The purposes of this study were to explore and implement plans to effective run small group discussion activities for five-year-olds and to investigate changes to young children and their teachers in response to the plans. For those purposes, the foll...
The purposes of this study were to explore and implement plans to effective run small group discussion activities for five-year-olds and to investigate changes to young children and their teachers in response to the plans. For those purposes, the following research questions were set:
1. What are the plans to effectively run small group discussion activities for five-year-olds?
2. What kind of changes do young children and their teachers show in response to the plans to effectively run small group discussion activities?
The subjects include ten five-year-olds in the Edu-care program in the Sun Class at Sandeul Kindergarten, a public kindergarten in Seoul, and their teacher. In an attempt to set effective plans for small group discussion activities for five-year-olds, the investigator analyzed the existing teaching plans for discussion activities and concerned footage, identified their problems along with the current state, and conducted literature study to find a desirable direction based on the problems recognized. The research period was from July 5 to October 23, 2011. The research was carried out in the order of identifying the current state and problems with small group discussion activities for five-year-olds, searching for solutions, implementing and assessing the first round of solutions, searching for the second round of solutions, implementing and assessing the second round of solutions, and evaluating the first and second round of solutions. The investigator administered educational activities, recorded and transcribed them, and wrote an observation note of the discussion activities. The investigator also collected, categorized, encoded and analyzed teacher's journal, interviews with young children, and questionnaire responses of parents according to research questions.
The research findings were as follows:
First, problems with the existing discussion activities were identified to find effective plans to run small group discussion activities for five-year-olds. The first round of solutions to resolve them included activities to help young children understand the concepts and methods of discussion activities, practice of discussion skills, and implementation of methods of discussion lesson according to the selection criteria and implementation procedures of discussion activities. Also devised and implemented in the process of discussion activities were effective questions and scaffolding methods so that young children would take more active part in discussion activities. After the first round of solutions, such problems were identified as improper allocation of time to discussion activities and lack of practice of discussion skills. There was a need to find solutions applicable to daily life and effective plans for the teacher to perform her roles. The implementation of the second round of solutions included such specific plans as allocating discussion time properly, engaging young children and parents in the selection of discussion topics, making a list of questions with young children, and setting rules and criteria for the teacher in discussion activities.
Second, changes to the young children and their teacher were also examined in response to the effective plans to run small group discussion activities for five-year-olds. As a result, the young children were able to enhance their understanding of the concepts and methods of discussion activities through repeated discussion activities and approached solutions by experiencing problem solving process through various discussion activities. They also actively practiced the communication and social skills expected during discussion activities in an increasing fashion. Their teacher had her confidence boosted in giving discussion lessons by increasing her understanding of methods to give lessons on discussion activities and improving her perspectives and methodologies for discussion activities and lessons. She also systemized a series of teaching methods from selection of discussion topic to evaluation of discussion activities by studying and reviewing discussion activities. Those changes to the young children and their teacher in response to the plans to run small group discussion activities indicate that the plans devised and implemented for five-year-olds through the first and second round were effective.