The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a tool to diagnose the culture of same grade teacher learning communities, which has recently become more important in the context of elementary school. Before the development, previous research about the types, characteristics, and cultures of teacher learning communities in unit schools was reviewed.
The development process of factors and items that can diagnose the community culture of the elementary school teachers is as follows. First, based on the literature review, basic preliminary test items (BPTIs) (6 factors and 36 items) were developed. We analyzed the results of applying BPTI to one elementary schools and developed the preliminary test items (PTIs) (5 factors and 30 items). We analyzed the results of the PTIs at two elementary schools and developed main test items (5 factors and 28 items). We analyzed the results of this main test items at nine elementary schools operating school-learning communities in Chungbuk province, and finalized the questionnaire (5 factors and 25 questions).
This cultural diagnostic tool will help leaders and members of same grade teacher learning communities diagnose their community culture and identify factors and specific areas to improve.