A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ADAPTING 'SESAME STREET' FOR KOREAN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION (TELEVISION, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION)

The purpose of the study is to examine the feasibility of adapting an educational innovation, the "Sesame Street" television program, to the Korean preschool educational setting. Rising interest in preschool education stems from recognition of the need for: (1) preschool education as a means of facilitating child development; (2) the development of curriculum and instructional methods for preschool education; (3) better teacher education and more qualified preschool education teachers; (4) economy in educational practices as a result of limited resources and finances; (5) extension of educational opportunities for the disadvantaged.;Korean educators will determine the adoption, adaptation, and rate of diffusion of this innovation. Their perceptions of the innovation may serve as indicators of the feasibility of introducing the program. Ten educational policy makers, 28 university professors and researchers in early childhood education, and 41 kindergarten teachers and principals rated, on a Likert-type scale, (1) the importance of "Sesame Street"'s instructional objectives, and (2) characteristics of the innovation.;The basic hypotheses are that "Sesame Street" is perceived as: (1) having important instructional objectives; (2) requiring adaptation; (3) possessing perceived relative advantages; (4) compatible with the needs of Korean preschool education; (5) an observable innovation; (6) easy to adapt; and (7) low in risk.;Results suggest that adaptation is relatively feasible. Korean educators perceive the instructional objectives as important and the innovation as having significant relative advantages. Policy makers perceive the innovation as more observable and trialable than the other groups, and the instructional objectives related to symbolic representation as less important. Responses to essay-type questions suggest that concerns exist regarding the incompatibility of the program with the developmental phases of Korean children, the lack of specialists in television design and early childhood education, and limited financial resources. It is concluded that adaptation is feasible if concerns are addressed through careful planning and, furthermore, that the ultimate benefits to the children will be worth the effort.;"Sesame Street" has been adapted in more than 40 countries since it was first aired in 1969. However, success of the adaptation differs from country to country due to cultural and social differences.