The objective of this study is to develop and propose a consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluations as a measure that enables the national kindergarten evaluation to be efficiently utilized towards improving the educational pro...
The objective of this study is to develop and propose a consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluations as a measure that enables the national kindergarten evaluation to be efficiently utilized towards improving the educational process and operation within actual kindergarten sites in our current reality where the qualitative improvement of kindergartens and obligations for strengthened teacher competency are being highlighted.
To achieve such an objective, this study has set the following research questions.
Question 1: How is the configuration and execution of the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation?
1-1) How is the configuration of the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation?
1-2) How are the executed action research results of the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation?
Question 2: How is the validation and configuration of the consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation?
2-1) How is the appropriateness of the consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation?
2-2) How is the configuration of the consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation?
The research methodology and procedure in this study were as follow: first for question 1, the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation was constructed after analysis of precedent studies on kindergarten evaluation and consulting.
Thereafter, action research was conducted at two private kindergartens within Seoul to explore possibilities of application of the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation.
Data collection for the action research was done by gathering 16 consultant activity evaluation forms, 40 teacher activity evaluation forms, 10 recordings from seminar, 15 recordings of interviews with teaching staff for qualitative analysis.
The results of the action research were reflected to modify and improve the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation.
For question 2, Delphi research was conducted twice with 30 experts on kindergarten evaluation and kindergarten consulting. The results of the Delphi research were analyzed for the validation of the final consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation.
The results of the action research for this study developed the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation through analysis of precedent studies are as follows. First, for concerns about the appropriateness of kindergarten consulting methods based on experiences, kindergarten consultant in this study gained confidence through review of precedent studies on kindergarten evaluation and consulting and changes in requesting kindergarten constituents, in turn overcoming such concerns and establishing roles as kindergarten consultant.
Second, upon conducting consulting, kindergarten consultant and kindergarten teachers participating in this study showed the process of difficulty-solving caused by lack of work time. The difficulties were reduced through feedback utilizing online, a circular consulting procedure utilizing consulting results, use of assistants to reduce miscellaneous work, and unified forms of separating tasks by integrating with national kindergarten evaluation-standards with ease in execution.
Third, during the process of applying the consulting model plan connected to the national kindergarten evaluation, kindergarten teachers and director participating in this study showed various changes, including establishing long-term education operation plans as a learning community as well as increased communication for execution, systematic division of tasks, doing selection and concentration, improved leadership and encouragement by managers, such as director and vice-director of kindergarten. These changes have lead to improved work satisfaction and strengthened teachers' and director's competencies.
Lastly, the opinions of delphi panels who were 30 experts in early childhood education were gathered and anlayzed to validate the appropriateness of the modified consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation.
The results of the 1st Delphi research were as follows: At first, the Delphi panels within this study suggested that the modified consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation had to more cyclical than the kindergarten consulting models as proposed within precedent studies.
Second, the Delphi panels suggested that the purpose of the national kindergarten evaluation should be understood and the purposes, contents and methods of kindergarten consulting should be conducted during the preparation stage of the consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation. Such can be associated to opinions that 'spontaneity of consultee' is most important for success of kindergarten evaluation and consulting.
Third, the Delphi panels also responded that the most appropriate time for the consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation was at the beginning of the semester. Onsite kindergarten experts stated that consulting connected to the national kindergarten evaluation should be planned prior to drafting the year's operational plan of each kindergarten and conducted at least 6 months prior to evaluation. The procedure for consulting model connected to the national kindergarten evaluation should be based on the 5 stages of kindergarten consulting, yet a measure involving at least 3 trials was proposed to include 'diagnosis and seeking of problem-solving stage-execution stage- evaluation and feedback stage' by including online-offline consulting forms to overcome lack of time for kindergarten teachers.
Fourth, the results of the Delphi research was analyzed by common categories and proposed conci