The Effectiveness of a Public Design Demonstration Module for Elementary Education Based on Symbiosis

Abstract

Korea’s rapid social development and artificial environmental changes have highlighted the importance of public design. In response, the world’s first Public Design Promotion Act was enacted, introducing foundational public design education in primary and secondary schools to enhance public awareness. This study implemented and evaluated a pilot educational module at an elementary school selected through a national competition. A quantitative case study design targeted 82 fifth- and sixth-grade students at N Elementary School. Using a quasi-experimental field research design, the independent variable was the “ public design lesson content,” while the dependent variable was measured through changes in students’ awareness, assessed with a five-point Likert scale and analyzed using paired t-tests (p < 0.001). The module was structured around two theoretical frameworks: the Three-Element Body Theory, focusing on usability (upper limbs), mobility (lower limbs), and cognitive accessibility (vision), and the Three-Element Sustainability Theory, emphasizing circularity, symbiosis (biodiversity), and finiteness to promote harmony with ecosystems. Results indicated a statistically significant improvement in students’ awareness of public design, with an average score increase from 2.66 (SD = 1.08) before the lecture to 4.20 (SD = 0.81) after the lecture. Additionally, 95.1% of students reported positive changes in their awareness, and 47.5% indicated substantial improvement. The module also enhanced students’ understanding of multidimensional aspects, including environmental scale, type, function, urban diversity, and adaptability. The Three-Element Body Theory facilitated practical understanding of design and disability awareness, while the Three-Element Sustainability Theory deepened ecological and sustainability awareness. This pilot module validates public design education as an effective tool for fostering symbiotic thinking and creative problem-solving, providing a robust foundation for broader adoption and future educational development.