The purpose of this study is to check whether the research on the brain-based education has been conducted properly or not through analyzing the domestic researches for early childhood. Besides, this study aims to provide the basic materials for setti...
The purpose of this study is to check whether the research on the brain-based education has been conducted properly or not through analyzing the domestic researches for early childhood. Besides, this study aims to provide the basic materials for setting the direction of research in the future. It can make the research on the brain-based education for young children conducting more meaningfully.
For this purpose, a total of 61 thesis including 22 of dissertation and 39 of journal were collected. Through the literature review and qualitative research, the trend in research field, research methodology, research content was analyzed. The results can be presented according to the research questions as below.
First, what is the trend in research field on brain-based education for early childhood?
From the year of 1989 when began the research on brain-based education for early childhood, the research for verifying the validity about existing play, activities, and teaching methods etc. through comparing to the results of brain science has been conducted continuously until now. And then, the educational program for brain-based learning started to be developed and introduced to the real site and applied. Developing the new program is continued until now, too. In the recent years, beyond the verifying the validity and developing the new program, more various field including the teacher education, parent education and political suggestion are studied. If the above results are compared with the previous researches, the study for verifying the validity is proper and regarded as the positive effort to explain scientifically the existing educational situations in the aspect of the time when brain-based research has conducted in our country is beginning in comparison with other counties. On the other hand, the study for developing the new program is inappropriate. Because the stimulated results of researches are lacking yet enough to develop the new program. That’s why the results of brain science can be applied to the program hastily and the wrong program which can affect adversely to children's brain can be produced. Thus, critical interpretation and comprehensive review on the results of brain science and brain based education were required. At last, giving weight to a few research field is improper. Because the research of brain science and education needs an effort of interdisciplinary approach. In order to this, the researches in various educational areas should be conducted and the results should be stimulated. Though this effort, educators can require the brain-scientific research related to educational question to the brain scientist and then, the understanding on brain-based education will be higher than now.
Second, what is the trend in research methodology on brain-based education for early childhood?
From the beginning, the literature review has occupied the most proportion until now. For measuring the effect of the new program, the quantitative research has used a lot. The qualitative research has also used together. But now, the qualitative research is reduced. If the above results are compared with the previous researches, it is inappropriate to measure the effect of brain-based education through the only quantitative research. Because it is difficult to survey microscopic teaching activity which is used in order to realize the constructs of brain-based education. Thus, comprehensive analysis including the qualitative research rather than only the quantitative research is required. And also, the fact that the literature review is used a lot until now is desirable. Due to the feature which brain science has propensity of the microscopic study, in order to properly apply to complex educational area, the literature review on the results of brain science is so much important.
Third, what is the trend in research content on brain-based education for early childhood?
From the beginning of the research, five ranges of research content that are physical exercise development, social-emotional development, language development, cognitive development, creativity development have been studied evenly until now. Specifically, the study on language development was conducted mainly at the first time. And then, the study on social-emotional development slowly has increased and now occupies the most proportion. However, the brain scientific evidence is mostly those of the 1980~1990s. If the above results are compared with the previous researches, five ranges of research content which have equally studied are required to study for early childhood when is important for brain development in the aspects of crucial period and plasticity. Thus, the research concerning all of the ranges will be continued. Also, the fact that the brain scientific evidences are mostly those of the 1980~1990s is inappropriate. Because science and technology develop increasingly, brain science techniques are also advanced according to the times. Therefore, the effort to analyze comprehensively on the results of brain science including the recent results which are turned out through latest technique will be required.
Through the above results, the research for the desirable brain-based education will be able to be conducted in the future. Moreover, scientific approach to early childhood education will be active as well as meaningful educational plans for young children, parents and teachers will be presented.