Course code

KAT6007.HR

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Sissejuhatus kasvatusteadustesse

Course title in English

Introduction to Educational Sciences

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

The aim of the course is to give an overview of the research fields of the educational sciences including philosophy and sociology of education, pedagogy, psychological learning and development theories, history of education, education politics, curriculum theories and educational anthropology. During the course learners will develop the skill of recognizing and phrasing educational research problems, discussing education and nurture while involving education theories and connecting one’s own practical learning experiences with theory.

Brief description of the course

The course involves the following themes: basic terminology of education, the idealistic education model of German Enlightenment, Immanual Kant’s ideas of education, an anthropological view of what it means to be educated in different cultures, the development of educational thought (philosophy and history). Additionally, the critical sociological and cultural theoretical approaches to education by Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault are examined. Also, we will take a look at the psychological approach to education such as learning and development theories (information processing, behaviorism, cognitivism/contructivism and humanism). The course will give a short overview of the problems concerning curriculum and educational politics in the context of globalization. And finally, we will briefly discuss the concepts of childhood, progressive education (reform pedagogy) and issues of Estonian education.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- is able to recognize and phrase educational research problems;
- is acquainted with the fields of study of educational sciences;
- can connect educational theories with their own practical experience when discussing educational issues;
- is aware of the goals set in the national or regional curriculum of their respective countries;
- can conduct a scientific study concerning educational problems.

Teacher

Maria Erss, PhD

Study programmes containing that course

Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/24.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/23.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/22.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/21.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/20.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/19.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/18.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/17.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/16.YK)