Early Childhood Education and Play
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Course code
KAA6089.HR
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Eelkoolipedagoogika ja mäng
Course title in English
Early Childhood Education and Play
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
To create opportunities for understanding the theoretical bases of early childhood education and play, to support the students' development of skills for designing, analysing and carrying out educational activities in an early childhood establishment, including all parties.
Brief description of the course
The organisation of preschool education in Estonia. The role and tasks of an early childhood education teacher in a preschool establishment, a pedagogue's professional ethics. An overview of the developmental history of kindergartens and pedagogical approaches in Estonia and Europe. The main terminology, principles and definition of preschool pedagogy and preschool education. The nature and meaning of play in a child's development. The development of play in toddlers and preschool-age children. Learning, teaching and creating a learning environment based on a child. The national curriculum of a preschool establishment, play in the curriculum and documentation of the group. The meaning of general education, integration of different fields in educational activities. The meaning and principles of didactics in preschool pedagogy. The principles of setting goals for learning activities. Educational activities, praising children and giving feedback to children. Instructing play in kindergarten and at home. Analysis and assessment of educational activities by including different parties: the options of using feedback from the team and children.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- knows the organisation of preschool education, a teacher's tasks and professional ethics;
- is familiar with the main terminology, history and different pedagogical approaches of preschool pedagogy and play;
- knows the bases of designing, carrying out and analysing educational activities in kindergarten, and the possibilities of including different parties and giving them feedback;
- is able to create a plan for educational activities;
- is able to use play as a method supporting a child's active learning and creativity when designing educational activities;
- is able to create and give a presentation as part of group work.
Teacher
Aino Ugaste, PhD, Evelyn Neudorf, MA
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