Today, overall atmosphere of education in Korea is surrounded by problems such as entrance examination-oriented training, and Individualistic learning environments. Those matters make students difficult to perform their social role properly as members...
Today, overall atmosphere of education in Korea is surrounded by problems such as entrance examination-oriented training, and Individualistic learning environments. Those matters make students difficult to perform their social role properly as members of the society living together. Also, schools, that are supposed to aim for holistic human growth through the harmonious development of intelligence and personality, have become competing places, tendentiously emphasizing the importance of intelligence, and undervaluing personality development based on interactions between peers. To remedy the problem, schools need a new approach of teaching-learning methods which make students possible to find their own values and individualities, and interact between peers at the same time. Thus, the cooperative learning model, which is one of teaching-learning methods for communication and sympathy among peers, can be a suitable method to improve peer relationships through interaction between learners.
The purpose of this study is to see the way it affects peer-relationship of 4th grade elementary students that art class which is applied with GI cooperative learning. For the purpose, as theoretical backgrounds, I looked into the meaning of peer-relationships, and quality of peer relationships. Also considering characteristics and importances of peer relationships about the subject, 4th grade elementary students. In addition, I conducted experiments using GI (Group Investigation) model representing Cooperative project(CP) model to see the its effect to peer relationships.
Based on the theoretical background, teaching-learning plan for elementary art classes by time and class tools are developed by selecting units and learning materials and planning art classes applied with GI cooperative learning model. As assessment tools, peer-relationships' quality scale, which Jinkyoung Kim(2002) have developed, were used as adjusted for 4th grade elementary students. After verifying the reliability by measuring item, pre and post surveys were conducted. Practical-skills-evaluation scales were set up referring to elementary school art curriculum textbooks and teachers' manuals according to the 2007 revision.
The subject of study was two classes of 4th grade at G elementary school in Song-pa, Seoul. Total 48 students are participated in this experiment(23 students of experimental group, 25 students of control group). the groups were verified as equivalence by pre-testing formative evaluation and peer relationships' quality scale. The experimental class is conducted each 40 minutes 8 times for 4 weeks from April 2014 to May 2014.
During the same period, both groups had classes in the same topic, 'decorating classroom walls'. The class of experimental groups were applied with GI(Group Investigation) cooperative learning model, in the other hands, the class of control group had the traditional-cooperative-learning method.
Pre and post peer relationships' quality tests were analyzed statistically by SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Science) Ver 19.0 statistical package program. And the result of practical tests were evaluated through qualitative assessment which was made in advance. Hereby it is analyzed if the experimental group applied with GI cooperative learning model had a positive influence on the peer relationships, compared to the control group in traditional cooperative learning.
In summary, the analysis results of this study are as follows.
First, in positive factors, the experimental group applied with GI cooperative learning model showed positive effects, which the control group didn't have, in five areas(mutual intimacy·empathy, emotional·social support, conflict resolution, popularity, peer relationships satisfaction) among six areas including friendship.
In experimental group, secondly, the teaching-learning program, which was designed by GI cooperative learning model, had positive effects statistically on 3 sub-areas(conflict and confrontation, unilaterally driven, withdrawn·isolation) among negative factors, which consist of total 5 sub-areas including neglect, and unsatisfaction of peer relationship, of peer relationships' quality.
Third, the evaluation of the practical result is assessed not only using a rating scale for practical skill, but also conducting the qualitative assessment based on the study diary by group, the evaluation form for group activities, and the teacher's observation diary. As a result, in the experimental group, interests of art became higher than in the control group. Also, the experimental group was participating in a process of interactions sincerely and actively more than the control group. Furthermore I noticed that it had positive effects on the development of peer relationships.
This art teaching program, which was applied with GI cooperative model, has significance at verifying educational effects on peer-relationships' quality developments of 4th grade elementary students by evoking active interactions among group members and self-directed research activities. In the future, I hope that, in art subject, by developing more programs and studies of teaching-learning methods for various objects, high quality and effective art education are proceeded, in order to help childhood students grow as whole person.