MBA502 Kindergarten pedagogy, cultural formation and didactics

Contents and structure

The course is compulsory and is held in the first semester of the programme.

Central to the course is a critical exploration of the mission of the kindergarten teacher. The mission of the kindergarten teacher is analysed in fundamental pedagogic texts, political policy documents and in curricula and framework plans. The student will meet both classical and more recent pedagogic texts that address current societal challenges facing kindergarten teachers.

The key concepts for work relating to kindergarten pedagogy, such as child development, play, learning and cultural formation, will be critically examined with respect to how the concepts take shape in practice and in different curriculum texts.

National and international policy documents, for example, curricula/framework plans for the kindergarten will be analysed and contextualised.

Learning Outcome

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

The student

• have in-depth knowledge of the professional mission of kindergarten teachers
• have advanced knowledge of curriculum theory
• have in-depth knowledge about requirements for child development.

The student

• can analyse academic texts and political policy documents
• can work systematically, analytically and critically with the core concepts of child development, play, learning and cultural formation,
• can professionally and personally justify pedagogic and didactic choices and practices

The student

• can work analytically
• can articulate the professional mission
• can read and write academic texts

Entry requirements

None

Teaching methods

In addition to lectures, seminars will be a dominant work form at which the students will present and discuss analyses of different texts.

Supervision is available for coursework requirements.

The teaching presupposes that the students have worked compressively with the course literature in advance.

Compulsory learning activities

Text analysis

The student shall give an oral presentation of an analysis of a policy document or a pedagogic text.

Guidelines for the coursework requirement are provided at the start of the semester.

Approved coursework requirements are valid for 2 years following approval.

Assessment

Semester assignment.

This assignment is a continuation of the coursework requirement and shall be a written analysis of a policy document or a pedagogic text. The semester assignment is written in a template with specific parts that must be included.

The scope is 2,400-3,000 words.

Guidelines for the semester assignment will be provided at the start of the course.

The submission deadline will be provided in Studentweb and in the digital exam system.

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

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

Examination support material

All

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