미국의 성공적인 학교교육혁신사례 비교연구

A Comparative Study on Successful School Innovation Cases in the United States

  이 논문에서는 국가경쟁력의 기반이 되는 인적자원 양성을 위해 성공적인 학교교육혁신에 가장 핵심적인 영향을 미치는 공통의 요인들을 사례분석을 통해 확인하고, 이를 바탕으로 한국의 학교교육혁신을 위한 시사점을 제시하였다. 실제 학교현장에서 성공적인 혁신을 가져온 미국 캘리포니아 지역에 소재한 세 학교를 선정하여, 문헌과 인터뷰 및 참여관찰 자료들을 기초로 각각의 학교에서 공통적으로 발견되는 중요한 성공요인 5가지(프로그램 및 혁신원리, 혁신주체, 교육목표, 교수-학습방법 및 평가, 학부모？지역사회 참여 및 외부의 지원)를 확인하고, 그 결과를 기초로 우리나라의 학교교육혁신전략을 수립하는데 필요한 시사점을 탐색하였다.

&nbsp;&nbsp;In this study it examines successful school innovation cases in the United States based on literature review, site visits and observations, and compares three schools in the United States which have successfully shown comprehensive change. The schools are Franklin Elementary School(Tribes Learning Communities), Lighthouse Community Charter School(Coalition of Essential Schools), Lowell Elementary School(Open Classroom).<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;It analyzes the reform cases based on the criteria such as innovation program &amp; principle, agents, educational goals, teaching-learning &amp; evaluation, involvement &amp; external support. Based on the comparison among three school reform cases in the United States the followings are the major findings.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;First, Schools chose innovation program which was fit for the school and followed faithfully the innovation principles of the program. Second, the innovation agents were the members of the schools. In particular, teachers played crucial role in innovation. Third, schools had clear goals for which school members sought after. Fourth, schools built learning community through small group, child-centered, and active learning. Fifth, parents and community involvement was high.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;We can apply the implications drawn from the cases to school reform efforts in Korea. However, the study has two limitations. Schools for the analysis were small size. Therefore, it has the limitation in the generalization to the large schools in metropolitan city. It also has the limit which takes relatively long time to institute successfully comprehensive school reform.