A 'Chameleon' Appears on the Streets of Gyeongnam!

Specially Made 13t Truck by Gyeongnam Office of Education

Visiting Rural Schools for Creative and Convergent Classes

Gyeongnam Office of Education unveiled the mobile workshop experience vehicle "Dream-Car-melon" on the 17th and launched the "Visiting Happy Village School Project."

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 17th, a large chameleon appeared in the yard of the Gyeongnam Office of Education.

It is a mobile workshop experience vehicle called the ‘Carrying Dreams Car(melon)’, boasting a body with big eyes and colorful patterns.

‘Car(melon)’ is the name of a 13-ton truck specially custom-made by the Office of Education with a budget of 500 million KRW.

The Gyeongnam Office of Education provides a creative and convergence-type curriculum equipped with various experience facilities that stimulate children's interest in the vehicle, which was the first of its kind nationwide.

Car(melon) was planned in 2020 to support experience-based classes at schools and village schools that had difficulty operating normally due to COVID-19.

It plans to directly visit small schools in rural and fishing villages to support student-centered school curricula and provide experience opportunities to village residents and village teachers to revitalize the village education community.

'Car(mel)leon' carrying dreams inside the vehicle.

Car(melon), which will be the core of the Visiting Happy Village School project, conducts project classes in three stages where students actively plan and experience using tools, moving away from rote learning.

The first stage involves a dedicated coordinator who plans and operates the class process, communicating in advance with schools and local communities to compose student-tailored project classes and enabling pre-classes through ‘iTalkTalk’.

The second stage operates 4 to 5 creative innovation curricula such as woodworking, coding, drones, bird utilization, crafts, and cooking by utilizing the inside and surroundings of the vehicle, gymnasium, special rooms, and playground.

The third stage continuously supports class packages and iTalkTalk online classes based on students' reactions after the class.

Schools wishing to participate can make reservations on the Gyeongnam Office of Education website in March and start on-site visit classes from April after communicating with the dedicated coordinator.

The same-day type will conduct block classes for students for three hours each in the morning and afternoon, flexibly operating by extending existing unit classes continuously for 2 to 3 hours.

The Gyeongnam Office of Education said, “Children will enjoy classes imagining what they and their schools and villages need and thinking about ways to benefit the Earth upon meeting Car(melon).”

The one-night two-day type will conduct three-hour block classes for students in the morning and afternoon and provide experience classes for parents and village residents or joint training for village teachers at night.

Using the Car(melon) body as a screen, screenings will be held, and music concerts and singing contests will be held with Car(melon) as the backdrop, serving as a cultural space for residents.

At the opening event of Car(melon) on the 17th, Superintendent of Education Park Jonghun, Provincial Assembly member Lee Byeonghee, heads of city and county education support offices, and directors and managers from the main office attended.

They shared opinions on progress reports and operation plans remotely, and main office officials toured the experience facilities.

An education office official said, “Car(melon) will add education and culture throughout the region and serve as a catalyst for restoring the village education community,” adding, “The annual number of users including students, parents, and local residents is expected to be around 10,000.”

Superintendent Park Jonghun said, “Carrying Dreams Car(melon) will serve as a bridge connecting villages and schools,” and “We will tightly connect village schools, happy schools, happy village schools, and happy education districts throughout Gyeongnam.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.