Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education (한국과학교육학회지)

The Korean Association for Science Education (한국과학교육학회)
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Identifying Key Competencies Required for STEM Occupations

과학, 기술, 공학, 수학(STEM) 직종에 요구되는 핵심 역량 분석

  • Received : 2018.09.30
  • Accepted : 2018.12.11
  • Published : 2018.12.31
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Abstract

In modern society, as technology develops and industry diversifies, students can choose from a variety of career paths. Since science, technology, engineering, and mathematics require a longer education and experience than other fields, it is important to design science education policies based on the competencies required for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. This study explores the definition of science and technology manpower and STEM occupations and identifies core competencies of STEM occupations using standard job information operated and maintained by the US Department of Labor ($O^*NET$). We specially analyzed ratings of the importance of skills (35 ratings), knowledge (33 ratings), and work activities (41 ratings) conducting descriptive analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). As a result, core competencies of STEM occupations consist of STEM problem-solving competency, Management competency, Technical competency, Social service competency, Teaching competency, Design competency, Bio-chemistry competency, and Public service competency, which accounts for 70% of the total variance. This study can be a reference for setting the curriculum and educational goals in secondary and college education by showing the diversity of science and technology occupations and the competencies required for STEM occupations.

현대 사회에서는 기술이 발전하고 산업이 분화되면서 학생들은 다양한 진로를 선택할 수 있게 되었다. 과학, 기술, 공학, 수학 분야는 다른 분야에 비해 오랜 교육과 경력이 필요하므로 과학기술 직종에 필요한 역량에 기반을 두어 과학교육정책을 설계하고, 학습자가 가진 능력과 적성에 맞는 과학기술 진로를 제시할 필요가 있다. 이 연구는 과학기술 인력과 STEM 직종에 대한 정의를 탐색하고, 미국 노동부에서 운영 및 관리하는 표준 직업 정보($O^*NET$)를 사용하여 STEM 직종의 핵심 역량을 분석하였다. 이 연구는 $O^*NET$의 숙련, 지식, 직업 활동으로 구성된 총 109개의 지표를 대상으로 기술통계와 주성분 분석을 하였다. 그 결과, STEM 직종의 핵심 역량은 STEM 문제해결 역량, 관리역량, 기술 역량, 사회 서비스 역량, 교육 역량, 설계 역량, 생물 화학 역량, 공공서비스 역량으로 구성되며 이들은 전체 분산의 70%를 설명한다. 이 연구는 과학기술직종의 다양성과 과학기술 직종에 요구되는 역량을 구체적으로 보여주어 중등 및 대학교육에서 교육과정 및 교육목표를 설정하는데 참고자료로써 활용될 수 있으며, 개인의 적성에 맞는 개별화된 과학진로교육에 기여할 것이다.

Keywords

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Figure 1. Content model of O*NET (O*NET, 2018)

Table 1. Definition of science and technology workforce and STEM occupations

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Table 2. Descriptive statistics of skills, knowledge, and work activities

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Table 3. Result of principal component analysis (PCA)

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Table 4. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the first component in PCA

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Table 5. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the second component in PCA

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Table 6. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the third component in PCA

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Table 7. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the fourth component in PCA

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Table 8. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the fifth component in PCA

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Table 9. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the sixth component in PCA

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Table 10. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the seventh component in PCA

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Table 11. Skills, knowledge, and work activities with loading over 0.5 for the eighth component in PCA

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