Course description for 2022/23
Practice 4.term
PRA2023
Course description for 2022/23

Practice 4.term

PRA2023
Supervised professional training 4th period; involves the field of study ‘Language, Text and Mathematics’. This is an integrated practical training course during the second year of the Bachelor in Kindergarten Teacher Education, part time.

Supervised professional training is varied and ensures that students gain experience of different aspects of the kindergarten teacher profession in a kindergarten field characterised by change, diversity and complexity.

Supervised professional training and academic studies will together help students develop knowledge, skills and general competence.

Supervised professional training will connect the different parts of the educational programme, prepare students for work in kindergarten, and help them understand children’s situation in the family and society. Supervised professional training is an integral part of the various fields of study in the educational programme.

The main perspective for supervised professional training during the second year of study is the ‘Management of children and employees’.

Students must familiarise themselves and comply with the laws and regulations that apply to the university and the kindergarten conducting supervised professional training. Students must anonymise all written communication/documentation that involves children and parents/guardians. When using video recordings, photographs, audio recordings, etc., special permission must be obtained from the child’s parents/guardians. Storage of the recordings must take place in accordance with the licensing provision for the kindergarten.

A ‘Declaration of Confidentiality’ must be signed by students at the start of studies and is submitted to the Service Office. If necessary, students must also sign a ‘Declaration of Confidentiality’ at their practice placement.

Passed the supervised professional training courses during the 1st year of study.

An approved certificate of good conduct is required from the police

Passed the supervised professional training courses during the 1st year of study.

An approved certificate of good conduct is required from the police.

General learning outcomes that apply to all periods of supervised professional training:

KNOWLEDGE.

Candidates

• have knowledge about kindergarten’s social mandate and have the ability to initiate and cope with changes, and be able to influence developments in kindergartens

• demonstrate the ability to reflect on kindergarten’s core values, their own and others’ attitudes and behaviour

• see a connection between theory and practice and can use academic literature and relevant theory in all work tasks

• have the ability to lead balanced pedagogical work, with the main emphasis placed on children’s formation, play and learning

SKILLS.

Candidates

• can plan, carry out and assess pedagogical work in accordance with ethical requirements and guidelines

• have the ability to contact and interact with individual children, groups of children and adults

• have leadership and collaboration skills in relation to groups of staff, parents/guardians and other partners, as well as knowledge about the coordinators’ tasks

GENERAL COMPETENCE.

Candidates

• have the ability to reflect on ethical challenges in the profession

• have the ability to assess themselves and are responsible for their own learning

• demonstrate responsibility for following up work schedules and agreements

Learning outcomes that apply specifically to the 4th period of supervised professional training:

KNOWLEDGE.

Candidates

• have knowledge about how kindergartens and schools collaborate to create good transitions for children.

• have knowledge about school steering documents

• have knowledge about content and work methods in schools and after-school programmes

• have knowledge about the role of teachers and the role of pupils

SKILLS.

Candidates

• Can reflect on the transition between kindergarten and school in relation to school/after-school programmes

GENERAL COMPETENCE.

Candidates

• Can view things from different perspectives and reflect critically in connection with the transition between kindergarten and school

Semester fee and course literature.

It is expected that some expenses will be incurred in connection with travelling to and from the place offering supervised professional training. Nord University provides grants for travel expenses in accordance with applicable regulations.

Compulsory

It is assumed that individual students follow the Supervised Professional Training Handbook and familiarise themselves with the stipulated requirements and expectations.

These include:

* Meetings

* Attendance

* Procedures in the event of any doubts as to whether supervised professional training has been passed or not

The programme of study is evaluated annually by the students through course surveys. These evaluations are part of the University’s quality assurance system.

Scope of 5th supervised professional training period: 5 days in 4th semester.

Nord University allocates practice placements in municipalities with which the university has collaboration agreements.

Supervised professional training is a compulsory part of kindergarten teacher education. Experiences gained by students during supervised professional training are the starting point for discussion and reflection in the programme of study. A clarification and concretisation of the work in connection with the periods of supervised professional training are stated in the training plan.

100% attendance is required regarding supervised professional training.

The supervised professional training period must be passed in order to proceed to the next supervised professional training period. In special cases, the head of studies may decide on deviations from this rule.

Supervised professional training through topic-based group project:

Students will carry out a group project where they take a closer look at and investigate the topic ‘the transition between kindergarten and school’. For example, this may be done by observing professional practice, interviewing teachers and kindergarten teachers, or comparing steering documents. The project concludes with an oral presentation for the lecturer and fellow students.

Both forms of supervised professional training are assessed using the grading scale pass/fail, and the supervised professional training in a topic-based group project corresponds to 5 days of school-based training.

An ongoing assessment takes place in consultation with the student during supervised professional training. All assignments must be approved and available in Canvas after the applicable deadline.

Final assessment; Supervised professional training, individual, grading scale Pass/fail, represents 100%.

Assessment is based on the students’ practical and theoretical work during the period of supervised professional training. 100% attendance is required regarding supervised professional training.

Educational institutions and kindergartens are learning arenas of equal importance that are jointly responsible for content, quality, progression and assessment in supervised professional training. According to the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at Nord University, students are entitled to two attempts at supervised professional training. If the student fails to pass the supervised professional training course on the second attempt, the student’s admission to a course or specific programme of study will be revoked. Students who have not passed, discontinued or have received legitimate absence from supervised professional training must, as a general rule, attempt a new round of supervised professional training during the next ordinary implementation of the course.

Students may complete the semester they have started, but will then receive a one year intermission in their ordinary course of study. New practical training is normally carried out in the following academic year.

All assignments must be approved and available after the applicable deadline.

Final assessment; Supervised professional training, individual, grading scale Pass/fail, represents 100%

Assessment is based on the students’ practical and theoretical work during the period of supervised professional training.

Educational institutions and kindergartens are learning arenas of equal importance that are jointly responsible for content, quality, progression and assessment in supervised professional training.

According to the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at Nord University, students are entitled to two attempts at supervised professional training. If the student fails to pass the supervised professional training course on the second attempt,

the student’s admission to a course or specific programme of study will be revoked. Students who have not passed, discontinued or have received legitimate absence from supervised professional training must, as a general rule, attempt a new round of supervised professional training during the next ordinary implementation of the course.

Students may complete the semester they have started, but will then receive a one year intermission in their ordinary course of study. New practical training is normally carried out in the following academic year.