문화다양성 교육 교사 연수 프로그램 효과 분석

Effects of a Professional Development Program for Cultural Diversity Education

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a professional development program designed to enhance teachers’ competencies in cultural diversity education. A three-day, 17-hour program was developed through a review of significant Korean and international literature on cultural diversity in teacher education. It was implemented for 26 elementary school teachers across the country in August 2023 through Center ‘E’ at University ‘S’. Employing a mixed-methods research approach, the study gathered quantitative data on shifts in teachers' cultural beliefs through pre- and post-training surveys, analyzing 16 responses with paired-sample t-tests. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with three teachers were conducted approximately five months after training to evaluate the long-term effects on teachers’ beliefs and teaching practices. Results from the quantitative analysis indicate a statistically significant improvement in the participants' cultural beliefs following the program. Qualitatively, the program was found to foster shifts in teachers' beliefs and enhance their teaching practices and commitment to cultural diversity education. These findings underscore teachers' critical role as facilitators of cultural diversity education and contribute to the field by offering empirical evidence on the impact of professional development programs on enhancing cultural diversity competencies and beliefs. Given the limited research on such programs, this study illuminates potential directions and challenges for future cultural diversity teacher training.