrial security. This study aims to look at the status of career education by the analysis of keywords for industrial security in the career experience network currently operated by the Ministry of Education and in-depth interview with career education teachers, students and parents, and industrial security experts. Based on such analysis, this study attempts to figure out a comprehensive understanding of the free semester system and to explore strategies for promoting industrial security education. The results of this study found that the activation plan for industrial security education requires the industry security education through career network, development of industrial security education program, training and placement of professional industrial security lecturer, and establishment of support systems for experience in industrial security.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.143-160
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• 2019

This study investigated 15 science teachers' perception and practice on free semester and science assessment. We analyzed frequencies of teacher choice for closed questions and used constant comparative method for teacher description and individual interview. Most teachers determined a low ranking for changes in assessment methods and mentioned a lack of objectivity on free semester assessment, unsystematic free semester assessment, and more importance on student activity and interest in science instruction. Most teachers understood process-based assessment as a direction of free semester assessment and teachers mentioned positive aspects for students or teacher difficulties dependent on their perception on process-based assessment. Half of the teachers failed to implement student self-assessment and student peer-assessment due to subjectivity and complexity. Some teachers did not provide feedbacks to students due to a lack of time and did not use certain assessment methods due to a lack of knowledge of the assessment. Teachers who did not have an experience of discussions in a teacher learning community mentioned reasons regarding a small number of the same grade teachers and inactive attitude of colleagues. Teachers who did not participate in professional development programs mentioned a lack of teacher understanding of free semester, participation of the teacher in charge, and teacher choice of participation as reasons.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.135-146
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• 2019

Big data analysis is actively used for collecting and analyzing direct information on related topics in each field of society. Applying big data analysis technology in education field is increasingly interested in Korea, because applying this technology helps to identify the effectiveness of education methods and policies and applying them for policy formulation. In this paper, we propose our approach of utilizing big data analysis technology in education field. We focus on free semester program, one of the current core education policies, and we analyze the main points of interests and differences in the free semester through analysis and visualization of texts that are written on the operation reports prepared by each school. We compare regional differences in key characteristics and interests based on the free semester operation reports from middle schools particularly at Seoul and Gangwon-do regions. In conclusion, applying and utilizing big data analysis technology according to the needs and requirements of education field is a great significance.