Problem solving capability was regarded as one of the very important competences for preparing 21st century in terms of enhancing the quality of life and international competitiveness. Nowaday technology innovations based on the problem solving capabi...
Problem solving capability was regarded as one of the very important competences for preparing 21st century in terms of enhancing the quality of life and international competitiveness. Nowaday technology innovations based on the problem solving capability were happened so often and rapidly. Accordingly, technological problem solving capability was considered essential skill for living in the knowledge-base society. In this context, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate education programs for fostering technological problem solving capability in practical arts at the elementary level. To achieve the goal of this study, the following null hypothesis were stated and utilized; there is no difference in the standpoints of technological problem solving capability between students who learned (1) identification of problem, (2) research and development, (3) realization, (4) evaluation and students who didn’t learn. 「Post-test only control group design」was applied for testing of the hypothesis. For the experimental and controlling group, 46 students of 6th grader were selected, respectively, at the B elementary school in Buchun, Kyonggi province. In experimental design, teacher’s checklist and student’s self-checklist were applied as evaluation instrument. Experimental data of the study were analyzed by t-test at the level of p〈.001. The contents and result of the study were as follows: First, the education programs for fostering technological problem solving capability in practical arts which was developed in the study were composed of major two parts; Understanding and hands-on activity for problem solving focused on 6th grader. First part was consisted of introduction, process, and example of problem solving in real life. Second part was made up of three hands-on-activities such as making of universal balloon case, making of toy functioning automatically and making of model excursion ship with moving scull. Second, these educational programs were effective to foster elementary students’ problem solving capability. On the basis of research results, the education programs for fostering technological problem solving capability in practical arts, which were developed in this study, could be serviceable in the field of elementary technology and/or practical arts education to foster technological problem solving capability.