• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.87-97
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the basic materials for enhancing the professionalism of 51 infant/toddler teachers through in-depth interview about the actual condition of child care centers. The results were as follows: First, the infant/toddler teachers got less credits of young child care and education subjects than day care teachers did. The current criteria for qualification of infant/toddler teachers was not appropriate for providing the child care services. An efficient and substantial curriculum must be designed to facilitate the day care services for infant/toddler teachers. Second, the infant/toddler teachers recognized that their roles were similar to child care teachers. The curriculum and practice must encourage and nurture the characters, beliefs, and dispositions of infant/toddler teachers. Third, it is necessary to review the various problems to enhance the professionalism of infant/toddler teachers. Several suggestions for enhancing the professionalism are discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.407-417
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• 2017

This study examined the extent to which childcare methods of infant classroom childcare teachers who respect infant rights in the everyday teaching curriculum at day-care centers occurs. To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 210 infant classroom childcare teachers who were in charge of the day-care center classrooms located in [G] city of [J] province. The results of the research confirmed that first there were no statistically significant differences when verifying the extent to which childcare methods of infant classroom childcare teachers who respect infant rights in the everyday teaching curriculum at day-care centers according to the final education level, professional experience, age, and education major of the infant classroom childcare teacher. On the other hand, the results confirmed that when analyzing for arrival time for infant classroom childcare instruction at the day-care center and for the time spent taking the infant to and from the bathroom, the infant classroom childcare teachers who had graduated from 2 year colleges showed more respect for infant rights compared to that of infant classroom childcare teachers who had graduated from 4 year universities, and for the arrival time for infant classroom childcare instruction at the day-care center and nap times, the infant classroom childcare teachers who were above 50 years of age showed more respect for infant rights compared to that of infant classroom childcare teachers who were in their 30s and 40s. The results of the research confirmed that there were statistically significant differences for both the age and education major of the infant classroom childcare teachers. When examining each of the sub-factor, the age of the infant classroom childcare teachers, respect for the infant's opinion, respect for individuality, and for information provision, infant classroom childcare teachers older than 50 years of age were shown to exercise a higher level of respect for the infant according to the rule of prioritizing the infant compared to infant classroom childcare teachers in their 30s and 40s, and infant classroom childcare teachers who majored in infant education-related majors exercised a higher level of respect for the infant for respecting freedom and autonomy compared to that of infant classroom childcare teachers who majored in welfare and childcare-related fields. The results of the research confirmed a statistically significant static correlation between the two related variables. Therefore, this suggests that the more childcare methods of infant classroom childcare teachers who respect infant rights in the everyday teaching curriculum at day-care centers, the more childcare methods of infant classroom childcare teachers who respect infant rights occurred according to the rule of prioritizing the infant. These results can be used to establish both quantitatively and qualitatively an excellent and balanced respect for infant rights.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.41-57
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderate effect of the physical environmental-level between infant teachers' positive play beliefs and teacher-infant interaction. Methods: The subjects of this study were 483 teachers in charge of one-year-old and two-year-old infants in child care centers located in metropolitan areas. The data were collected by asking the teachers to respond to a questionnaire and the data collected were analyzed through correlation and hierarchical multi- regression analysis. Results: First, the positive play beliefs of the infant teacher, the physical environment level, and the teacher-infant interaction showed significant proportional correlations. Second, the physical environment level moderated the influence of the teacher's positive play beliefs on teacher-infant interaction. In particular, results showed that functional interior space configuration, outdoor playground composition and facilities among the sub-variables of the physical environment level had a moderating effect. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study show that teachers with positive play beliefs have positive teacher-infant interaction when there is sufficient space available for infants and teachers. This indicates that the human and physical environments of child care centers can promote teacher-child interaction.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate educational demands of teachers in the daycare centers for infant healthcare. Methods: Sixty-nine teachers who in charge of children under 1 year old at infant daycare centers participated from January 2 to March 31, 2012. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, average, and standard deviation using SPSS 21.0. Results: Education demands among teachers of infant daycare centers were high in health and safety domain. Teachers prefer 6 month as the term of education, at the beginning of the semester. Also, three hours or less of session under the auspices of health and safety organizations were preferred. Mostly demanded education contents were first-aid skills depending on diverse types of accidents. In addition, teachers required repeat of practically available first-aid education programs with improved educational conditions. Conclusion: This study offered crucial examination of current status and key problems of infant healthcare at infant daycare centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, and identified educational demands for infant healthcare among infant teachers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.189-206
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and apply a Teacher Learning Community Program in order to improve the specialization of infant daycare center teachers and explore the changes in the learning attitudes of teachers. Methods: To develop the program, the requirements were analyzed by surveying 500 teachers of infant classes. The developed program was provided to 25 infant daycare center teachers for a total of 14 sessions. A total of 75 sets of collected journal writing materials were analyzed qualitatively. Results: First, the Teacher Learning Community Program for infant daycare center teachers was developed. Second, the Teacher Learning Community Program was found to bring a shift in the learning attitudes among the teachers of infant classes towards reflective and communal learning. Conclusion/Implications: The Teacher Learning Community Program brought a shift in the learning attitude towards reflective and communal learning. Thus, the Teacher Learning Community Program can be applied as a teacher education program for improvement of the specialization of infant daycare center teachers.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.71-95
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• 2009

