Browsing by Subject "laaja-alaiset oppimistavoitteet"

Objectives. Comprehensive schools in Finland apply a common core curriculum (POPS), that is largely based on a constructivistic concept of learning. The core curriculum is described as child-centered. Different alternative pedagogies, such as Montessori pedagogy, Steiner pe- dagogy and Freinet pedagogy, are applied in only few Finnish comprehensive schools. These alternatives function in the Finnish school system applying the same core curriculum and they have there own historical premises. This study focused on Montessori pedagogy. The research question of this study is practical: How can you apply the basic principles of Mon- tessori pedagogy in comprehensive school's core curriculum? Methods. The theoretical part of the study describes the princples of the core curriculum and Montessori pedagogy. The aim was to find comparable contents from both materials. In Montessori pedagogy the comparison was focused on the concept of cosmic education, es- pecially the 6-item definition given by Grazzini. In the core curriculum, the description of transversal competence areas was chosen to be compared. The comparison was done by analyzing the differences and similiraties between the texts. The results of the analysis were complemented by interviewing three professionals involved in the application of Montessori pedagogy within the Finnish core curriculum. Results and conclusions. According to the study, the concept of cosmic education can be readily applied considering transversal competences as objectives of the core curriculum. The const- ructivistic concept of learning in the core curriculum is compatible with the premises of Mon- tessori pedagogy. The main difference when applying Montessori pedagogy was found to be the sensitivity phase -based, non-linear view of the learning process and the more pronoun- ced emphasis on child-centered thinking. According to the interviews there were no obstacles in using Montessori pedagogy to achieve the goals of the core curriculum. Moreover, Mon- tessori pedagogy could offer new development opportunities to the Finnish comprehensive school. According to this study both the core curriculum and Montessori pedagogy share child-centered thinking and an understanding of transversal competence areas, both useful themes for further education development and research.