Education and Training Science

Course's general goal is to present the main themes of General Education with a special reference to their application to educational contexts toward children aged 0-3 and their families. The topic is placed in a current context with reference both to research and action, and in a broader dimension the course is aimed at introducing general themes and problems of the discipline starting from its epistemological foundations, examining especially the relationship between didactics and other learning sciences. The course begins with a short historical introduction of the discipline and continues with the analysis of the main problems of didactic research in its various contexts, and the relationship between theory and practice. An important study field is theories and methods useful to organise, plan, and realise effective educational interventions in educational contexts, with a special reference to those directed to childhood (nursery schools, toy libraries, etc.). A part of the course will be dedicated to workshop activities aimed at creating an educational plan for nursery school or other educational services for children and their families (spazi insieme, centres for children and parents, etc.). At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge on the main themes of general didactics starting from its epistemological foundations and the relationship with other learning sciences. They will have also acquired knowledge on learning-teaching theories and models, especially in contexts of childhood and helping to individuals (group homes, minors' shelters, etc.). Students will acquire the basics of principles of educational communication and planning, with a special reference to the planning and documentation of activities to children aged 0-3; they will also get to know the various forms of educational documentation to be used in nursery schools. They will have also developed skills at understanding the action contexts of educators, at observing and evaluating the quality of the educational services to children and their families (Knowledge and understanding). By attending the course, students will be able to create, plan, and evaluate educational interventions and projects directed to children aged 0-3 and, more in general, in contexts like centres and structures implying activities carried out by educators. They will also be able to apply the acquired knowledge and to put it into practice by creating and organising an educational documentation aimed at reporting the activities and the interpretation of the methods used by educators in order to share with the educational group and children's families (Applying knowledge and understanding). Students can prove to have developed skills in making judgements, by being able to collect, interpret, and reflect on problems and data related to the study of didactics, proving to have a scientific aptitude and critical and self-critical abilities. More in detail, at the end of the course, they will be able to be critical toward the educational and didactic choices and the educational means, paying attention to the context of educational services for children aged 0-3 and their families (Making judgements). Study, reflection, presentation, and planning activities will support students in acquiring a technical-specialised language of didactics. At the end of the course, students will have improved their skills in expressing clearly, taking into account the recipient, especially when the recipient is children and their families. They will also have improved their skills in writing and preparing educational documents and projects directed to children aged 0-3 (Communication skills). All course's activities are aimed at improving one's learning skills, represented in this case not only by the ability to independently read texts and documents on didactics, but also to collect, interpret, and reflect on problems and data related to the study of didactics, proving to have a scientific aptitude and critical and self-critical abilities (Learning skills).