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Asia Pacífico | Observatorio Parlamentario
BCN-IADB Report: Analysis of Korean educational technology and its possible implementation in Chile
18 diciembre 2008
The report describes the Chilean and Korean education systems in detail. It also reviews the socio-economic context that led to the Korean model becoming one of the most important reference points in the world in the use of technology in classrooms. Lastly, the report addresses potential lessons for the application of said model in Chile.
The report describes the Chilean and Korean education systems in detail. It also reviews the socio-economic context that led to the Korean model becoming one of the most important reference points in the world in the use of technology in classrooms. Lastly, the report addresses potential lessons for the application of said model in Chile.
Last June, three Korean education experts were invited to Chile by the Asia-Pacific program here at the Library of Congress. The visit was funded by a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Dr Ik Chang, director of the Education Information Center at the Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS), Dr Young Sik Jean, director of the Korean Education Development Institute (KEDI), and Professor Ho-Yeol Kwon, from the Department of Engineering and Communications Science at Kangwon National University, all shared a mission to explain the virtues of the Korean educational system and how it can become a real reference for Chile.
Time has shown that the binational initiative was well worth the effort. And thanks to the cooperation of the University of Chile researcher, Dr Jaime Sanchez, the program has published an 80-page document entitled Analysis of Korean educational technology and its possible implementation in Chile. We will analyze some of the report’s main findings below.
Last June, three Korean education experts were invited to Chile by the Asia-Pacific program here at the Library of Congress. The visit was funded by a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Dr Ik Chang, director of the Education Information Center at the Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS), Dr Young Sik Jean, director of the Korean Education Development Institute (KEDI), and Professor Ho-Yeol Kwon, from the Department of Engineering and Communications Science at Kangwon National University, all shared a mission to explain the virtues of the Korean educational system and how it can become a real reference for Chile.
Time has shown that the binational initiative was well worth the effort. And thanks to the cooperation of the University of Chile researcher, Dr Jaime Sanchez, the program has published an 80-page document entitled Analysis of Korean educational technology and its possible implementation in Chile. We will analyze some of the report’s main findings below.
The report stresses that the education’s relevance in Korea has increased in recent decades. This progress has been driven by the government's belief that education is a direct productive force within today’s information society. It also explains that it is the State who has provided resources for schools, individuals, businesses. It has also pushed for private contribution, too. In fact, much of the education and R & D is done by the private sector, via government funding.
Another highly relevant point brought out in the report is the fact that Korea’s focus on national development is not limited to education. Korea views its development as a society-wide effort to reach high standards. The report views the presence of ICTs in schools and in virtually every household as part of this wide-spectrum effort.
The final portion of report addresses the major similarities and differences between the two systems of education. The report highlights that Chile is almost the exact opposite of Korea when it comes to views on education. In Chile, education is a way to become "somebody in life". Korea, on the other hand, has a strong cultural heritage based on societal principles and an awareness of the social mobility that learning affords.
Another highly relevant point brought out in the report is the fact that Korea’s focus on national development is not limited to education. Korea views its development as a society-wide effort to reach high standards. The report views the presence of ICTs in schools and in virtually every household as part of this wide-spectrum effort.
The final portion of report addresses the major similarities and differences between the two systems of education. The report highlights that Chile is almost the exact opposite of Korea when it comes to views on education. In Chile, education is a way to become "somebody in life". Korea, on the other hand, has a strong cultural heritage based on societal principles and an awareness of the social mobility that learning affords.
Proposals for Chilean Education
The paper suggests at least four elements of the Korean education system should by emulated by Chilean education:
1 .- The Committee of ministerial officials, which meets to discuss Korean education policy, is an interesting alternative that should be studied in greater depth by Chile. (The Korean model involves) a long-term, integrated and coordinated approach to ICTs, where education is a real part of the (broader) national development strategy.
2 .- The contribution of ICTs to learning and classroom activities will be lessened if the concomitant content and methods lack a solid pedagogical basis and if teachers lack content mastery. Korea is an example how to approach this axiom.
3 .- The Korean and Chilean experience in e-Learning or the use of cutting-edge technology in the classroom may lead to international cooperation projects for assessing processes and outcomes, analyzing the scalability of the experience and ultimately developing pedagogical models for curricular integration of ICTs. Horizontal collaboration seems the best option to pursue.
4 .- Lastly, the Korean experience is also successful when working directly with students in e-Learning, u-Learning and Cyber Home Learning. The Chilean project Enlaces has historically emphasized working with teachers, in order to explore how students can directly employ ICTs in order to develop projects and to learn at school and at home. In this respect, the Korean experience can be of tremendous value to Chile.
The report is available free for download in PDF format, click here to view it in its entirety.
The paper suggests at least four elements of the Korean education system should by emulated by Chilean education:
1 .- The Committee of ministerial officials, which meets to discuss Korean education policy, is an interesting alternative that should be studied in greater depth by Chile. (The Korean model involves) a long-term, integrated and coordinated approach to ICTs, where education is a real part of the (broader) national development strategy.
2 .- The contribution of ICTs to learning and classroom activities will be lessened if the concomitant content and methods lack a solid pedagogical basis and if teachers lack content mastery. Korea is an example how to approach this axiom.
3 .- The Korean and Chilean experience in e-Learning or the use of cutting-edge technology in the classroom may lead to international cooperation projects for assessing processes and outcomes, analyzing the scalability of the experience and ultimately developing pedagogical models for curricular integration of ICTs. Horizontal collaboration seems the best option to pursue.
4 .- Lastly, the Korean experience is also successful when working directly with students in e-Learning, u-Learning and Cyber Home Learning. The Chilean project Enlaces has historically emphasized working with teachers, in order to explore how students can directly employ ICTs in order to develop projects and to learn at school and at home. In this respect, the Korean experience can be of tremendous value to Chile.
The report is available free for download in PDF format, click here to view it in its entirety.
