This study explores the approach, goals, contents, methods, and limitations of environment education programs for young children in Korean museums to identify sustainable outreach programs. It examines and analyzes environment education programs, pa...
This study explores the approach, goals, contents, methods, and limitations of environment education programs for young children in Korean museums to identify sustainable outreach programs. It examines and analyzes environment education programs, particularly water-related education programs.
First, the study examines the similarities and differences of water-related education programs for young children between formal education programs in preschools or kindergartens and social education programs like those in museums. Second, three museums, the 'Seoul Metropolitan Government Waterworks Museum', the 'Seoul Sewerage Science Museum', and the 'Cheong Gye Cheon Museum', were selected for the study because they offered water-related education programs on a regular basis. The comparison was based on Hein's museum learning theory via websites, site visits, program observations, and interviews with program lecturers. Third, the 'Seoul Sewerage Science Museum' was selected as a case study site for in depth interviews of kindergarten and preschool teachers who chaperoned children and of program lecturers since it was the only museum which covered sewerage issues. Fourth, through this, the key characteristics of museum environment education programs for young children were drawn. The followings are the major outcomes from the study.
First, it is vital that children learn about environment education while they are in preschool or kindergarten because it lays the foundation for their understanding of environmental issues which will have a lasting impact on their lives. For young children during this age group to comprehend these issues it is imperative that the environment education programs utilize symbols such as letters, images, or pictures that easily imprints in their memory.
Second, in addition to formal education programs, social education institutions, like museums, are a great resource for learning environment issues, such as water-related issues, because they are locations for experimental and practical education.
Third, environment education at kindergartens and preschools are following the 'Nuri' curriculum from the Korean Department of Education. The sub-fields include characteristics of water, water usage, pollution, and prevention, under the broader topic of 'water and our lives'.
Fourth, while evaluating the three museums that offered water-related education programs, the consequent findings were that group participants from preschools and kindergartens were greater in number than the total number of individual participants. However they are appeared to be a lack of partnerships between the preschools or kindergartens and the museums in the stages of planning, implementing, and evaluating the programs.
Fifth, in order to create an effective program, 1) the preschools or kindergartens' 'Nuuri' program and the museums programs should coordinate with one another 2) similar museums should specialize in different topics to create a holistic view of environment education 3) similar local institutions such as public libraries should work together to create sustainable environment education.