Study module in artistic competence in early childhood education
Learn about the possibilities of skill- and arts-based activities in early childhood education through online studies. The study module is offered in cooperation with the Open University of the University of Jyväskylä.
The Open Universities of Uniarts Helsinki and the University of Jyväskylä offer a new study module in artistic competence in early childhood education (15 cr), which will help you increase your team’s artistic competence and learn how to carry out activities using arts-based methods in your work community. During the studies, you will learn more about theatre and dance pedagogy and about music education and carry out a pedagogical development project within your work community by focusing on a theme relating to one of these artistic disciplines. The studies are organised as collaborative online studies, so participation is easy and possible alongside work, for example.
Art belongs to us all, including children. Artistic and practical subjects are a central part of early childhood education and all-round education. The arts offer a way to explore oneself, the world and their relationship to each other. Artistic learning is an embodied, collective and holistic activity that promotes creative and critical thinking and problem-solving skills and increases the entire community’s wellbeing through providing a sense of inclusion.
Welcome to learn about art and how to promote it!
Who can participate?
The study module in artistic competence in early childhood education is aimed at those who work in early childhood education and pre-primary education and primary education, in particular, as well as those who wish to pursue a career in those fields.
Dance, theatre and music provide staff in early childhood education with contexts to draw skills from as they set out to enrich skill- and arts-based activities in early childhood education. Through an art-based pedagogical development project, you will learn how to review the development of your own workplace community in a research-based, innovative and practical way.
Goals
After completing the study module in artistic competence in early childhood education, comprising 15 cr, the student will:
- Know how to support the development of children’s musical, verbal and bodily expression and how to introduce them to various artistic disciplines and cultural heritages.
- Know how to combine various forms of expression in a creative and multisensory way by taking advantage of various work methods and learning environments and the nearby cultural scene.
- Know how to encourage a child to experience, express and communicate things through their language and body in various ways.
- Be familiar with the principles of child-centred and holistic pedagogy that supports the child’s inclusion in the context of early childhood education.
- Know how to plan and carry out an arts-based pedagogical development project and assess its implementation.
- Identify and understand pedagogical theories related to learning, supervision and assessment in the planning, implementation and assessment of training sessions, studies and courses.
Teaching methods
The studies entail real-time online meetings and work on the Moodle learning platform. The studies can be completed within one academic year.
During the study units, the student will participate in real-time online teaching, complete practice-oriented exercises independently within their own workplace community, while also compiling a (multi-media) learning diary or portfolio independently or in a small group. The portfolio will end up becoming a sort of material bank that the student can utilise in their own work.
In addition to the real-time online teaching and independently completed assignments, the student will participate in a peer review and become familiar with supplementary material and literature.
The studies will begin in January 2024. Arts studies (dance, theatre and music in early childhood education) are scheduled for the 2024 spring term, while the pedagogical development project is carried out in the 2024 autumn term.
The price is 15 euros per ECTS credit. The fee does not apply to the online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy, which can be completed free of charge. The total price of the studies is 210 euros. Each course is charged separately. Participants can be awarded a certificate for completing the entire study module.
About the studies and the schedule
An orientation session for all participants will take place remotely via Zoom on Thursday, 4 January 2024, at 17:00-17:45.
Finnish early education and pedagogy: right to play, learn and participate 1 cr (Mooc)
During the online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy: right to play, learn and participate, the student will watch high-quality videos and hear experts’ comments about the most important moments of a day at a day-care centre: arriving and leaving, daily interaction with the child’s parents, mealtimes, outdoor activities, playtime, group activities and rest. Learning about early childhood through the daily activities of a day-care centre gives an experience-based look into what early education is about in people’s daily lives. The content of the course supports the participating student’s skills in promoting pedagogical activities throughout the day in various kinds of situations. The assignments are suited for various environments, and the student can reflect on them within their student community or from the perspective of their own family or workplace community. The course gives examples of the importance of high-quality interaction and playtime as a basis of pedagogy and highlights ways to listen to children and to support children’s active participation and playtime.
The online course is completed independently during the 2024 academic year. The supervising teacher is Tiina Lämsä. Read more about the online course.
