Pedagogy in early childhood education and care (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Five webinar sessions from September to November, during which small interim assignments will be completed and the group assignment will be started. The independent assignment will be completed at the end of the course.

Objective

The aim of the course is understanding the mandatory nature of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care in pedagogical work. You are able to justify your professional, ethical and pedagogical principles in early childhood education and care work and evaluate your actions.

Competences:

Ethical competences in the social field
Competence in social client work

Intended learning outcomes:

You are able to comply with the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care and the underlying values of early childhood education and care.

You are able to carry out and evaluate pedagogically planned activities compliant with the principles of the National core curriculum in a goal-oriented manner in cooperation with other employees. You understand the frame of reference for pedagogical work and are able to support children's participation and learning.

Content

The core content of the course includes the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care and its different levels as well as the frame of reference of pedagogical work. Additionally, the significance of observation, evaluation and development in early childhood education and care, full-time pedagogy, child-centric approach and supporting the child's participation, as well as the operating forms of early childhood education and care and developing professionalism in early childhood education and care.

Location and time

The course is offered only once during the academic year, from September to November. All contact teaching will be conducted through webinars.

Materials

Ahonen, L. & Roos, P. 2021. Untuvikot. Alle 3-vuotiaiden pedagogiikka. PS-Kustannus.
Opetushallitus 2022. Varhaiskasvatussuunnitelman perusteet
Hujala, E. & Turja, L. (toim.) 2020 Varhaiskasvatuksen käsikirja.PS-kustannus.
Koivula, M., Siippainen, A. & Eerola-Pennanen, P. (toim.) 2017( tai uudempi). Valloittava varhaiskasvatus. Tampere: Vastapaino.

Teaching methods

5 webinar sessions
Independent assignments
Group assignment

The use of artificial intelligence is permitted in this course to support learning and assignments, but it must be disclosed in the assignments and comply with JAMK and Arene guidelines

Exam schedules

The course does not include an exam. The submission dates for the learning assignments are scheduled towards the end of the course and will be available on Moodle at the end of August when Moodle opens

International connections

International sources or studies have been utilized as references for teachers' lecture materials, supporting Finnish sources and studies.

Completion alternatives

The course can be credited based on previous higher education studies in early childhood pedagogy (at least 5 studypoints).

Work experience cannot be used to obtain credit for the course.

Credit transfer applications should be submitted via Peppi to Anniina Berg.

Student workload

135 hours, of which:
Webinar sessions: 20 hours
Independent assignments and work: 50 hours
Group assignment: 65 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1= You are able to describe professional, ethical and pedagogical principles in early childhood education and care work. You are able to describe different operating forms of early childhood education and care. You are able to describe the mandatory nature of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care in pedagogical work. You are able to describe pedagogically planned activities that support children's participation in cooperation with other employees.

2= You are able to describe your professional, ethical and pedagogical principles in early childhood education and care work. You describe different operating forms of early childhood education and their special features. You are able to describe the mandatory nature of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care in pedagogical work. You are able to explain what goal-oriented, pedagogically planned work is and what activities that support children's participation in cooperation with other employees are.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3= You know how to present your professional, ethical and pedagogical principles in early childhood education and care and give examples of them. You know the different operating forms of early childhood education and care and their special features. You present the key contents of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care and their mandatory nature in pedagogical work. You know what goal-oriented pedagogically planned activities are and how activities that support children's participation are carried out in cooperation with other employees.

4= You know how to present and evaluate your professional, ethical and pedagogical principles in early childhood education and care and give examples of them. You know the different operating forms of early childhood education and are able to analyse their special features. You analyse and explain the mandatory nature of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care in pedagogical work. You are able to plan, carry out and evaluate activities that comply with the principles of the National core curriculum and support children's participation in a goal-oriented manner in cooperation with other employees.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5= You know how to present and evaluate your professional, ethical and pedagogical principles in early childhood education and care and link them to the practical work of early childhood education and care. You present the different operating forms of early childhood education and care and analyse their special features critically. You analyse and apply the contents of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the National core curriculum for early childhood education and care, and are aware of their mandatory nature in pedagogical work. You are able to plan, carry out and evaluate pedagogically planned activities that comply with the principles of the National core curriculum and support children's participation in a goal-oriented manner in cooperation with other employees.

Further information

The group assignment will be graded numerically. The individual assignment will be graded as pass/fail.