This study examines how kindergarten teachers' music teaching efficacy affects the practice of music education, according to teacher variables. The following research problems have been established:
1. Does kindergarten teachers' music teaching effica...
This study examines how kindergarten teachers' music teaching efficacy affects the practice of music education, according to teacher variables. The following research problems have been established:
1. Does kindergarten teachers' music teaching efficacy change according to teacher variables?
2. Does the practice of music education change according to teacher variables?
3. Does the practice of music education change depending on kindergarten teachers' music teaching efficacy?
The sample consists of 260 teachers in kindergarten located in Daejeon, for this study. As for a research method, a questionnaire of efficacy in music teaching and a survey regarding practice of music education were used. Data were collected using the training hours of kindergarten instructors, which was obtained from the School District in Daejeon. Data analysis was performed through SPSS/for Windows 15.0 to calculate averages and standard deviations. Also a t test and F test were performed. To examine music education in practice along with teaching efficacy belief, frequency and percentage were calculated and an x² Test was performed for each question.
The major findings of this research were as follows:
First, the efficacy of kindergarten teachers in music teaching differed according to teacher variables. In terms of subdivided factors of music teacher efficacy, public kindergarten teachers taught with higher efficacy than their private counterparts. The more teaching experienced teachers had the higher efficacy of their teaching in music. Teachers who had had more trainings in music-related fields had higher efficacy than those who had not. Among subdivided factors, individual efficacy was higher.
Second, with the practice of music education, there were differences according to teacher variables. Teachers who had had more trainings provided more music activities than those with less training. Also, public kindergarten teachers provided rhythmic instruments and play-centered musical activities suitable for children.
Third, there were no statistically significant differences in the practice of music education depending on the efficacy of teachers' music teaching, but there were differences when it came to the difficulties of teaching musical activities. The high efficacy group pointed out that the reason there were difficulties with music instruction was the lack of teaching materials. The group that was subdivided in terms of efficacy of musical teaching pointed out that the low confidence of teachers' as well as the lack of teaching materials were the reasons why there were difficulties with music teaching. Also, the high efficacy group of music teachers positively influenced children's participation in musical activities.
Based on the results above, I draw the following conclusions.
The efficacy in music teaching and practice of music education differ according to teacher variables. Hence, a variety of trainings for the teachers are necessary that can improve the efficacy in music teaching and address difficulties in instructing music activities. Moreover, a systematic development and subsequent distribution of diverse and rich music instruction materials are required in kindergartens.