Creating a pedagogical systems theory for early childhood and

preschool education

Docent Ulla HärkönenPh.D., Lecturer in Early Childhood Education

University of JoensuuSavonlinna Department of Teacher Education

25.11.2005 Tallinn University

Introduction

This presentation gives a short overview about the key results of my studies made during thirty years

And it shows the deepening understanding of the systemic, holistic, semiotic thoughts and the principles of gender equality and sustainability of early childhood education.

The figure 1. in the next slide

shows 1. the basis and 2. the central theoretical approaches that have been influenced in the Finnish early childhood and pre-school education.

The basis and 7 blocks of the theoretical approaches form the main construction blocks in my elaboration of the new systems theory.

The elaboration continues towards a theory which is educational, pedagogical,

systemic, holistic, semiotic, sustainable

Constructivism has been generally used as a theory of learning but how to show care, education, teaching and development?

Piaget’s theory and Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory have been used as developmental theories but how is the process of care, education, teaching and

learning presented?

Didactics has been used as a theory of teaching but how to treat care, education, learning and development?

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory has been used as a developmental theory but where is the share of care, education, teaching and learning?

The basis of the Finnish early childhood and preschool education:*home upbringing, the kindergarten’s pedagogical tradition, school teaching,

*impact of neighbouring and other countries all over the world*pedagogics, developmental psychology, psychology, philosophy, sociology

Behaviorism has been used as a theory of learning but it is subject to criticism. And how to show the share of care, education, teaching and development?

The critical theory points to inequality in society, being a societal theory,but how to outline care, education, teaching, learning and development?

Educational and pedagogical theories of the philosopher-pedagogues like Froebel, Steiner, Montessori, Parkhurst, Neill, Freinet, Dewey, Freire, Suchomlinsky, Malaguzzi. The focus is on the educational process including care, education, teaching, learning and development. Many of these pedagogues have also the developmental theory of

their own.

Figure 1. The construction blocks for new systems theory of early childhood and pre-school education

The figure 2. in the next slide

is a general systems model of educational thinking in early childhood and preschool education.

The figure consists of different parts of the whole systems: 1. the philosophical background and 2. the educational elements that are goals, contents and methods.

In the figure 2

• methods are shown in details because these methods are essential in early childhood education and preschool education.

• The figure also points out the main early childhood education science, related sciences, fields on knowledge and refers to the processes and planning of early childhood education and preschool education.

Views on world

Views on society

Views on human being Views on child

Wies on knowledge

Views on education

Views on goals Views on contents

Views on methods

Views on basic activities and care

Views on play Views on work Views on teachingViews on

celebrations

Views on outdoor

education

NursingHygieneMedicineNutrition

Home economics

Play pedagogy

Work pedagogy

DidacticsEntertainment

Arts

TourismSocial sciences

Natural sciencesInternationalism

educational science, developmental psychology, psychology, philosophy, sociologyearly childhood education science

Views on pedagogical process of early childhood education

Views on planning of pedagogical process of early childhood education

Figure 2. General systems model of educational thinking in early childhood and pre-schooleducation

Käsitykset juhlista

Käsitykset retkistä

Käsitykset maailmasta

Käsitykset ihmisestäKäsitykset lapsesta

Käsitykset yhteiskunnasta

Käsitykset tiedosta

Käsitykset kasvatuksesta

Käsitykset tavoitteista

Käsitykset menetelmistä

Käsitykset perus-

toiminnoistaja hoidosta

Käsitykset leikistä

Käsitykset työstä

Käsitykset opetuksesta

HoitotiedeTerveystietoLääketiede

RavitsemustiedeKotitaloustiede

Leikki-peda-gogiikka

Työ-peda-gogiikka

Didak-tiikka Viide-alat

taiteet

MatkailualaYhteiskunta-

tieteetLuonnontieteet

Kansainväli-syyskasvatus

Käsitykset pedagogisen prosessin suunnittelusta

Käsitykset varhaiskasvatuksen pedagogisesta prosessista

Kasvatustiede, kehityspsykologia, psykologia, filosofia, sosiologiaVARHAISKASVATUSTIEDE

Käsitykset sisällöistä eli oppiaineista

The figure 3 in the next slide

shows extensions and intensions of the concept of early childhood education. This is a semiotic approach to these concepts.

The figure shows that this concepts has four extensions:

1.practice, 2.content, 3. science and 4.thinking.

The figure 3 in the next slide

• Also these extensions together form the systems that can be analyzed.

• All extensions should include the same intensions if we speak about early childhood education at the area of these extensions.

Figure 3. Extensions and intensions of the concept of early childhood education Härkönen 2005

Early childhood education science

Content on Early childhood education

Early childhood education thinking

Early childhood education practice

My dear audience:

• How to continue the elaboration of the new systems theory?

• There are much to do but what and how and why?

• The theory must be systemic, holistic, semiotic, creating gender equality and sustainability!

References: http://savonlinna.joensuu.fi/harkonen

Thank you for your attention!