Tanssi varhaiskasvatuksessa / Dance in early childhood education 3 cr
The starting point in this dance pedagogy study unit is each participant’s personal body and movement, and embodied connection with oneself, others and the surroundings. The basis for teaching is a broad concept of dance as part of a communal and diverse culture, devoid of technical or discipline-specific requirements. During the studies, the student will learn about dance as a holistic and multisensory form of artistic expression and as an active embodied activity. The goal is to steer the participant and give them tools to participate in, view and discuss dance. The topic of dance pedagogy is approached and analysed with the help of basic elements of movement, including space, time, body, force and flow. The teachers are Maikki Uotila-Kraatz and Tuire Colliander.
Teaching is scheduled for the following dates in spring 2024: Tue 9 January at 17-20, Tue 16 January at 17-20, Tue 23 January at 17-20, Sat 27 January at 10-16 and Tue 9 April at 17-20
Teatteri varhaiskasvatuksessa / Theatre in early childhood education 3 cr
In the theatre-themed portion of the study module, the student will learn about theatre pedagogical thinking and theatre-based approaches in early childhood education and pre-primary education. The student will complete plenty of practical exercises that can easily be integrated into day-to-day activities of day-care centres. The student will also learn how to use three more extensive theatre-based methods 1. Process drama 2. Drama adventure & 3. Forum theatre and gain information and tools for supporting children’s emotional skills. The goal of the studies is to reinforce the student’s theatre pedagogical competence in pre-primary education and early childhood education and to also support holistic learning while taking all children into consideration. The teachers are Jenni Bergius and Maaretta Riionheimo.
Teaching is scheduled for the following dates in spring 2024: Tue 30 January at 17-20, Sat 3 February at 10:00-16.00, Tue 6 February at 17-20, Tue 13 February at 17-20 and Tue 9 April at 17-20
Musiikki varhaiskasvatuksessa / Music in early childhood education 3 cr
In the music pedagogy portion of the study module, the student will get to know the steps of a child’s musical growth. The student will try out things in practice and play music, allowing them to delve deeper into the work methods of early childhood music education. Students will apply and develop music materials that are used with children through active and personal experiences, reflections and analyses. The teacher is Soili Perkiö.
Teaching is scheduled for the following dates in spring 2024: Tue 5 March at 17-20, Tue 12 March at 17-20, Tue 19 March at 17-20, Sat 23 March at 10:00-16:00 and Tue 9 April at 17-20.
Pedagogical development project 5 cr
During the pedagogical development project, the student will gain a more profound knowledge of the stages (goals, implementation, assessment) of a didactic process that requires development. They will identify and understand pedagogical theories related to learning, supervision and assessment and know how to apply them in the planning, implementation and assessment of training sessions, studies and courses. The student will also learn how to review development-related challenges and critically analyse their attitude towards supervision and learning. The supervising teacher is Auli Talamo.
The pedagogical development project will be carried out both in spring 2024 and autumn 2024.
Registration
Students must register for each course separately. The courses on dance, theatre and music in early childhood education will be organised if there are 10 to 25 registered students per course. Participants are selected based on the order of registration. An email message about the start of the course will be sent after the end of the registration period.
- Online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy 1 cr (no course fee MOOC, registration is ongoing as of 1 September 2023)
- Tanssi varhaiskasvatuksessa / Dance in early childhood education 3 cr, registration will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59. ( Registration form – spring 2024)
- Teatteri varhaiskasvatuksessa / Theatre in early childhood education 3 cr, registration will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59. ( Registration form – spring 2024)
- Musiikki varhaiskasvatuksessa / Music in early childhood education 3 cr, registration will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59. ( Registration form – spring 2024)
- AUTUMN 2023: Pedagogical development project 5 cr, registration is ongoing from 30 August 2023 to 31 January 2024 (AIKP1016 Pedagogical development project, 5 cr, online studies, JYU Open University – Korppi (jyu.fi))
- SPRING 2024: Pedagogical development project 5 cr, registration is ongoing from 1 February 2024 to 31 July 2024, the project can be completed between 1 February 2024 and 30 November 2024
More information
Planning Officer Riikka Herva at Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University, riikka.herva@uniarts.fi
Programme Manager Annamaija Oksanen at the Open University of the University of Jyväskylä, annamaija.oksanen@jyu.fi
Admissions guide
Application instructions for this programme haven't been published yet.
Application period
The application period for studies being offered during the 2024 academic year will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59.
