Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- develop and reinforce the inclusiveness of early childhood education and care and culture that supports diversity
- act in a sensitive manner and take into account and support the diversity of families and children
- support the comprehensive wellbeing of children and families in early childhood education and care
- guide children and families to the necessary services and support measures

Teaching methods

The course is part of the qualification of an early childhood education social pedagogue (varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi).

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 a social pedagogue in early childhood education and care (varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi). The first and the last lesson are compulsory.

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

- National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care (2022):
https://www.oph.fi/sites/default/files/documents/National%20core%20curriculum%20for%20ECEC%202022.pdf
- 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

Other literature is openly available online - will be informed when the course starts.

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 henna.jalasmaki@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 henna.jalasmaki@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.

Important dates

The course starts on
20.03.2025 14.00 - 17.00 online at Zoom. (compulsory)

You will get the Zoom link and more information one week before the course starts (by email).

Other online lessons:

27.03.2025 14.00 - 17.00
03.04.2025 14.00 - 17.00
17.04.2025 14.00 - 17.00
24.04.2025 14.00 - 17.00
15.05.2025 14.00-17.00 (compulsory)

In addition to the online lessons you will have meetings with your study peers online (you can set up the dates and times by yourself in connection with the assignment due dates).

Students workload

The scope of the course is 10 credits and means for the student 270 hours spent studying. It is important that you write down the due dates of the assignments in your calendar and reserve enough time to study the themes and issues. The course has both individual and group assignments and the modules rhythm the progress of the studies. For pair/ group works the students need to fix their schedules to fit with each other.

Content and scheduling

In the course, you will actively reflect on your own activities as a social pedagogue in ECEC in a diverse operating environment. You will get to know the learning community and how it is built together with children and families, taking diversity into account. We approach inclusion for example through digital methods and pedagogical documentation. We will investigate perspectives on children's holistic well-being from the perspectives of inclusive early childhood education, multidisciplinary cooperation, and support for children and families.

The course consists of three modules:
- Module 1. Me on my way to become an expert in inclusion and diversity in ECEC (2 credits)
- Module 2. Operational culture of inclusion and diversity (4 credits)
- Module 3: Multidisciplinary cooperation (4 credits)

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

The evaluation of competence is based on the descriptions of objectives in the curricula, and the level of competence is assessed according to the evaluation criteria listed in the implementation plan for the studies. The assessment is based on Laurea's common evaluation criteria level II.

You demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes set for the study unit/project by completing the assignments (e.g. project work, exercises, exams or demonstrations) according to the implementation plan. Instructions are given at the beginning of the study unit/project.

Various self-, peer and group evaluations or their combinations are used in evaluation.

In the difficulty levels of the evaluation framework, competence is described for levels H/1, 3 and 5. The resulting competence is assessed comprehensively. Good competence (3) also requires the achievement of satisfactory competence, and correspondingly, commendable competence (5) also requires the fulfillment of the evaluation criteria for satisfactory and good competence. If the competence does not fully reach a good level, but meets the criteria for a satisfactory level, a grade of 2 is assigned. Correspondingly, the student receives a grade of 4 if the competence is at a good level, but not yet commendable in all respects.

A student who has not completed the tasks or exams set to pass the course must supplement or renew his/her performance in the manner specified by the teacher of the study course and within the time specified by the teacher. A failed exam or other performance can be renewed twice. Not participating in the actual exam is counted as one performance. (Laurea degree rules.)

Students are expected to follow good scientific practices, which includes proper referencing of sources. Familiarize yourself and ask about practices if necessary. Study assignments are done as individual work, in pairs or small groups (instructed in each assignment separately).

Any use of AI in written assignments should in all cases be indicated in the writing itself, whether this is in the production or editing of text or images. The writer must explain how the AI has been used.

Evaluation criteria, fail (0)

All the tasks of the course must be successfully completed in order to receive a performance mark

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student can
- consistently use professional concepts and demonstrates familiarity with the knowledge base
- report and communicate professionally
- act independently, taking into account the operating environment
- take responsibility for working with the customer and/or partner and responding to their needs
- describe the importance of their own activities for the success of the cooperation
- describe their competence in relation to the competence objectives of the Study

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

The student can
- critically evaluate information and justify their actions with the help of researched information
- present solutions to professional tasks using creativity
- promote professional cooperation and develop customer or partner relationships
- promote the group's entrepreneurial and responsible working approach with its activities
- describe the development of one's own competence in relation to the competence objectives of the Study

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

The student can
- analyze the acquired information and draw conclusions and connect theoretical and experiential information to each other
- evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of the produced knowledge, skill or idea in other contexts
- anticipate the needs of the customer and/or partners
- evaluate and develop the group's entrepreneurial and responsible working approach
- evaluate the possibilities of utilizing skills and plan your own and the group's development