MBA504D The kindergarten teacher as teacher educator, supervisor and evaluator

Contents and structure

The course is held in the second semester of the programme and is one of several elective courses.

The purpose of the course is to enable students to obtain in-depth knowledge about curriculum development in connection with the content, structure and national guidelines for kindergarten teacher training. The course has an in-depth focus on pedagogy as a scientific and cultural formation subject and the unifying function it has for different areas of knowledge. The course will examine different didactic approaches for practical training of students, as well as improve skills in order to apply knowledge of and critically assess pedagogic supervision and assessment.

The course is open to incoming students and trainee teachers with relevant prerequisites.

In this course, students learn to assume an analytical and critical perspective of the kindergarten teacher as a teacher educator, supervisor and evaluator. The course places emphasis on knowledge about and critical reflection of the kindergarten teacher's role in the diverging area between national guidelines for kindergarten teacher training and the kindergarten as a field of practice.

In the course, students will be challenged to reflect critically and independently on the distinctiveness and function of educational science in connection with interdisciplinary areas of knowledge and with the field of practice. The student will examine different pedagogic approaches and interpretations of supervision and evaluation from a socio-cultural perspective.

Learning Outcome

Upon completing the course the student shall have the following overall learning outcomes:

The student

• Has in-depth knowledge of the national guidelines for kindergarten teacher training and curriculum development.
• Has in-depth knowledge of educational science and the interconnecting function of the field for different areas of knowledge and practice in the training.
• Has advanced knowledge of the kindergarten as a learning environment for professional training, different didactic approaches for practical work for students, and pedagogic supervision and evaluation as concepts in theory and practice.

The student

• Can analyse and critically reflect on political discourse relating to national guidelines for curriculum development.
• Can analyse and independently reflect on educational science and its interconnecting function for different areas of knowledge and the practice field.
• Can contribute to new ideas and the development of the kindergarten¿s learning environment, examine different didactic approaches, analyse and critically reflect on pedagogic supervision and the assessment of students in practical training.

The student

• Can lead and critically evaluate teaching plan development at different levels.
• Can analyse and communicate with respect to educational science and critically assess the interconnecting function of this field in kindergarten teacher training.
• Can communicate and apply knowledge of different didactic approaches to supervision and evaluation strategies for students.

Entry requirements

The students must have successfully completed the three compulsory courses in the first semester of the programme. If there are special circumstances, this requirement may be waived. Trainee teachers must have 15 credits linked to training in supervision.

Teaching methods

Personal and academic dialogue are required, as well as the ability to write reflectively about academic issues applicable to the course. The teaching forms will vary between lectures and individual and group work.

Compulsory learning activities

1. The project plan for the work with the semester assignment and optional syllabus must be approved four weeks prior to the submission of the semester assignment The topic and issue must be based on two of the three topics in the course description: the kindergarten teacher as educator, supervisor and evaluator.
2. Individual oral presentation based on a topic in the syllabus that does not include the topic in the semester assignment.

The guidelines for the coursework requirement will be specified at the start of the course.

Approved coursework requirements are valid for 2 years following approval.

Assessment

Semester assignment.

The assignment shall be 5,000 words -/+ 10% on a selected topic from the course.

The collection and submission dates for the exam will be provided in Studentweb and in the digital examination system.

Grade scale: A-F, where F is equivalent to a fail grade.

In the event of a new/postponed exam, the same assignment can be submitted once in revised form within 1 year.