The objective of this research is to collect the basic data to effectively carry out the Standard Childcare Curriculum. The study observed the level of awareness of the Standard Childcare Curriculum by evaluating experience, understanding and practic...
The objective of this research is to collect the basic data to effectively carry out the Standard Childcare Curriculum. The study observed the level of awareness of the Standard Childcare Curriculum by evaluating experience, understanding and practice.
The study followed 205 childcare teachers (currently employed) and 401 parents (whose child is currently enrolled in a childcare facility) from the Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province districts. A questionnaire, appropriate for the purpose of this research, was developed and used to collect the necessary data. Frequency analysis, T-test, mean and standard deviations and the Pearson’s correlation were used toanalyze the collected data.
The following summarizes the research results.
First, results show that childcare teachers know and have heard much about the Standard Childcare Curriculum, but the exposure to educational and marketing information were observed to be relatively low. As for parents,compared to the abundance of information they have heard and read about, the exposure to marketing and educationalmedia are at an overall low.
Second, childcare teachers’ have a good understanding of the Standard Childcare Curriculum; however, when dealing with the importance of childcare curriculum, their level of awareness was observed to be insufficient. Also, knowing what consists of the Standard Childcare Curriculum and knowing how it will be incorporated in the childcare facilities were found to be relatively low among parents.
Third, both childcare teachers and parents responded that all subjects of the Standard Childcare Curriculum were practiced equally; however, childcare teachers claimed to be engaged in a more complete practice of the curriculum than the parents have perceived. Out of the six subjects, childcare teachers and parents considered social skills and self-awareness to be practiced the most; whereas, art was chosen to be carried out the least.
Fourth, a significant correlation between childcare teachers’ and parents’ experience and understanding of the Standard Childcare Curriculum was observed. As for the correlation between the amount of experience and practice of the curriculum, the childcare teachers’ level of experience showed to have a significant influence on effectively executing various subjects. However, it has been observed that the amount of experience regarding the Standard Childcare Curriculum of parents show no significant relation in understanding to what extent the Standard Childcare Curriculum is being practiced. Finally, the level of understanding and operation perceived by parents and childcare teachers has demonstrated to have a significant correlation as a result, the moreaccurate and in-depth understanding of the Standard Childcare Curriculum, the more it is practiced.
The results demonstrate a close connection between experience, understanding, and practice of the Standard Childcare Curriculum which is currently in effect at childcare facilities. However, as the results show, it is accurate to conclude that the Standard Childcare Curriculum is not being effectively operated due to childcare teachers’ lack of experience and understanding of the Standard Childcare Curriculum as well as the inability of parents to recognize the lack of knowledge of teachers. Consequently, the childcare teachers’experienceand understanding play an important role in creating a standardized quality education; therefore, allowing to modify the culturally fixed curriculum. As follows, the current Standard Childcare Curriculum needs to be modified and equipped with an effective system to convey information to teachers and parents. In addition, continuous training of childcare teachers is required to better understand the contents and operations of the curriculum. For that reason, implementing a communication system will allow parents to have an understanding and recognize the curriculum operated at their child’s childcare institution to enablea complete and effective practice of the Standard Childcare Curriculum.