• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.39-44
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• 2018

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of early childhood teachers' professionalism and teaching efficacy on their teacher-child interaction. A total of 761 early childhood teachers working at childcare centers and kindergartens in South Korea were selected as the participants for the study. The study variables were measured using survey questionnaires. Pearson's correlation analyses and regression analyses along with Sobel test were conducted. The results demonstrated that early childhood teachers' teaching efficacy had a significant mediation effect on the relationship between their professionalism and teacher-child interaction. The results suggest the need to support early childhood teachers' recognition and development of professionalism as well as teaching efficacy that result in positive teacher-child interaction.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.51-74
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• 2020

Objective: This study tried to find out if a teacher education program that supports professionalism for beginning child care teachers in toddler classes is effective in professionalism, self-respect, and efficacy in teaching. Methods: The study subjects were 40 beginning child care teachers in toddler classes teaching in day care centers in Seoul, Incheon, and Gwangmyeong Gyeonggi-do. They were divided into an experimental group (20 teachers) and a comparative group (20 teachers). The collected data were applied to the SPSS 22.0 program. To find homogeneity of the two groups, a t-test was conducted. To analyze an intergroup difference, ANCOVA was conducted in the way of setting a pre-test score as a covariate. Results: The experimental group which participated in the program showed more positive effects than the comparative group in terms of professionalism, self-respect, and efficacy in teaching. Conclusion/Implications: Based on the results of this study, the program is expected to be meaningful in the field of early childhood education, and to lay the foundation for beginning child care teachers in toddler classes to become experts in their field.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.145-157
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of early childhood teachers' professionalism in teaching and job satisfaction on their teaching efficacy. The relationship between professionalism in teaching, job satisfaction, and teaching efficacy of early childhood teachers was also investigated. Methods: The subjects of the study were 761 early childhood teachers. The survey included the teaching efficacy measurement, the professionalism measurement, and job satisfaction measurement. The collected data were analysed using descriptive data analyses, Pearson correlation analyses, and multiple regression analyses utilizing SPSS 22.0 program. Results: There were statistically significant positive correlations between early childhood teachers' professionalism in teaching, job satisfaction, and teaching efficacy. In addition, statistically significant effects of early childhood teachers' professionalism in teaching and job satisfaction on their teaching efficacy were found. Conclusion/Implications: The results implicate the importance of supports for early childhood teachers' development in professionalism in teaching and job satisfaction that would enhance their teaching efficacy, resulting in high quality education for young children.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.61-75
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• 2007

This study defined awareness of professionalism and job stress in 353 child-care teachers of children with special needs and analyzed the relative contribution of professional awareness to job stress. Teachers showed high awareness of 'ethics' and 'enthusiasm enhancing professionalism', and this awareness correlated highly with professionalism in the 'specialized knowledge and skills' sub-factors. Teachers showed high levels of stress in the 'general duty' and the 'guidance of children with special needs' categories, and this correlated highly with stress caused by 'child-care center management.' The results of canonical correlation analysis indicated that of professionalism sub-factors only the awareness of 'social services' contributed positively to job stress.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.43-56
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• 2016

Objective: This study examined the effect of early childhood teachers' perceptions of teacher efficacy and professionalism, which are personal traits, when administering the National Childcare Curriculum. Methods: Using snowball sampling, data were collected from 266 childcare center teachers in the nation and were analyzed using one-way analyses of variance and multiple regression using SPSS 14.0. Results and Conclusion: The findings are as the following: First, teacher efficacy was not significantly different among teachers by age, teaching experience, education, and childcare center type. Second, teacher efficacy was significantly related to the perception of their professionalism. Lastly, teachers' perceptions of teacher efficacy and professionalism explained significantly the variance in teachers' performance when administering the National Childcare Curriculum.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.504-513
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated how elementary science teaching has changed with the introduction of the National Assessment of Educational Achievement (NAEA). Teachers are held accountable for student performance as measured by the mandatory nation-wide standards tests to satisfy the needs of accountability and quality assurance systems. In relation to the teaching of science in the elementary school, professionalism meets potential threats with the advent of national test. Through analysis of the classroom teaching and open-ended interviews, we explored the teacher's concerns about the national test and how their science classes have changed to prepare for this test. According to the results, the national test made elementary teachers accountable for the content of their science classes, limits teachers' autonomy in reconstruction of curriculum, and forced teachers to conduct conclusion-centered lessons even in elementary science classes. In addition, teachers argue that the national test precludes the possibility of differentiated education and differentiated assessment. Based on the results, we suggested a new professionalism in this accountability era, so called 'informed professionalism', which refers to the ability of teachers to interpret and implement curriculum and policy mandates at the local, school and classroom level to generate equitable and improved student outcomes through teaching and learning. We also suggested further research on the teacher professionalism in teaching science contents.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.6779-6787
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• 2015

The objective of this study is understand the influence of the teaching ethics of preservice childcare teachers on teacher efficacy and professionalism awareness. In order to achieve the study objective, the questionnaires were distributed to 285 preservice childcare teachers in A city. In the results of the study, first, regarding the teaching ethics perceived by preservice childcare teachers, 'the ethics of infants' were the most highly perceived while the 'teaching strategy' on teacher efficacy, and 'social service' and 'professional ethics' on professionalism awareness were the most highly perceived. Second, preservice childcare teachers' teaching ethics, teacher efficacy, and professionalism awareness had statistically significant correlations. Third, preservice childcare teachers' teaching ethics had positive influence on teacher efficacy and professionalism awareness. Based on the results of this study, in order to improve the quality of the childcare service after understanding the importance of preservice childcare teachers' teaching ethics, it would be necessary to have various researches on the internal stability of the systematic education for childcare teachers to have teacher efficacy and professionalism awareness.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.538-549
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• 2013

This study investigated the preservice and inservice elementary teachers' perceptions on professionalism of teaching profession, professionalism of science teaching, and their self-efficacy on science teaching. For this study, 64 sophomore, 53 senior preservice teachers and 23 elementary teachers who were also graduate students were participated. The questionnaires consisted of 5 Likert scaled and descriptive items about the professionalism of teaching profession, professionalism of science teaching, and self-efficacy on science teaching. The results showed that some areas of the professionalism of teaching profession had significant differences between the grades in preservice teachers and/or inservice teachers. Most preservice teachers and teachers thought that they need to have professional ability, but not a few teachers thought it was not necessary to have professionalism of science teaching as a elementary teacher, even though their major was science education. The teachers who had higher perceptions on the needs of the professionalism of science teaching showed high self-efficacy on science teaching.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.77-98
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• 2007

It has been said that the level of teacher professionalism determines the quality of education. The same notion allies for gifted education. Therefore, exploration of teacher professionalism in gifted education may provide fundamental bases for raising the quality of gifted education. In this study, first, literature review was conducted to extract elements of teacher professionalism in gifted education and a survey instrument was developed to find out categories of those elements and differences of teacher perception to professionalism at school levels and subject areas of gifted education. Research subjects included 212 teachers who participated in 2005 KEDI teacher training program of gifted education, 60 hour-clock introductory program and 232 teachers who participated in 2005 KEDI teacher training program of gifted education, 120 hour-clock enrichment program. It was found that elements of teacher professionalism in gifted education were categorized into knowledge-based, abilitybased and context-based. It was also found that secondary school teachers' perception to knowledge-based professionalism was significantly higher than those at elementary and science teachers' perception to ability-based and context-based professionalism was significantly higher than mathematics teachers. The research findings may provide insights for better teacher training program in gifted education as well as gifted education policies.