Search for Direction of Liberal Arts Education in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Paek, Seung Su

Korean Journal of General Education 2017;11(2):13-51.
Published online April 30, 2017.

Seung Su Paek

4차 산업혁명 시대의 교양교육의 방향 모색

백승수

Abstract

It is time to look for the direction and vision of general education in the age of the 4th Industrial Revolution where everything is changing. This paper examines the characteristics and educational implications of the 4th Industrial Revolution and seeks a new horizon of general education by examining the present state and problems of the education. It redefines the purpose of general education and introduces ‘Liberal Arts Education’ as a new general education beyond the limit of conventional education. The Liberal Arts Education is defined as a universal education which internalizes personality, intellect and competence. It is necessary to restructure the types of the Liberal Arts curriculum according to its original meaning, because it is possible to solve many problems by merely adjusting the curriculum types. The Liberal Arts is the same in content and method. It is necessary to pursue both the content innovation and the methodological innovation of the Liberal Arts education at the same time. The educational contents should be completely innovated in terms of differentiation, generalization, and convergence so that the identity of the education should be secured, the pursuit of academic interests should be strengthened, and the usefulness should be expanded. There is a need to innovate educational methods that introduce non-traditional creative lessons such as activity-based learning and extend the Liberal Arts courses throughout the entire years of college. In addition, in order to strengthen the professionalism of the education, it is necessary to secure the suitability of the curriculum of Liberal Arts professors and to improve the educational leadership of the related institution. When this approach is pursued organically and generally, the 21st century horizon of Liberal Arts education will open up.

Key Words: Liberal Arts Education, general education, Educational Innovation Model of the Liberal Arts, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, undergraduate curriculum