The National Kindergarten Curriculum provides a standard national framework within which all kindergartens should work to accomplish their educational aims. The curriculum has been appropriately changed to meet needs of today, to conform to social cha...
The National Kindergarten Curriculum provides a standard national framework within which all kindergartens should work to accomplish their educational aims. The curriculum has been appropriately changed to meet needs of today, to conform to social change, and to promote the development of young children.
The purpose of this study is to look through theoretically major factors which influenced on National Kindergarten Curriculum changes and to clarify factors which were reflected and overlooked to the changes by analyzing internal and external education factors.
Accordingly, following issues are established and investigated.
1. What factors has influenced on the National Kindergarten Curriculum changes?
2. How has the National kindergarten Curriculum been changed in view of internal and external factors influencing on the progress of curriculum?
2-1. How was the 1st National Kindergarten Curriculum enactment?
2-2. How was the 2nd National Kindergarten Curriculum revision?
2-3. How was the 3rd National Kindergarten Curriculum revision?
2-4. How was the 4th National Kindergarten Curriculum revision?
2-5. How was the 5th National Kindergarten Curriculum revision?
As the analysis method is based on literature study,"Kindergarten Curriculum" and its explanation(issued by the Ministry of Education) from 1st to 5th revision were basically used. Additionally the early childhood education curriculum related with kindergarten and its studies like theses, researches, education magazines, and foreign literatures were also studied. For the early curriculum enactment and its 2nd revision on which literature were insufficient, some responsible and related persons were interviewed by phones and visits to collect information.
Following conclusions are resulted from the study by analyzing internal and external education factors influenced on the progress of National Kindergarten Curriculum.
First, the social and political demands, as an external education factor and a direct cause of Kindergarten Curriculum changes form 1st to 5th has influenced upon the curriculum changes.
Secondly, the theoretical changes as an external education factor, have influenced followings upon the curriculum changes. In 1st Curriculum, life-centered curriculum based on theory of progressivism was characterized. In 2nd, discipline-centered curriculum was characterized by the impact of cognitivism. From 3rd to 5th, human-centered and integrated curriculums which were reflected by various merits of early childhood education theories were characterized.
Thirdly, in kindergarten Curriculum acts, the internal education factors like child interest and needs, development level and individual variation.learning characteristics, etc. have been reflected variously from 1th to 5th.
Fourth, the teacher factors like autonomy and specialty are continously reflected in aspect of kindergarten curriculum operation from the beginning up to now. The teachers participating ratio, levels, and types are very high in 5th, weak in 3rd and 4th but they involved partly from the general principles of kindergarten curriculum to the details as a conferee. And no participation of teacher were made in 1st and 2nd.