Application languages
Finnish Read more about the language skill requirements
Supervising teacher
Online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy: Tiina Lämsä (Open University of the University of Jyväskylä)
Theatre: Maaretta Riionheimo and Jenni Bergius (Uniarts Helsinki)
Dance: Maikki Uotila-Kraaz and Tuire Colliander (Uniarts Helsinki)
Music: Soili Perkiö (Uniarts Helsinki)
Pedagogical development project: Auli Talamo (Open University of the University of Jyväskylä)
Unit
Open Campus
Ask about the programme
Planning Officer Riikka Herva at Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University, riikka.herva@uniarts.fi
Programme Manager Annamaija Oksanen at the Open University of the University of Jyväskylä, annamaija.oksanen@jyu.fi
Learn about the possibilities of skill- and arts-based activities in early childhood education through online studies. The study module is offered in cooperation with the Open University of the University of Jyväskylä.
The Open Universities of Uniarts Helsinki and the University of Jyväskylä offer a new study module in artistic competence in early childhood education (15 cr), which will help you increase your team’s artistic competence and learn how to carry out activities using arts-based methods in your work community. During the studies, you will learn more about theatre and dance pedagogy and about music education and carry out a pedagogical development project within your work community by focusing on a theme relating to one of these artistic disciplines. The studies are organised as collaborative online studies, so participation is easy and possible alongside work, for example.
Art belongs to us all, including children. Artistic and practical subjects are a central part of early childhood education and all-round education. The arts offer a way to explore oneself, the world and their relationship to each other. Artistic learning is an embodied, collective and holistic activity that promotes creative and critical thinking and problem-solving skills and increases the entire community’s wellbeing through providing a sense of inclusion.
Welcome to learn about art and how to promote it!
Who can participate?
The study module in artistic competence in early childhood education is aimed at those who work in early childhood education and pre-primary education and primary education, in particular, as well as those who wish to pursue a career in those fields.
Dance, theatre and music provide staff in early childhood education with contexts to draw skills from as they set out to enrich skill- and arts-based activities in early childhood education. Through an art-based pedagogical development project, you will learn how to review the development of your own workplace community in a research-based, innovative and practical way.
Goals
After completing the study module in artistic competence in early childhood education, comprising 15 cr, the student will:
- Know how to support the development of children’s musical, verbal and bodily expression and how to introduce them to various artistic disciplines and cultural heritages.
- Know how to combine various forms of expression in a creative and multisensory way by taking advantage of various work methods and learning environments and the nearby cultural scene.
- Know how to encourage a child to experience, express and communicate things through their language and body in various ways.
- Be familiar with the principles of child-centred and holistic pedagogy that supports the child’s inclusion in the context of early childhood education.
- Know how to plan and carry out an arts-based pedagogical development project and assess its implementation.
- Identify and understand pedagogical theories related to learning, supervision and assessment in the planning, implementation and assessment of training sessions, studies and courses.
Teaching methods
The studies entail real-time online meetings and work on the Moodle learning platform. The studies can be completed within one academic year.
During the study units, the student will participate in real-time online teaching, complete practice-oriented exercises independently within their own workplace community, while also compiling a (multi-media) learning diary or portfolio independently or in a small group. The portfolio will end up becoming a sort of material bank that the student can utilise in their own work.
In addition to the real-time online teaching and independently completed assignments, the student will participate in a peer review and become familiar with supplementary material and literature.
The studies will begin in January 2024. Arts studies (dance, theatre and music in early childhood education) are scheduled for the 2024 spring term, while the pedagogical development project is carried out in the 2024 autumn term.
The price is 15 euros per ECTS credit. The fee does not apply to the online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy, which can be completed free of charge. The total price of the studies is 210 euros. Each course is charged separately. Participants can be awarded a certificate for completing the entire study module.
About the studies and the schedule
An orientation session for all participants will take place remotely via Zoom on Thursday, 4 January 2024, at 17:00-17:45.
Finnish early education and pedagogy: right to play, learn and participate 1 cr (Mooc)
During the online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy: right to play, learn and participate, the student will watch high-quality videos and hear experts’ comments about the most important moments of a day at a day-care centre: arriving and leaving, daily interaction with the child’s parents, mealtimes, outdoor activities, playtime, group activities and rest. Learning about early childhood through the daily activities of a day-care centre gives an experience-based look into what early education is about in people’s daily lives. The content of the course supports the participating student’s skills in promoting pedagogical activities throughout the day in various kinds of situations. The assignments are suited for various environments, and the student can reflect on them within their student community or from the perspective of their own family or workplace community. The course gives examples of the importance of high-quality interaction and playtime as a basis of pedagogy and highlights ways to listen to children and to support children’s active participation and playtime.
The online course is completed independently during the 2024 academic year. The supervising teacher is Tiina Lämsä. Read more about the online course.
