This study explores the operation of science education in infantile classes by teachers and the needs of teachers based on scientific inquiry which is a sub-category of nature exploration area of the standard childcare curriculum. The aim of this rese...
This study explores the operation of science education in infantile classes by teachers and the needs of teachers based on scientific inquiry which is a sub-category of nature exploration area of the standard childcare curriculum. The aim of this research is to provide basic data for teacher training and professional development of teachers, and to suggest plans and activities for infantile science education and operational methods. The research questions decided according to the purpose of this research are as following.
First, how is the operation of infantile science education based on scientific inquiry of standard child care curriculum?
Second, what are the needs of teachers regarding infantile science education based on scientific inquiry of standard child care curriculum?
The subjects of this research were 6 teachers who are the homeroom teachers of 1~2year old classes in day care centers in Seoul, and the data was collected by interviews, research notes, and documents, and the summary of the research results are as follows.
The operation of infantile science education based on scientific inquiry of standard child care curriculum is as below.
First, what the teachers of infantile classes refer to when they plan science classes is the existing activity materials and internet, and the standard childcare curriculum is referred to the most. Therefore, teachers need to utilize a variety of science education materials appropriate for the development of the infantile.
Second, teachers of infantile classes are organizing their class properly according to the constituting principles of the scientific area. In addition, they are selecting class materials considering the development of infantile and the activities. Therefore, teachers should make an environment which is suitable for the characteristics of development of infantile and arouses the interest and curiosity of infantile.
Third, infantile class teachers seemed to make efforts to encourage interactions encouraging scientific activities of infantile. All teachers were saying that the preferred interaction with infantile is possible in one-on-one situation, which suggests the needs for additional resources for infantile classes.
Fourth, the results showed that the infantile class teachers are operating activities relatively well regarding 'exploring the object and substance', 'having interest in animals and plants around us', 'exploring nature', 'having interest in tools for daily life'. The areas most actively run are 'having interest in animals and plants around us' and 'exploring nature'. Regarding the result, teachers should have interest in various contents of science education and make sure that the scientific exploration of infantile are actively implemented, and in order to do that, it is necessary for teachers to have professional knowledge and positive attitude.
Fifth, infantile class teachers showed that they check the evaluation results of infantile science activity by a daily plan or a checklist. It was also observed that the evaluation results were reflected on the next science activities or used as data for consulting parents.
Sixth, the infantile class teachers were doing relatively well in associating science activities with students' home. They were making efforts for the association with home using student notebooks, mobile application, parent participation class, and it seems that parents are gradually recognizing the importance of science in infantile classes.
The demands of teachers regarding science education of infantile class are support for science teaching, teacher training, and operating scientific activities. These demands should be supported by the day care center directors, teachers, and parents recognizing the importance of science and financial support.