This study investigated relationships among infant development, teacher's sensitivity, home literacy environment, and infant-teacher interaction in the child care setting. Verbal and behavioral interactions between 30 2-year-old infant-teacher pairs were video-recorded during free play activities; teachers' sensitivity was observed by trained observers; infant development was assessed by teachers; data on the early home literacy environment were gathered through maternal self-reported questionnaires. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-tests, and correlation analyses. Results indicated that boys showed more naming; girls showed more physical contact with teachers. Infants high in overall developmental level showed more behavioral interaction with teachers. Teacher's sensitivity correlated positively with behavioral imitating and negatively with questioning and nodding. Verbal interaction in the home correlated positively with nodding.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2020

This study helps infant teachers practice a constructivism-based teacher education program that supports infant mathematical inquiry activities and examines improvements in mathematical teaching knowledge, mathematical teaching initiatives, mathematical interaction, constructivism belief and mathematical teaching efficacy. Twenty two experiment group infant teachers and twenty two comparison group infant teachers were chosen at two workforce educare centers. The experiment group infant teachers participated in 18 sessions of a constructivism teacher training program for 8 weeks, but the comparison group infant teachers did not take part in the program. Pretest and post-tests were implemented for the mathematical teaching knowledge, mathematical teaching initiatives, mathematical interactions, constructivism belief and mathematical teaching efficacy in the experiment group. Independent sample t-test and ANCOVA were tested using Windows SPSS statistics 21.0. The homogeneity test for the experiment and comparison group revealed significant differences. ANCOVA was carried out after the pretest score was controlled as a co-variance. Significant differences were indicated in mathematical teaching knowledge, mathematical teaching initiative, mathematical interaction, constructivism belief and mathematical teaching efficacy. The results indicated that a constructivism-based teacher education program to support infant mathematical inquiry activities influenced improvements in mathematical teaching knowledge, mathematical teaching initiative, mathematical interaction, constructivism belief and mathematical teaching efficacy. This study proved the effects of the program based on constructivism theory content for the knowledge, skills and attitude about infant teaching of mathematical initiatives and practiced a program of exploration, investigation, application and assessment for infant teachers. The results can help infant teachers teach mathematical exploration activities and help activate infant mathematical exploration activities.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.29-52
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of the parent-teacher trust relationship and cooperative behavior in the relationship between the emotional intelligence of infant teachers and their play teaching efficacy. Methods: A total number of 216 teachers in charge of infants under the age of two at childcare centers located in H, Y, and O cities in Gyeonggi-do participated in the survey. Using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 22, descriptive statistics, correlation and structural equation model were analyzed. Results: First, the emotional intelligence of infant teachers had a direct effect on play teaching efficacy. Second, the emotional intelligence of infant teachers influenced play teaching efficacy through parent-teacher's trust relationship. Third, the emotional intelligence of infant teachers influenced play teaching efficacy through parent-teacher cooperative behavior. Fourthly, it was found that the parent-teacher trust relationship and cooperative behavior were mediated sequentially in the influence of the emotional intelligence of infant teachers on play teaching efficacy. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study emphasize the importance of improving the emotional intelligence of teachers and the trust and cooperation between parents and teachers in order to increase the ability of early childhood teacher's play teaching efficacy.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.155-171
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural relations between infant teachers' career, efficacy, sensitivity, and the development of their professionalism. Methods: Data were collected from 320 infant teachers working at day care centers in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul. The collected data were applied to SPSS 22.0 program. With the data, correlation analysis and structural equation model analysis were conducted. Results: Firstly, infant teachers' career didn't influence the development of their professionalism directly, but indirectly affected their efficacy and sensitivity. Secondly, the variables that directly affected the development of their professionalism were teacher efficacy and sensitivity. Thirdly, teacher efficacy and sensitivity had full mediation between their career and the development of professionalism. Conclusion/Implications: Infant teachers' career affected the development of their professionalism through teacher efficacy and sensitivity. Based on the result, a plan for developing infant teachers' professionalism was proposed, and suggestions of follow-up research were discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.357-368
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of teachers' knowledge of infant development and efficacy of child care on perception of professionalism. The participants of this study were 264 child care teachers who were in charge of infants in child care centers in Gyunggi Province. Instruments to measure teachers' knowledge of infant development, efficacy of child care and perception of professionalism as teachers were used in this study and the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the hierarchical regression, and the structural equation model analysis by AMOS. Based on the hierarchical regression, efficacy of child care influenced on perception of professionalism rather than knowledge of infant development. The moderation effect of efficacy of child care existed in the relationship between teachers' knowledge of infant development and perception of professionalism.