Action-Based Working Methods in Early Childhood Education (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Content scheduling

Teachers:
Tiina Suni (responsible teacher)
Noora Ahvenjärvi

Teaching on Thursdays, week 46-50
Teaching in English at Salo campus.

Thu 13.11.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Tiina)
Course info and study assignments
Planning, implementing and evaluating pedagogical activities, full-time pedagogy as a working method in ECEC
Physical exercise in ECEC
Thesis info

Thu 20.11.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Noora)
Children’s literature and linguistic working methods
Visit to Salo library

Thu 27.11.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Tiina)
Mathematical skills, outdoor pedagogy and environmental education
Literature assignment presentations

Thu 4.12.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Noora & Tiina)
Pedagogical activities in two groups
Music and media

Thu 11.12.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Noora)
Music and art as pedagogical methods
Course wrap-up and reflection

Attendance in contact teaching of the course is mandatory, which is based on the working and learning methods used in the course. The contact teaching includes interactive activities, discussions, peer learning, and workshop activities. Participation in contact teaching supports the development of the student’s professional skills and interaction abilities.

In case of absence due to illness, a compensatory assignment must be completed. The max. amount of absence is 50 % of the contact teaching. If this is exceeded, the completion of the course will be postponed to the next implementation. The last contact teaching meeting is compulsory for all.

Changes are possible.

Please check the prerequisites of the course. In case this course is not scheduled to your study group, please contact the responsible teacher of the course and provide them with the necessary documents.

Objective

• you know how to support children’s motor skills and physical activity comprehensively
• you know how to use music and musical elements in activities
• you understand the importance of fairy tales, rhymes and drama for children’s learning
• you are able to support children’s mathematical thinking
• you master the basics of art education

Content

• children’s literature, musical and linguistic working methods, art education, physical exercise and exploration, mathematical skills and environmental education, the use of media
• pedagogical documentation
• different pedagogical focuses in the implementation of early childhood education (e.g., physical exercise, music, nature)

Materials

Karvonen, P., Ukkonen-Mikkola, T., Fenyvesi, K., Salonen, M., Erkkilä, P., Laine, E., Storgård, E. (2022). Playful learning in early childhood education in Finland. Otava Publishing Company Ltd.

Karlsson, L. (2014) Storycrafting - The key to the dialogical sharing culture. Jyväskylä: PS-kustannus.

Teaching methods

Individual work, pair work, group work
Literature-based, lecture-based and learning assignment-based work

Completion alternatives

If you have a Finnish degree on early childhood education and at least two years working experience from Finnish early childhood education, you have a possibility to complete the course by recognition (theoretical assignment). In this case, please contact the responsible teacher for further details.

Student workload

Lectures 1 ECT
Children's literature assignment (pair work) 1,5 ECTS
Learning assignment on planning, implementing and evaluating pedagogical activities (pair work), 2 ECTS
Reflection assignment 0,5 ECTS

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Approved:
Student has participated in contact teaching and completed all learning assignments in adequate level.

Approved level:
• you know how to support children’s motor skills and physical activities
• you know how to use music and musical elements in activities
• you understand the importance of fairy tales, rhymes and drama for children’s learning
• you are able to support children’s mathematical thinking

Evaluation methods and criteria

All the learning assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. All learning assignments and the whole course is evaluated on scale approved / failed.

Literature assignment presentations, submission until 27.11.2025
Pedagogical activity plans, submission until 30.11.2025

Failed (0)

Failed:
Student has not participated in contact teaching and has failed to complete the learning assignments.

Qualifications

Students can start optional customer group-specific studies when they have completed at least 60 credits.

The modules in early childhood education must be completed in order: first the basic studies (Module 1) and then the advanced studies (Module 2). Exceptions can be made if it is justified from the perspective of the student’s personal study plan (HOPS) and the student has at least one year of work experience in early childhood education tasks in Finland or previous higher education studies in early childhood education that have been accredited in their studies at Turku University of Applied Sciences.