Browsing by Subject "http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p13102"

The purpose of this research is to study (1) how early childhood educators co-operate with evangelic-lutheran parishes and other religious communities when organizing worldview education in kindergartens and (2) what kind of practices and new ideas do early childhood educators have concerning worldview education and (3) what kind of recommendations do early childhood educators have for in-service training of worldview education. This is a qualitative research. The data is based on a survey conducted in the winter of 2018 in selected social media discussion groups of early childhood educators. The questionnaire contained mainly open-ended questions. The answers (N=60) were analysed by using content analysis. As a result of the research, it was found that co-operation concerning worldview education is generally made only with evangelic-lutheran parish in most of the work communities of the survey participants. Co-operation was categorized into different categories: (1) minor co-operation, (2) more plentiful co-operation which maintains traditional practices and (3) dialogical and innovative co-operation. Those practices and ideas which included co-operation with religious communities were divided into five themes: general worldview education, religious events, support of wellbeing, mentoring and more general co-operation with none specific theme. Those practices and ideas which did not include co-operation were divided into six themes: general worldview education, festivals of the kindergarten community, moral education, organizing optional activities during religious events, dialogue with parents, and the lack of the practices. It was also found that recommendations for in-service training contents were divided into six themes: opening The National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education, clarifying the concepts of worldview education, giving information about different religions and non-religious worldviews, introducing methods for worldview education, and for the moral education, and developing sensitivity towards religions and other worldviews. Based on the study, it can be concluded that organizing in-service training to early childhood educators is very necessary and more discussion is currently needed about practices concerning worldview education, both in work communities, with parents and with co-operating religious communities.