Study Programmes 2015-2016
PEDA0069-2  
Question and practice of young child education
Duration :
30h Th, 10h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in education (120 ECTS)4
Lecturer :
Florence Pirard
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The course aims to raise students' awareness of educational practice led daily with young children in ECEC services, the questions that they raise, and closely-related approaches to observation and analysis. The course will identify the educational directions of different pedagogical trends and action models likely to provide the basis for practice and educational projects for young children in contemporary ECEC services (Loczy, Cresas, approach based on Malaguzzi's works, the work of the DECET network, etc.). It situates educational questions and challenges in their historical and political-administrative context. The course encourages students to question what can be considered as evidence, to identify tensions and even contradictions inherent in the field, to analyse and understand the transformation of a sector where the educational dimension is today of ever increasing importance.
Learning outcomes of the course :
This course will give students opportunities to:
  • identify the main developmental challenges in terms of education in childcare services and have a better understanding of the different fonctions of a ECEC service (educational, economic and social),
  • develop their observational skills in relation to activities (play, care, etc.) of young children in their daily lives in ECEC services based on a variety of material (video, photos, etc.) and to question the image of young children that emerges from this,
  • analyse the conditions of ECEC services which support the activity and contribute to the well-being of young children; to question how the relationship between childhood professionals and families evolve,
  • question the organisational principles behind educational conditions in ECEC services, based on different models of action and reference documents.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
none
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Through the proposed activities, each student elaborates a portfolio in which he documents the evolution of his representations about :
  • his image of the young child who feels well,
  • the educational conditions set up in ECEC services,
  • the educational specificities in early years education
In a group of 3, they realize a synthesis taking into account the individual representations about the 3 items above (cf. individual portfolio) while including reading resources.
Together, they identifiy an educational situation observed and filmed in a ECEC service (provided by the lecturer) and analyze it on the basis of given references and their personal research.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The course is based on different activities:
  • thematic presentations,
  • analysis of documents (articles, legal texts, psycho-pedagogical references, establishment projects, etc.).
  • observations based on video and picture material,
  • interviews with professionals in the sector (in the context of a field visit).
The first session will be focused on presenting the class and explaining the outline of the course. Time will be set aside to present the objectives of the portfolio requested of students and the support guide produced by the trainer.
Following sessions will successively cover the political-administrative context, the educational project, and the educational action models.
The visit of a ECEC service will be compulsory as an extension of the session on the educational project.
Recommended or required readings :
A reading portfolio will be made available to students. It will include articles, extracts from reference documents and a bibliography which will allow students to deepen their reflection, as well as summary notes compiled by the lecturer. Powerpoint presentations will subsequently be made available. Course material on line.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Assessment will be based on a written report including a synthesis about the 3 predefined items (see learning activities), the shared analysis of a filmed situation as well as the elaboration of a portfolio developed by the student through the activities proposed.
This written report will allow students to set out their understanding of the field of education of young children (motivation, experience, questions, etc.), to document their thoughts and their analysis work.
This will show how each student's ideas evolve in relation to young children in ECEC services and the educational conditions to be met. It will point out the student's competence to discuss learning outcomes with peers and present them.
This will demonstrate the student's skills in identifying and co-analysing an educational situation which they have identified through their reading, the analysis of reference documents, observations and interviews with professionals.
It will encourage students to take a critical approach not only to the situation in question but also to their own learning and approach to the field through self-assessment.
The trainer will propose students a support tool to elaborate a portfolio.
Assessment criteria:
  • respect for instructions given for creating the portfolio (including collaborative work),
  • precision and rigour in presenting the educational situation observed,
  • relevance of the analysis of the situation observed making reference to contextual elements and content presented during class,
  • relationship between theory and practice.
Work placement(s) :
10h of practical work will be centred on the discovery of a ECEC service  : reading the educational project, preparing an interview and a visit, analysing gathered data connected to relevant topics.
Organizational remarks :
On-line elements (e-campus): support tool to elaborate the portfolio.
Contacts :
Florence Pirard, lecturer, contactable by preference by email florence.pirard@ulg.ac.be (office opposite the lift, B32, 2nd floor)
Marie Housen, assistant, contactable by preference by email marie.housen@ulg.ac.be (B32, 2nd floor, office 2.1, 2° étage)
Jasna Vorgic, secrétaire (B32, office 2.4b 2nd floor) jasna.vorgic@ulg.ac.be