Tanssi varhaiskasvatuksessa / Dance in early childhood education 3 cr
The starting point in this dance pedagogy study unit is each participant’s personal body and movement, and embodied connection with oneself, others and the surroundings. The basis for teaching is a broad concept of dance as part of a communal and diverse culture, devoid of technical or discipline-specific requirements. During the studies, the student will learn about dance as a holistic and multisensory form of artistic expression and as an active embodied activity. The goal is to steer the participant and give them tools to participate in, view and discuss dance. The topic of dance pedagogy is approached and analysed with the help of basic elements of movement, including space, time, body, force and flow. The teachers are Maikki Uotila-Kraatz and Tuire Colliander.
Teaching is scheduled for the following dates in spring 2024: Tue 9 January at 17-20, Tue 16 January at 17-20, Tue 23 January at 17-20, Sat 27 January at 10-16 and Tue 9 April at 17-20
Teatteri varhaiskasvatuksessa / Theatre in early childhood education 3 cr
In the theatre-themed portion of the study module, the student will learn about theatre pedagogical thinking and theatre-based approaches in early childhood education and pre-primary education. The student will complete plenty of practical exercises that can easily be integrated into day-to-day activities of day-care centres. The student will also learn how to use three more extensive theatre-based methods 1. Process drama 2. Drama adventure & 3. Forum theatre and gain information and tools for supporting children’s emotional skills. The goal of the studies is to reinforce the student’s theatre pedagogical competence in pre-primary education and early childhood education and to also support holistic learning while taking all children into consideration. The teachers are Jenni Bergius and Maaretta Riionheimo.
Teaching is scheduled for the following dates in spring 2024: Tue 30 January at 17-20, Sat 3 February at 10:00-16.00, Tue 6 February at 17-20, Tue 13 February at 17-20 and Tue 9 April at 17-20
Musiikki varhaiskasvatuksessa / Music in early childhood education 3 cr
In the music pedagogy portion of the study module, the student will get to know the steps of a child’s musical growth. The student will try out things in practice and play music, allowing them to delve deeper into the work methods of early childhood music education. Students will apply and develop music materials that are used with children through active and personal experiences, reflections and analyses. The teacher is Soili Perkiö.
Teaching is scheduled for the following dates in spring 2024: Tue 5 March at 17-20, Tue 12 March at 17-20, Tue 19 March at 17-20, Sat 23 March at 10:00-16:00 and Tue 9 April at 17-20.
Pedagogical development project 5 cr
During the pedagogical development project, the student will gain a more profound knowledge of the stages (goals, implementation, assessment) of a didactic process that requires development. They will identify and understand pedagogical theories related to learning, supervision and assessment and know how to apply them in the planning, implementation and assessment of training sessions, studies and courses. The student will also learn how to review development-related challenges and critically analyse their attitude towards supervision and learning. The supervising teacher is Auli Talamo.
The pedagogical development project will be carried out both in spring 2024 and autumn 2024.
Registration
Students must register for each course separately. The courses on dance, theatre and music in early childhood education will be organised if there are 10 to 25 registered students per course. Participants are selected based on the order of registration. An email message about the start of the course will be sent after the end of the registration period.
- Online course in Finnish early education and pedagogy 1 cr (no course fee MOOC, registration is ongoing as of 1 September 2023)
- Tanssi varhaiskasvatuksessa / Dance in early childhood education 3 cr, registration will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59. ( Registration form – spring 2024)
- Teatteri varhaiskasvatuksessa / Theatre in early childhood education 3 cr, registration will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59. ( Registration form – spring 2024)
- Musiikki varhaiskasvatuksessa / Music in early childhood education 3 cr, registration will begin on 21 November 2023 at 9:00 and end on 13 December 2023 at 23:59. ( Registration form – spring 2024)
- AUTUMN 2023: Pedagogical development project 5 cr, registration is ongoing from 30 August 2023 to 31 January 2024 (AIKP1016 Pedagogical development project, 5 cr, online studies, JYU Open University – Korppi (jyu.fi))
- SPRING 2024: Pedagogical development project 5 cr, registration is ongoing from 1 February 2024 to 31 July 2024, the project can be completed between 1 February 2024 and 30 November 2024
More information
Planning Officer Riikka Herva at Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University, riikka.herva@uniarts.fi
Programme Manager Annamaija Oksanen at the Open University of the University of Jyväskylä, annamaija.oksanen@jyu.fi