A Study of Developing an Educational Program for School Autonomous Hours - Focusing on the Theme of “Practicing an Ecologically-Oriented Life”

This study developed an educational program, “Practicing an Ecologically-Oriented Life,” for 4th-grade students to be implemented during school autonomous hours. The program was developed following a four-step process: prior research and curriculum analysis, selection of goals and educational content, development of a teaching-learning plan and program, and evaluation, including its content validity. The resulting program comprises 28 sessions, with a focus on the home economics life field of practical arts. It is designed to be implemented during school autonomous hours within the 2022 revised curriculum using ‘activities’ through a ‘distributed operations’ approach. The program’s goals are to: help students recognize the seriousness of environmental issues and the need for an ecologically-oriented lifestyle; explain various environmental protection methods in daily life; and understand and apply ecological principles in everyday practices. Additionally, some topics incorporate digital and AI elements to foster digital literacy and prepare students for future societal challenges. While this study focused on developing the program specifically for 4th-grade school autonomous hours, similar programs should be developed for other grades and educational levels. Future program development should involve collaboration with families, communities, and other academic subjects to promote and support ecologically-oriented lifestyles.