The purposes of this study are to investigate the significance of early childhood teachers' participations in learning communities and changes in practical knowledge in mathematics education through learning community participations, to consider the n...
The purposes of this study are to investigate the significance of early childhood teachers' participations in learning communities and changes in practical knowledge in mathematics education through learning community participations, to consider the necessity of learning communities for developing expertise of early childhood teachers, and to provide the specific management plan for learning communities. For the purposes of this study, research issues are selected as follows.
1. What is the meaning of early childhood teachers' participations in learning communities?
2. How has practical knowledge of early childhood teachers changed through participations in early childhood mathematics education learning communities?
2-1. How has concept of early childhood teachers changed through participations in early childhood mathematics education learning communities?
2-2. How have teacher-child interactions of early childhood teachers changed through participations in early childhood mathematics education learning communities?
The results of this study are as follows.
First, teachers who participated in the 'Doran Doran' learning community had demands, and voluntarily participated in the learning community to share and solve problems they experience in the field.
Second, early childhood teachers have brought positive changes and development not only individually but also collectively as a group through voluntary participations in the learning community.
Third, for the efficient management of learning communities, teachers should participate in the activities with responsibilities as community members.
Fourth, early childhood teachers have come out of conventional individualistic teaching culture where they practice, build and retain knowledge, and they shared, built and developed practical knowledge together.