published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

Marine aquariums are excellent venues for accomplishing the purposes of marine education, and school field trips conducted at non-formal settings continue to be an important part of K-12 education. The purpose of this study was to provide not only quantitative data regarding the extent and quality of marine aquarium field trips conducted by elementary schoolteachers in Seoul, South Korea, but also to provide a qualitative description of marine aquarium education conducted in the USA and Canada. A Web survey designed to examine Korean teachers' experiences and perspectives on aquarium field trips identified several concerns regarding Korean marine aquarium education, and a case study conducted at three aquariums in the USA and Canada described the characteristics and qualities of marine aquarium education at those aquaria. Recommendations for both Korean aquaria's educational roles and Korean elementary schools' successful field trips to aquaria are presented with the goal of improving the quality of Korean marine aquarium education.

Marine aquariums are excellent venues for accomplishing the purposes of marine education, and school field trips conducted at non-formal settings continue to be an important part of K-12 education. The purpose of this study was to provide not only quantitative data regarding the extent and quality of marine aquarium field trips conducted by elementary schoolteachers in Seoul, South Korea, but also to provide a qualitative description of marine aquarium education conducted in the USA and Canada. A Web survey designed to examine Korean teachers' experiences and perspectives on aquarium field trips identified several concerns regarding Korean marine aquarium education, and a case study conducted at three aquariums in the USA and Canada described the characteristics and qualities of marine aquarium education at those aquaria. Recommendations for both Korean aquaria's educational roles and Korean elementary schools' successful field trips to aquaria are presented with the goal of improving the quality of Korean marine aquarium education.