Free learning semester refers to a system where school curriculum is run flexibly so that students may be able to explore their dreams and talents without much burden for tests and exams; and teachers use students-centered educational methods such as debates and practical hands-on training so that students can expand their learning experiences even to various career searching activities. In order for this system to properly take root in Korean educational environments, it is essential to analyze and evaluate the system based on the empirical studies and management realities at the school where it was attempted.
The purpose of this study is to examine the reality and conditions of the school while managing the free semester system. and to check the satisfaction levels of teachers and students with the system; furthermore, to diagnose its current problems with feasible improvement plans. For this study, 94 freshmen and 19 teachers from a middle school were designated for both surveys performed before and after the system was employed. The collected data went through an encoding process and then was statistically treated with the SPSS WIN 21.0 program.
No statistically significant difference was noticed in both the teachers' and the students' satisfaction levels about the school life. However, in terms of gauging students' overall satisfaction and the atmosphere of the school and classes, the average score of the post-survey was generally a bit higher. Also, the average score of teachers' post-survey was a bit higher in terms of the curriculum management and student participation; the atmosphere of the school and classes; the educational results; and the overall feeling of happiness and satisfaction with the school life.
The problems surfaced as the result of operating the free semester system are as follows:
First, there was a problem with the shortage of various programs, club activities, and hands-on experiences catering to students in the free semester curriculum.
Second, the process-based evaluation substituting written exams caused a problem since it increased teachers' overall workload and made it difficult for teachers to decide who does what.
Third, the shortage of able instructors and of hands-on learning and training agencies was another problem. There aren't many educational establishments or organizations that could cooperate with the school during the free semester.
Forth, the deficient class hours might lead to a reasonable concern for a decline in the students' scholastic ability and for proper ways to assess and evaluate students.
Some plans to deal with and improve upon the current system are as follows:
First, teachers should take various educational programs and training courses related to managing the free semester system to better prepare themselves for it.
Second, the teachers' workload needs to be reduced since there's an increase of their workload due to the newly adopted process-based evaluation system in place of written exams and tests.
Third, the system for education and talent donation should be well established and expanded to all walks of life from large corporate levels to individual parents with various expertise and professions. Specific measures should be developed to look for the corporations that can support school education, and to provide a network for local schools to exchange and share their information and experiences.
Forth, measures to reduce the cost of private education should be implemented. And extending a free semester system to a year-long system should be in consideration once the semester system takes root properly in our educational environments.
The results of this study suggests that students are able to discover their interests, talents, and aptitude; and to explore their career choices more extensively through various class activities during the free semester. Students' consideration for one another, teamwork, responsibility will be enhanced by diverse teaching methods employed by teachers. Moreover, the students should be able to understand themselves better and improve their ability to probe into their future careers.