The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning and significance of learning community of early childhood teachers, which was practically based on their interest in aesthetic education. The subject in this study was a research club of early childhood teachers who worked in the province of C. The title of this club is “수업사랑“ After the organization and characteristics of the club was investigated, the characteristics of aesthetics education were analyzed, to which the club members got to pay attention to in the course of trying to ensure the maintenance and growth of the club. And then earlier studies of learning communities and research cases of this club were analyzed to define the significance of the learning community of early childhood teachers. This researcher made a participant observation of their community learning as an observer and aesthetics education supporter, and had an interview with a few early childhood teachers.
As a result, this research club was found to be a learning community of early childhood teachers that was organized by the local educational authorities, who were outsiders, for special purposes, not voluntarily by teachers who were interested in studies. As for the characteristics of the research club, however, the members of this research club actively participated in it, and got together on a regular basis in pursuit of the common selected goals that were to build their own identity as the members of the research club and to provide good instruction that could improve the happiness, delight and learning flow of students. They made research in instructional planning, instructional analysis and aesthetics education to attain their common goal that was to conduct good instruction, and they studied aesthetics education in diverse ways such as attending lectures, taking training courses or holding workshops. The members of the research club reflected on their own teaching and introduced aesthetic instruction while they learned about aesthetics education. There were five stages of development in the research club that was a learning community initially generated by outsiders: formation, internalization, growth, expansion, and transfer/termination. The factor that made a contribution to the maintenance of the research club was the members themselves who included a transformational leader and good followers who sought after good themes of learning and were enthusiastic about their studies. Concerning the significance of the learning community, this community was of significance as what made the members grow into experts, produced teaching materials and information and provided colleagues who could help one another recover from burnout. As to future challenges for the development of the research club, there wasn''t enough space to make practical, authentic and sustained research, and a new types of training was required to let the members gain aesthetic experience. In addition, outside supporters who could back up their research were necessary, and assistance from their workplace colleagues or principals was required as well. Finally, the research club served as a model of learning community of early childhood teachers and was of use for the organization of other communities.
The findings of the study imply that a learning community is of significance as a space for the professional development of early childhood teachers who are able to make themselves grow, and the findings also suggest the necessity of aesthetics education as a way to actualize quality modern education that stresses mutual differences and creation.