The objectives of this study were to identify problems in the operation of research schools, to discuss the meanings of the problems, and to look for constructive directions for improved operation of research schools. In addition, this study attempted...
The objectives of this study were to identify problems in the operation of research schools, to discuss the meanings of the problems, and to look for constructive directions for improved operation of research schools. In addition, this study attempted to explain why solutions for problems in research schools suggested in previous research were not applied in school, and to discuss the current operation of research schools designated and run with various topics that are not matched with realities.
In order to survey the operation of research schools accurately and specifically, I used qualitative research methods such as the researcher's participant observation of G Elementary Policy Research School under the supervision of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, in-depth interviews with participating teachers, review of literature on the operation of research schools, and content analysis of related materials. As previous studies were quantitative based on statistics or numeric data, I tried to convey teachers' voices and real situations in the field of research schools using qualitative methods rather than theoretical knowledge of research school operation or a simple report on the operation of such schools. Furthermore, in order to enhance the accuracy and reliability of research, I collected and utilized various documents and materials on the operation of G Elementary Policy Research School, and conducted semi-structured interviews with 28 interviewees including the principal, the vice-principal, appointed head teachers, grade head teachers, and ordinary teachers. In addition, I used observation records that the researcher kept while participating in the operation of G Elementary Research School for a year.
From this study conducted according to the objectives and methods as above, I obtained results as follows.
First, with regard to the necessity of research school operation, the principal, the vice-principal, appointed head teachers and ordinary teachers had different opinions, and this was the main reason that teachers were reluctant to work at a research school. Most of ordinary teachers had a negative opinion on the operation of research school, and the reasons that they mentioned were that participation in a research school is meaningless to teachers who do not pursue promotion, that the topics of research are impractical, perfunctory, exhibitive, and ineffective, and that excessive workload hinders the normal operation of the curriculums.
On the contrary, school managers and appointed head teachers supported the necessity of research school operation by mentioning that it provides students with various educational benefits and opportunities and that it can test new educational policies in the field of education and generalize them through revision and supplementation. Accordingly, in order to resolve the conflicting opinions, we need to convince ordinary teachers of the necessities and purposes of research schools, to select research tasks fittingly for the current situations of research schools, and to make efforts to execute related tasks within the normal operation of the curriculums.
Second, most of teachers were participating in the operation of research school without clear understanding of the purposes and characters of research school. In order to solve this problem, we need to introduce preliminary training programs for research school teachers and to prepare legal grounds and systems for clear distinction and designation of policy research schools and model schools.
Third, there was no process for hearing teachers' opinions in designating research schools and selecting research topics and tasks, and the principal, the vice-principal, appointed teachers and head teachers made decisions on application for being designated as a research school, selection of research topics, and the entire process of research school operation. Accordingly, we need to expand the Operating Committee and subcommittees so that ordinary teachers participate and their opinions are heard and reflected through democratic procedures.
Fourth, research schools were operated passively and inefficiently due to teachers?f lack of understanding and awareness of research school programs, and this resulted in the production of inadequate results from the research activities. Thus, we need to provide detailed information on operation programs, and to execute education on the purposes, contents, methods and expected outcomes of such programs.
Fifth, it is necessary to collect teachers?f opinions on additional points for research schools and to prepare various systems not only for meritorious teachers but also for participating teachers. Giving equal additional points to all participating teachers can discourage their research activities, but differentiated awarding of additional points has problems such as ambiguous criteria and unfairness. Furthermore, some teachers may want to participate mainly for additional points. Due to these problems, additional point is a very sensitive issue. In this research, most of teachers appeared to want equal awarding of additional points, but some said that not only additional points but also various incentives are necessary for participating teachers.
Sixth, uniform and exhibitive reports should be avoided, and reports on research results should be made honestly including problems and failures and in a variety of creative forms according to the characteristic of each task. Accordingly, briefings should be held in various ways including small-group discussions rather than lectures or one-way communication.
Seventh, most of research schools generalized the results of their operation, and published reports or post them on their homepage or the homepage of the Office of Education , but these reports were not utilized properly in school. Thus, we need to find ways of enhancing the utility of such reports in education. That is, instead of suggesting theories and ideal forms, we need to spread, through various conferences and training programs, outstanding cases highly useful to schools and educational agencies in the field of education.
Eighth, due to the exhibitive and transient operation of research school, the results and outcomes of research school operation were buried at the end of the programs. Thus, efforts should be made to generalize highly applicable programs at ordinary schools through administrative and financial supports, and research schools should play the role of a local information center with expertise in specific research topics.
Lastly, teachers' excessive workload and mental burden was the biggest problem recognized by field teachers, who are the main actors of research school operation. In order to solve this problem, specialists who are familiar with research topics and research school operation should be deployed in school so that they cover research works unnecessary to teachers and teachers can teach students within the regular curriculums and commit themselves to their own research activities.
At G Elementary Policy Research School, the research topic 'Practical School of After-School Linked to Curriculums' was fit for the school's local and personnel characteristics and provided many educational benefits to students during its operation. This fact was supported by the positive evaluation and relatively high satisfaction of the teachers, parents and students after the program. Despite the positive evaluation, however, the case raised several problems that were common among research schools including the case research school.
This study attempted to explain the meanings of these problems, and through this, we tried to find constructive directions of research schools. According to the results of this study, many of problems in research school operation originated from the educational authority's idle bureaucratic administration that spotlights and emphasizes only the positive sides of research school. Furthermore, the selection of various research topics removed from the real situation of school will continue to cause other problems. Moreover, if research schools are operated perfunctorily and only for display without change and reform, we cannot expect qualitative changes to desirable education pursued by research schools such as improvement in teaching-learning methods, creation of research atmosphere in school, and suggestion of solutions for immediate problems in the field of education.