The purpose of this study is to examine the effects on academic interest and career identity of the free semester-related SW education for middle school students. In order to achieve the purpose, SW education was conducted to 360 students in 15 middle school students in Gwangju and Jeonnam for 8 weeks from April 1 to May 2. After collecting data we examined frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis, independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, regression analysis.
The study results are as follows :
First, the career identity of middle school students who participated in free semester SW education was improved in planning performance and career behavior in individual characteristics such as sex and grade. And in the case of SW education experience and SW education period, it can be seen that career identity is improved in career behavior and planning.
Second, the academic interest of pre-education and post-education SW students who participated in the SW education for the free semester improved the academic interest in the SW education before and after education in the gender and grade. Interest in SW education, expectation in SW education, interest in SW related profession, interest in IT related occupation showed more improvement after SW education than SW education before.
Third, the effects of career identity on academic interest in the SW education for free semester influence all of the career identity’s sub-factors. The impact of career identity on academic interest after participating in SW education is significant in planning achievement and career behavior among sub-factors of career identity, but it is not significant in self knowledge, independence, and attitude. And career identity before and after SW education participation did not affect improvement of academic interest.
The purpose of this study is to understand the importance of learners’ interest and motivation in order to increase the effect of improving SW thinking and computing thinking and problem solving abilities. In the future, it is important to point out the direction of free semester-related SW education in order to present the direction of students’ career decision.