Courses for the Winter Semester 2024/25

Learning Environments in Early Childhood – Seminar

The seminar provides an overview of central learning environments in early childhood – daycare centers and families. It explores the historical development of these learning environments and discusses current developments in early childhood education systems. Regular and active participation in the form of discussions, group work, and independently prepared content inputs (short presentations including preliminary discussions) are expected.

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Thu, 8-10 AM, First session: 17.10.2024

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Introduction to a Field of Action – Seminar

In this seminar, we aim to shed light on the development of early childhood education institutions and gain a deeper understanding of the structures of the early childhood education system in Germany. Additionally, we will focus on the family as another important learning environment in early childhood, and work together to explore why good cooperation between daycare centers and families is important for a child's development. We will examine specific methods of parent collaboration and also explore digital possibilities for cooperation together. Independent Kindergarten visits in small groups allow for insights into practical work and serve to reflect on the material discussed.

Instructor: Charlotte Enß

Time: Thu, 8-10 AM, First session: 17.10.2024

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Approaches to Pedagogical Activity – Seminar

The seminar provides an overview of the origins, concepts, and implementation of important early childhood education approaches and discusses their relevance for the quality improvement of early childhood education institutions. Both classical and reform-oriented, as well as modern approaches, will be addressed. Following the theoretical study, independent practical observations in daycare centres that implement various approaches are planned to reflect on their practical application.

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Mo, 2-4 PM, First session: 14.10.2024

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Fundamentals of Counselling Techniques – Seminar

In this block seminar, you will be given a theoretical and practical introduction to the basics of perception, communication and conversation management. You will choose your own key topics and deepen your knowledge independently in small groups. In this seminar, practical references are established by visiting institutions in your chosen small groups and thus creating a link between scientifically based theory and practice.

Instructor: Nicole Voss

Time: alternating, First session: 18.10.2024

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Approaches to Pedagogical Activity – Specialization

The seminar focuses on the family as a learning environment and on interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of family engagement. The emphasis is on early childhood. After a theoretical introduction to the concept of the home learning environment, interventions and programs designed to strengthen the quality of family engagement, including their empirical evaluation findings, will be discussed in the seminar. Additionally, we will develop and practically implement our own (small) initiatives to enhance family engagement quality in small groups. Students are expected to show interest in the topic, commitment, and a willingness to engage in discussions, as well as to read (including English-language) academic literature.

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Wed, 2-4 PM, First session: 16.10.2024

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Pedagogcial Approaches - Possibilities, Limits, and Opportunities of Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

In this seminar, we will discuss the educational concept of education for sustainable development (ESD) in the field of early childhood education and explore the possibilities, limitations, and opportunities of early childhood ESD together. We will explore questions such as: How is ESD related to a good life? Can ESD counteract social inequality? How is ESD researched and understood nationally and internationally and what role do our emotions play in this? Other topics of the seminar include curricular integration, professional development opportunities, and interventions related to early childhood ESD, with a strong emphasis on practical applications. Participants can also set their own thematic focus on early childhood ESD. On two Fridays, we will undertake an excursion to an education for sustainable development (ESD) daycare center in Brandenburg.

Instructor: Nicole Voss

Time: Mo, 10-12 PM, First session: 17.10.2024

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MA:  Research and Development in Pedagogical Fields of Action – Lecture

The lecture introduces fundamental questions and challenges of evaluation studies in the field of education, using examples from early childhood education. In the accompanying assignments, you will have the opportunity to research and present studies from other pedagogical fields. The lecture will be held in person. The module assessment will be an in-person exam.

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Thu, 12-2 PM, First session: 17.10.2024

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 MA: Research and Development in Pedagogical Fields of Action – Advanced Seminar

The aim of the seminar is to gain an overview of the early childhood education research infrastructure (e.g. research institutes), to analyze and evaluate selected empirical studies from the field of early childhood education and to derive consequences for the assessment of further studies, for pedagogical practice and educational policy. In addition, the relationship between scientific research, pedagogical requirements and social conditions in the context of early childhood education will be reflected upon.

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Thu, 10-12 PM, First session: 17.10.2024