Exploratory Research for the Development of a SDLT (Self-directed Learning Test) for Young Children

The purpose of this study was to develop a self-directed learning measurement tool for early childhood, which can be used for counseling and planning in the educational setting. The subjects were 150 infants aged from 3 to 5 years in kindergartens and day care centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The questionnaire was administered to these student’s homeroom teachers. The collected data were statistically processed by the SPSS WIN 24.0 program to calculate reliability and exploratory factor analysis. The results of this study were as follows: First, the relevant factors dictating the self-directed learning ability of young children were cognition, affection, and behavior. The cognitive factor in turn consisted of cognition, metacognition, and problemsolving ability, the affective factor consisted of intrinsic motivation and future-oriented motivation, self-efficacy, and the behavior factors consisted of seeking help and managing the physical environment and time. Second, through the calculation of KMO and Bartlett’s test of sphericity a valid factor structure of .946 (cognition), .937 (affection), .945 (behavior) was found. Therefore, it will be possible to use the SDLT (self-directed learning test) developed in this study in the field of early childhood education, and it is suggested that this tool is utilized to grasp the state of learning ability of infants and in educational planning and counseling.