Content Orientations of Early Childhood Education (10 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

Students will know how to plan, implement and evaluate the principal methods and content orientations of early childhood education in their work. Students will identify special features of children’s culture and community and use them in their professional activities. They will be capable of connecting children’s activities to their immediate environment and a sustainable lifestyle. They will know how to evaluate and develop pedagogical and goal-oriented activity.

Content

Content orientation of early childhood education. Aesthetical and ethical orientation, music, physical education, arts, handcrafts, children’s literature, drama education. Natural science and mathematics orientation. Exploration. Language and interaction orientation. Media education. Children’s projects. Principles of sustainable development in day care centres. Optional pedagogies.

Teaching methods

lectures
training
workshops
independent study
learning assignments
project with children

Location and time

Study modul starts at the week 34 and ends at the week 43
See the schedule draft in the Finnish version, changes are possible

Learning materials and recommended literature

material is annouced later

Alternative completion methods of implementation

If you are working / planning to work as a substitute teacher the entire Autumn term, it can be possible for you to choose a work & study version, in which you can study both this 10 cr and also third internship 20 cr. (so called TOPI version). Materials in this version are in Finnish, but the assignments and moodle comments can be done in English.
Contact Anna-Riitta Mäkitalo if this an option for you, so we´ll have a discussion (anna-riitta.mäkitalo@metropolia.fi).

Internship and working life connections

The child project -assignment is a implemented in working life, in a kindergarten.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

no exam

International connections

-

Student workload

10 x 27 h = 270 h
76 h lectures and workshops, 194 h independent and pair work
Students are required to have 75% attendance in compulsory classroom teaching.

Content scheduling

The course will be implemented from the beginning of the first period of the spring semester from week
Orientation lecture on week 34
weeks 34 -38 lectures, trainings and workshops
- music / physical education / Satu Hakanen lto, KK, mus.terapeutti (AMK)
- drama, Jouni Piekkari, FM, art -based and functional meth methods
- children´s art education, Seija Mäenpää, MSc Art,
- the Fith Dimension Model, Design oriented education etc. Anna-Riitta Mäkitalo, MSc Education, ECE -teacher, special teacher
Weeks 38-43, doing project with children in a Kindergarten (planning, implementig and evaluating) / allow time enough to put in practice the project
week 43 presenting the project descrictions (feedback from teachers and peer students)
A more detailed schedule is in OMA workspace, page "Documents".
The assignments can be written in English.

Further information for students

Responsible teacher Anna-Riitta Mäkitalo (anna-riitta.makitalo@metropolia.fi)
Implementation is for
- groups SXH17K1, SXH17K2
- students, who had already courses Basics in ECEC and Learning in Early Childhood.
In this course you´ll combine and apply contents from previous studies.
If you are working / planning to work as a substitute teacher the entire autumn term, it can be possible for you to apply to a version, in which you can study both this 10 cr and also third internship 20 cr. This version materials are in Finnish, but the assignments and moodle comments can be done in English. Contact Anna-Riitta Mäkitalo if this an option for you (anna-riitta.mäkitalo@metropolia.fi).
Any AHOT application related to the course should be made before enrollment in the course. For questions related to the AHOT application, contact the AHOT Lecturer Satu Hakanen.
If the student has a special support decision that affects the course, the student must contact the course supervisor immediately after the end of the registration period.
Teachers have the right to give the student additional duties, for example, due to absenteeism, on pedagogical grounds.

Assessment methods and criteria

feedback from teachers during lectures, trainings and workshops
feedback from the peer group and staff in Kindergartens
self-evaluation
Accepted course progress requires 3/4 attendance during the classroomworking
Evaluation of project with children (0-5, the teacher evaluates numerically, the students give feedback verbally and written)
A complete explanation about the assessment criteria during the orientation lecture (see below).

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Assessment:
Assessment criteria as the attachment of the curriculum.
The teacher of the study unit informs the assessment criterias in the beginning of the study unit.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Assessment:
Assessment criterias see the attachment.
The teacher of the study unit informs the assessment criterias in the beginning of the study unit.