Browsing by Subject "Pedagogical thinking"

The purpose of this study was to examine what are the knowledge practices in preschool groups that do not use study books. The research further investigates how child participation manifests in these preschool groups. Based on prior research teacher's pedagogical thinking always interacts with the practices shown in a group or class. Due to this also the interaction between teacher's pedagogical thinking and knowledge practices were examined. This study was conducted by observing preschool activities in three different preschool groups at the Helsinki Metropolitan area. In addition five preschool teachers were interviewed during the research process. The aim of these interviews was to examine how teacher's pedagogical thinking and knowledge affect their knowledge practices. To further analyse child participation also six children from one of the day care centers (center 2) were interviewed. These documents complemented each other. The analysis methodology for the sample was theory-based. In non-study book preschool groups knowledge was produced together in social practices. Children also worked independently with knowledge and information was transferred from an adult to a child, too. In addition there were equipment and materials that supported learning and working with knowledge. Child participation occurred when children communicated their ideas to the adults and when the adults acknowledged these thoughts. In the beginning of the preschool year children in day care center 2 also told what they would like to do during the year and this was taken into account in day-to-day activities. Teacher's pedagogical thinking was linked to the knowledge practices of the group while the teachers said that they choose used methods based on children's needs.