| A Study on the Present State of the Convergence Courses as Mandatory in the Liberal Arts Curriculum |
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Yejung Choi |
| 계열필수과목으로서의 융합형 교양교과목 운영현황 연구 |
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최예정 |
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| Abstract |
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This essay aims to report the history of the development of the convergence courses which are conducted as mandatory for all freshmen in Hoseo University from this year. It also tries to make a mid-evaluation of the achievement of those courses. This study clarifies the forces that lead the introduction of the convergence courses into the liberal arts curriculum for all freshmen. Then, it expounds the whole design of the curriculum with an analysis of the problems exposed so far and finally suggests the strategies to improve the quality of the education in these courses.
The convergence courses in this essay includes two types of courses. The first type is the interdisciplinary courses which integrates more than two academic disciplines. The second type is the courses which employ new teaching methods besides the traditional lecture style. It includes, by definition, online learning or blended learning courses. However, online or blended learning courses will be ruled out from the discussion, for they need a more detailed discussion on their own. Instead, this essay focuses on the courses which will help students to develop more than two core abilities, implementing new educational methodology such as problem based learning, project-based learning, and team-based learning. In Hoseo, “Career Planning and Self Management,” “the Creative Design,” “Exploration of the Classics and Writing,” and “Technical Writing and Presentation” fall into the category of the convergence courses.
The instructors in charge of the convergence courses in the spring and fall semesters agree to the importance of these courses believing that these courses will help students to develop their academic capability and to enhance their interests in the majors. Another agreement they make is that educational and administrative supports are crucial to the success of these new courses, for they have difficulty in the development of a new type of undergraduate courses which they themselves have never experienced. Thus emerges the importance of the pre-education of the instructors on the educational methodology applicable in these courses, including team operation and teaching writing techniques. Workshops and presentations of successful examples will help the instructors to design the curriculum. The development of a textbook designed for Hoseo students will be of a great help too, in mapping out the specific goals of the courses and the sources available to teaching. And a further study on a students evaluation form appropriate for this new type of courses will be needed for a more detailed and accurate analysis of the convergence courses. |
| Key Words:
liberal arts education, liberal arts curriculum, convergence courses, educational methodology, core ability, text development, workshop |
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