A Qualitative Study on Teachers' Experiences as Change Agents in Korean Schools

• In Event: 16.057 - Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: 16.057-15 - Innovation and Data-Based Decision Making as Strategies for Instructional Improvement

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to seek insights into the experience and growth of change agents and to come up with supporting ideas, based on voices from the early adopters of educational innovation. The method of qualitative study was conducted on 11 high school teachers who are leading the adaptation of educational innovation in Korea. The findings will be discussed in three parts: reasons for adopting educational innovation, the experience of change agents in the process and the effect on their professional development. The experience of adopting innovation had two results on teachers’ professional development: while some teachers got professional growth in an unexpected field, unfortunately, others left their school or decide not to try any change again.

Authors

• Joo Youn Lee, Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation

• Kyounghye Seo, Ewha Womans University

• Lanju Kim, Ewha Womans University

• Sujin Kim, Ewha Womans University

• Rami Woo, Ewha Womans University