The purpose of this study is to develop a teacher education program to enhance the affordance-based play support capabilities of early childhood educators. Accordingly, the research questions established in this study are as follows.
Research Questi...
The purpose of this study is to develop a teacher education program to enhance the affordance-based play support capabilities of early childhood educators. Accordingly, the research questions established in this study are as follows.
Research Question 1. How should the design and evaluation of a teacher education program for enhancing affordance-based play support competencies be approached?
1-1. How should the purpose and objectives of a teacher education program for enhancing affordance-based play support competencies be established?
1-2. What content should be selected for the affordance-based play support competency enhancement teacher education program?
1-3. How should the teaching-learning methods for the affordance-based play support competency enhancement teacher education program be organized?
1-4. What is the final design of the affordance-based play support competency enhancement teacher education program?
1-5. How should the evaluation methods for the affordance-based play support competency enhancement teacher education program be conducted?
1-6. What are your evaluation and reflections on the implementation process of the teacher training program for enhancing play support capabilities based on affordances?
This study developed a teacher education program to enhance early childhood educators' play support capabilities based on affordance. The program was derived through the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The program development procedure involved, first, conducting literature research and a needs assessment during the analysis phase. The literature review examined domestic and international literature and prior studies related to play support competency and affordance. The needs assessment involved a survey of 350 participants. This provided the basis for program design and identified teachers' experiences and field demands regarding enhancing affordance-based play support competency for early childhood educators. Second, during the design phase, the program's purpose and objectives, educational content, teaching-learning methods, and operational methods were established based on the findings derived from the analysis phase. Educational content was selected according to the educational purpose and objectives. Teaching-learning methods were structured through offline approaches, including sharing lecture case studies, discussions, and individual assignments. The operational method involved a small group of early childhood educators, organized into a total of 10 sessions. Third, during the development phase, a program outline was constructed. Appropriate teaching and learning materials were developed for each session, learning media were selected, and an evaluation plan for the program outline was established. Subsequently, the appropriateness of the program outline was assessed through preliminary research and expert review processes. Based on the feedback provided, the outline was revised and supplemented. Fourth, during the implementation phase, the revised program outline was applied to practicing early childhood educators. The program was delivered over 10 sessions spanning 10 weeks to 8 practicing early childhood educators, conducted in a face-to-face format. Fifth, during the evaluation phase, program participants completed program evaluations, group interviews, and self-assessments. The program outline was then revised and supplemented based on this feedback to derive the final program.
The teacher education program for enhancing the play support capabilities of early childhood educators based on affordance, ultimately developed in this study, is as follows. First, the program's purpose is to cultivate early childhood educators equipped with the expertise to support infants' and toddlers' spontaneous play, based on an understanding of affordance and practical implementation capabilities. Second, the objectives set to achieve this purpose are: ‘Examine and understand the concept of affordance and its relationship with play.’, 'Observe young children's play flow and determine appropriate intervention timing,‘ 'Design environments suitable for young children's developmental characteristics from an affordance perspective,’ and 'Practice the teacher's role in promoting creative problem-solving.' Third, the educational content consists of a total of 10 sessions: ‘Awareness-Based Concept Formation’, ‘Awareness-Based Play Support Practice’, ‘Awareness-Based Play Environment Design’, ‘Problem Solving Applying Awareness’, and ‘Conclusion’. Fourth, teaching-learning methods are conducted offline, utilizing lectures, discussions, individual assignments, and case sharing according to the educational content. Fifth, program evaluation includes session-by-session program assessments, a comprehensive program evaluation, and interviews. Sixth, program operation recommends eight currently employed early childhood educators as the ideal number of participants, with the training period determined based on the learners' circumstances and needs.
This study is significant in that it presents a practical approach to enhancing early childhood educators' play support capabilities. Through an affordance-based teacher education program, educators were enabled to interpret play environments from new perspectives, carefully observe young children's play flows, and develop the ability to respond sensitively to them. This process helps early childhood educators move beyond being mere activity providers to become facilitators who support children's autonomous exploration and creative play. Furthermore, a curriculum grounded in the concept of affordance reflects the actual needs of the field and elevates the effective implementation of play-centered curricula, holding significant meaning in promoting qualitative growth in early childhood education.
The program developed in this study is expected to enhance the professional competence of early childhood teachers while contributing to the establishment of play-centered education in early childhood education settings.