Florist Experience Programs and Middle–School Students’ Perceptions of Flowers and Careers: A Case Study in Daegu, Korea

Background and objective: CThis study was conducted to examine the effects of florist experience programs (FEPs) on middle school students' perceptions of flowers and careers.Methods: For this purpose, 143 students in the first and second grades of two middle schools in Daegu Metropolitan City participated in three FEPs, and the changes in career awareness were compared and analyzed by gender and program through pre- and post-surveys. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions adapted to the level of middle school students under five subsections.Results: Before the program, girls had higher perception scales than boys, but after the program, boys scored higher than girls in all subsections. This suggests that the feminine subject matter and profession of flowers and florists appealed more to girls before the program, while the fresh and exciting experience appealed more to boys after the program. In terms of perceptions after the program, post-scales were higher for activities that involved new and creative tasks, such as creating a colorful picture frame, and students were more positive about creating bouquets using flowers with good shape, color, and scent rather than green materials such as succulents.Conclusion: In conclusion, an FEP with materials and tasks that are fresh and interesting to middle school students can be expected to positively change their perceptions of flowers and florists in career exploration education.