The Effect of Problem-Solving Instruction on Children’s Creativity and Self-efficacy in the Teaching of the Practical Arts Subject

Practical arts is a subject that not only promotes learners’ better understanding of work in their daily lives, but also enables them to find ways to solve work-related problems by fostering basic skills and attitudes necessary for performing the work (Ministry of Education, 1993). That is why the Ministry of Education in Korea (1993) identified the practical arts subject as a “practical living” subject, a “creative problem-solving subject,” and an “integrated knowledge subject.” Moreover, practical arts education in the aspect of its educational goal helps develop students’ problem-solving and creativethinking skills. In the methodological aspect, it also develops students’ self-efficacy by helping them acquire daily living skills as well as the joy of work experience and a sense of accomplishment through experiential learning based on the work experience (Ministry of Education, 1993). That’s why the Ministry of Education made the practical arts subject a required course for the elementary education system in Korea.