BLU-BULL Children's development, play and learning

Contents and structure

The content of the area of children's development, play and learning is structured according to the following main themes:

• views on children and childhood
• critical reflection
• observation and educational documentation
• the kindergarten's physical space and materials
• educational leadership in children's groups
• the kindergarten as an educational arena
• the kindergarten as an arena for play, learning and development

 

Consistent themes for all the areas of knowledge in the course of study are:

• educational management
• diversity and equality
• the youngest children
• child's involvement
• didactics

Focus area

Knowledge area will have a specific focus on the physical environment as a major collaboration between the subjects.

Practice in the area of knowledge

15 days spring

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

• Knowledge about recognition, children's participation, children's behaviour, and children's care, play and learning needs
• Knowledge of relevant current theories about children's development, play, learning and cultural formation with a focus on views on children and childhood
• Knowledge of didactics
• Knowledge of Sami child-rearing traditions
• Knowledge of digital tools and how digital tools can be used creatively and critically to promote children's development, play, learning and education
• Knowledge about play as a phenomenon in childhood and the importance of play for children's learning, ability to make friends, cultural formation, and relational care among children and between children and adults
• Knowledge about the role of adults in play
• Knowledge of educational leadership of and with children and groups of children
• Knowledge of observation and educational documentation as a basis for didactic
• facilitation of play and learning processes and play and learning environments in kindergartens
• Knowledge about the content of the concepts quantitative and qualitative methods
• Knowledge of academic writing and literature research

Skills:

• Be able to interact with children in a way that expresses acknowledgement and enter into caring relations with each individual child and groups of children
• Be able to link theory and own reflections to observations of and pertaining to children's development, play, learning and cultural formation with a focus on views on children and childhood
• Be able to plan, justify, practise and assess educational leadership in respect of and with individual children and groups of children
• Be able to observe and undertake observation assignments in kindergartens with a focus on play as a phenomenon in childhood and the importance of play for children's learning, ability to make friends, cultural formation, and relational care among children and between children and adults
• Be able to reflect on the role of grown-ups in play
• Be able to undertake educational documentation and know what educational documentation is
• Be able to present and produce academic writing
• Be able to seek knowledge by summarising chapters in textbooks and accessing theoretical work that is not on the reading list

General competence:

• Be able to exercise professional judgement and reflect academically on practical and theoretical issues related to children's development, play, learning, care and cultural formation
• Be able to interact with children in a way that expresses acknowledgement in encounters with children's particular needs and learning capabilities regardless of their age and background
• Be able to display ethical and professional insight through reflection on children's right to be involved
• Be able to professionally analyse and critically reflect on ethical challenges related to children's development, play, learning and cultural formation
• Be able to communicate and develop their own pedagogical competence in work with children

Entry requirements

 none

Teaching methods

 Lectures, dialogue and reflection in class/groups, group work, excursions and presentation of student work.

Compulsory learning activities

•  80% participation in teaching (practical and theoretical)
• 100% participation in excursions
• Mandatory tasks
• Pre-work in practice

All course requirements are specified in semester plan

Assessment

Oral Exam - 30 min.  60/100 A-F

Written Exam - 4 hours, 40/100 A-F

Practical training in Kindergarten - 15 days

Examination support material

none

More about examination support material