Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course the studens are expected to have developed specialized pedagogical, teaching, research and scientific reasoning concerning different fields in their studies (for instance Arts, Music education, Language and Sciences). They are also expected to be able to identify commonalities between different fields of knowledge and their particularities, in order to create appropriate learning and social environments for preschool children.
Course Content (Syllabus)
During the semester, students attend courses on four different subjects: visual arts, music, language /literacy and Sciences.
Visual art education course aims to introduce students to the fundamental notions of art learning for kindergarten classes such as studio learning and the creative process. During the course, students will design teaching projects that align with the contemporary art teaching approaches like the material culture teaching paradigm.
Regarding Music, students are trained in music lesson planning, according the critical approach of praxial music pedagogy, and in implementation and evaluation of core subjects of preschool music education in the classroom. Main subjects are: (1) group communication, music-sound exploration, and familiarity with sound properties and music concepts, (2) voice expression, singing and children songs, and (3) awareness of listening practices, acoustic ecology, soundscapes and music creation.
Regarding language and literacy, students discuss current literature about emergent literacy, evaluate existing resources, make use of applications for the development of digital books and develop educational scenario for face to face and distant learning.
Regarding science, students are trained in the evaluation and design of teaching activities about the natural world for preschool children. Evaluation and design of activities are based on scientifically documented pedagogic criteria, as well as theoretical principles, tools and strategies pertinent in the field of science education.
Furthermore, a variety of transdisciplinary teaching and learning sequences is presented to students, each combining two teaching subjects (namely Visual Arts – Music & Language/Literacy – Science). These sequences aim at initiating students in composite transdisciplinary instructional design and at supporting them in developing multiple teaching skills and competencies. Finally, they design and develop educational material for transdisciplinary aims.