A Base Study for Developing Integrated Education Competency Scale for Elementary General Education Teacher

Purpose: This study aimed to establish foundational data for the successful implementation of integrated education by exploring the competencies of elementary general education teachers. Method: To this end, a two-round Delphi survey was conducted with 20 experts, including elementary general and special education teachers, supervisors, and researchers. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0 and Excel programs to calculate descriptive statistics, coefficients of variation, and measures of consensus, convergence, and content validity. Results: First, the first round of the Delphi survey yielded 61 items across five sub-domains. Second, following the second round, a final set of 50 items was derived within five key sub-domains: 'competency in creating an integrated environment,' 'competency in integrated classroom instruction,' 'competency in students guidance in integrated classes,' 'competency in utilizing information related to integrated education,' and 'competency in professional development for integrated education.' Conclusion: The findings of this study identify the essential competencies required for elementary general education teachers to perform integrated education effectively, offering implications for improving the quality of integrated education