Basics of Competence in Early Childhood Education and Care (10op)

Tavoitteet

Opiskelija osaa
- soveltaa varhaiskasvatuksen lainsäädäntöä, suosituksia ja ohjeistuksia ja eettisiä periaatteita
- hyödyntää varhaiskasvatussuunnitelmaa kasvatuksen, opetuksen ja hoidon työtä ohjaavana asiakirjana
- kuvata omaa ammatillista ja sosiaalipedagogista asiantuntijuuttaan ja rooliaan oppivan yhteisön rakentajana
- edistää ja vahvistaa lasten yhteisöllisyyttä ja lasten toimijuutta, ymmärtäen leikin ja vertaissuhteiden merkityksen

Toteutustapa

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

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.

The course includes three modules:
1) Basics and task of early childhood education and care 4 cr
2) Social pedagogical expertise in early childhood education and care 3 cr
3) Children's sense of community and agency 3 cr

Aika ja paikka

Please refer to the Timetable Engine at https://lukkarit.laurea.fi/ for the schedule information. Laurea reserves the right to modify the timetable.
[Do not repeat the timetable here]

Oppimateriaali ja suositeltava kirjallisuus

- National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care (2022): https://urly.fi/3vLb
- 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.

Other materials and literature to be used are announced at the start of the course in the course's Canvas workspace.

All materials will be available online.

Toteutuksen valinnaiset suoritustavat

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.

Työelämäyhteistyö ja/tai TKI

During the course, students will carry out a Play Environment project, which involves collaboration with professionals from the field.

Toteutuksen tärkeät päivämäärät

The course starts on
15.1.2026 (14-17) online at Zoom. The first lesson is compulsory to everyone.
You will get the Zoom link and more information one week before the course starts (by email).

Other online lessons:
22.01.2026 15.00 - 17.00
29.01.2026 15.00 - 17.00
12.02.2026 15.00 - 17.00
26.02.2026 15.00 - 17.00
05.03.2026 15.00 - 17.00 (compulsory attendance)

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).

Based on the degree regulations (2024), the student accepted for the implementation is required to confirm their participation by showing activity at the start of the study in the following way:

In order to demonstrate activity, the student must be present at the first contact lesson or notify the teacher in charge of their absence to confirm their participation in the study. Registration will be rejected if the student does not report their absence at the start of the study or the reason for the absence cannot be considered justified. Another student can be taken in their place. The first contact lesson is 15.1.2026.

Kansainvälisyys toteutuksella

[Use this field to describe the possible realisation of internationality in the study unit (e.g. international partners).
The contents of this data field are used to monitor the implementation methods and the realisation of the strategic objectives. Leave the text if it applies:] The study unit is suitable for exchange students.

Opiskelijan ajankäyttö ja kuormitus

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.

Sisältö ja sen jaksotus

The course is completed online by participating in the Zoom online meetings according to the schedule of the course and completing tasks related to the course. 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 social pedagogue. The first and the last lesson are compulsory. Participation in the lectures is recommenced because the assignments and tasks are related to the topics of the lecture.

The study course consists of three entities, which involve online meetings via zoom, independent work, online assignments and project work. The course uses the Canvas workspace for communication and assignment feedback. Instructions for the assignments will be available at Canvas workspace a week before the course start. The study requires activity and commitment to interactive learning. In online meetings, the possibility to use a camera and a microphone is required.

Lisätiedot

The study unit corresponds to the requirements of Bachelor's level education.

The prerequisite for participation is always that the possible competence prerequisites according to the curriculum (previous study or similar competence) are fulfilled. The student is responsible for taking into account the prerequisite conditions.

The quality of the study unit implementation has been assessed and the self-evaluation report is available for example in Canvas.

Arviointiasteikko

H-5

Arviointimenetelmät ja arvioinnin perusteet

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 (Laurea degree regulations 2024).

You demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes set for the study unit/project by completing the tasks (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 this study unit the assessing of the competences will be done by using the criteria set for requirement level II.
“Students who have failed to demonstrate their competence in accordance with the approved level must supplement or retake their study attainment in a manner and schedule defined by the teacher of the study unit. If the student does not pass the assessment despite the opportunity to complete their study attainment, they must complete the study unit in question in full as specified by the teacher.” (Degree regulations 2024.)

All staff and students of Laurea are expected to adhere to good scientific practices, which includes appropriate referencing. Familiarise yourself with the practices and, if needed, ask for more information. If Tournitin is used when assignments are checked, the lecturer will inform the students of this.

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.

Hylätty (0)

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

Arviointikriteerit, tyydyttävä (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

Arviointikriteerit, hyvä (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

Arviointikriteerit, kiitettävä (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