Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- apply the legislation, recommendations, guidelines and ethical principles of early childhood education and care
- utilise the early childhood education and care plan as a document guiding education and care work
- describe their vocational and social pedagogical expertise and role as builders of a learning community
- promote and strengthen children’s sense of community and agency while understanding the importance of play and peer relationships

Teaching methods

The course is part of the qualification of an early childhood education socionom / teacher (varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi / opettaja).

The lessons and workshops will take place online via Zoom. Attendance requirement at online lessons and workshops will be 80% / 100% to achieve the versatile theoretical and practical skills required for an early childhood education socionom / teacher.

The course includes individual, paired and small group assignments, working life cooperation, home study and knowledge sharing seminars. Instructions for the assignments will be available at Canvas workspace a week before the course start.

Learning materials and recommended literature

All materials available online.

- Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care (2018)
Available as an ebook at Laurea library. You can also buy it from online from National Agency for Education, price 20 €:
https://verkkokauppa.oph.fi/EN/page/product/national-core-curriculum-for-early-childhood-education-and-care-2018/2555301.
- Act of Early Childhood Education and Care (2018)
Unofficial Translation:
https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2018/en20180540.pdf
- Convention on the Rights of the Child https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/convention-text#
- Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC / KARVI) https://karvi.fi/en/early-childhood-education/
- EVERY DAY QUALITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE: https://karvi.fi/app/uploads/2020/06/FINEEC_T1620.pdf
- GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE: https://karvi.fi/app/uploads/2019/03/FINEEC_Guidelines-and-recommendations_web.pdf

- Peter Moss and Pat Petrie. Education and social pedagogy: What relationship?. London Review of Education. Vol. 17(3):393-405. DOI: 10.18546/LRE.17.3.13
- Juha Hämäläinen and Lisbeth Eriksson, Social Pedagogy in Finland and Sweden: A comparative analysis, 2016, Pedagogia Social. Revista Interuniversitaria, 27, 71-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.7179/PSRI_2016.27.05
- Ryynänen, S., & Nivala, E. (2017). Empowerment or emancipation? Interpretations from Finland
and beyond. Pedagogía Social. Revista Interuniversitaria, 30, 33-46. DOI:10.7179/PSRI_2017.30.03.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

1) RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
Any competence that corresponds to the learning outcomes of the course can be included in it through recognition and accreditation of prior learning. The starting point is competence-based thinking: what matters is your competence itself, not how and where you acquired it. The procedures for the recognition and accreditation of prior learning are Recognition of prior studies and Demonstration of competence.
Where to start:
At first you would need to go carefully through the objectives, contents and assignments of the course to evaluate if there would be some entity / several entities where you already have know-how and competence? If yes, think how you can demonstrate your competence (e.g. earlier certificates, individual essay, short research or development project at your workplace, report, portfolio). Within one week of the start of the course contact the responsible teacher kati.rintakorpi@laurea.fi to arrange a Zoom meeting where we will discuss and identify your competence and agree on the method of demonstrating your competence.

OR

2) RECOGNITION OF WORK-BASED LEARNING
If you are working in ECEC at the same time that studying it would be possible to find an alternative way to complete the course or some part of it by recognizing what information and skills you can learn (or have already learned) at your workplace.
Where to start?
At first you would need to go carefully through the objectives, contents and assignments of the course to analyze if there would be some entity / several entities which you can learn at your work place?
If yes, think how you can learn those things in practice and how you can demonstrate your competence (e.g. essay, short research or development project at your workplace, report, portfolio).
Within one week of the start of the course contact the responsible teacher kati.rintakorpi@laurea.fi to arrange a Zoom meeting where we will discuss and identify your work situation, general and personal goals and agree on the method of learning and demonstrating your competence.

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) quality and development project with ECEC professionals. The assignment examines the development recommendations of the National Education Evaluation Center (Karvi 2019), discusses the situation in practice (staff interviews) and reflects on the theory. The task is carried out in group and pair work. The assignment consists of an essay and a presentation of 15 minutes. The topic will be chosen by the group. (3 credits)

Important dates

The course will be implemented online between 31.8. and 7.11. 2022.
Online meetings at Zoom will be on:

Wed 31.8. at 12.30–15.30
Thu 15.9. at 12.30–15.30 VASU QUIZ
Tue 27.9. at 12.30–15.30
Thu 6.10. at 12.30–15.30 EXAM
Mon 24.10. at 12.30–15.30 PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Return date for Learning diary and essay is by 7.11.2022

Students workload

- 5 x 3 hour online lessons via Zoom > active participation required
- independent study: video lessons at Canvas virtual learning environment > learning diary about the video lessons (1 ECTS*)
- pair work: VASU quiz (1 ECTS)
- individual exam (3 ECTS)
- group work: project with working life (3 ECTS)
- individual essay (2 ECTS)

*1 ECTC means about 27 hours work load for student

Grading scale

Approved/Failed

Evaluation methods and criteria

- Vasu quiz (pair work) 1 ECTS (pass / fail)
- Learning diary (individual work) 1 ECTS (pass / fail)
- Exam 3 ECTS (grade: fail–1–5)
- Project with working life 3 ECTS (grade: fail–1–5)
- Essay 2 ECTS (grade: fail–1–5)

More specific evaluation criteria will be introduced when the course starts.