Tech
Savvy Youth – Korea’s Efforts to Create a New
Wired Generation
Given
its vocationally oriented background (i.e. education
for employment in a given sector), Sunrin High School
might seem an unlikely visionary for a twenty-first
century education system.However, the Seoul-based high school – which
has around 80 teachers and 1,000 students – has come
to represent the future of interactive educational
training in Korea.While it’s not the only Internet-enabled high
school in Korea, Sunrin was designated the country’s
first “Internet high school” in 2000. Two E1 (2 Mbit/s)
connections, provided by the government, connect the
school’s more than 600 computers to the global
information network where students have access to a
variety of Web management, e-commerce and multimedia
design resources.Additionally, teachers have made their
published textbooks (approximately 15 publications)
and other background materials available to students
in electronic format, thus reducing the need for the
students to bring books to class.The content, which includes a variety of
multimedia tools, allows students to expand their
understanding of the Internet, while learning from a
variety of unconventional resources (e.g. graphic
design from Japanese Manga cartoons).
Building
on the Korean government’s vision for universal
computer-based education at all levels that began in
1970, the Sunrin Internet High School is structured in
a way that prepares students for a variety of
information age professions.For example, the Department of Web-Managing
gives students the skills necessary to become a Web
master, while the Multimedia Design Department
prepares them for a career as a digital animator.Some of the key in-class Internet applications
include digital art design, foreign language lessons,
and music production, among others.While Sunrin is helping to create a new cadre
of IT and Internet literate students, the initiative
is also helping to get teachers more involved in ICT-centric
education, specifically as it relates to the
development of educational software.
Despite
its revolutionary educational design, Sunrin, a pillar
of quality instruction, first introduced computers
into the curriculum in 1982.While it is still too early to determine the
effectiveness of the Internet-based educational model
in use since 2000, it is clear that the training is
attracting attention from some of Korea’s well-known
businesses.For
instance, the CEO of a local education software design
firm recently visited the school searching for
partnerships and potential employees.Moreover, Sunrin has also established
relationships with key industries in Korea for job
training, which creates a virtual work environment for
students.Some
of the students are already creating businesses and
career networks on the side.Among other benefits, the Internet-enabled
classroom allows both students and teachers to adapt
to the ever-changing digital environment.
While
only the second of its kind in the world, the Sunrin
Internet High School represents the movement away from
conventional teaching methods and towards a new
educational environment focused on creating future
digital generations.As more countries build out their
communications networks and embrace the educational
power of the Internet, more students throughout Korea
will be afforded the opportunity to expand their
digital horizons, and the conception of knowledge will
be further redefined.Together with the government, the Korea
Education & Research Information Service (KERIS)
and the private sector, Sunrin is enhancing Korea’s
already tech savvy cyber society.
For additional information on the Sunrin
initiative,
click here.
Given
its vocationally oriented background (i.e. education
for employment in a given sector), Sunrin High School
might seem an unlikely visionary for a twenty-first
century education system.
Despite
its revolutionary educational design, Sunrin, a pillar
of quality instruction, first introduced computers
into the curriculum in 1982.