1. Early Childhood Education and Preschool as Frames of Reference for
Current Theories
Related to
Early Childhood Education
and Preschool
as Frames of
Reference for
Sustainable Education
PhD Ulla Härkönen
Lecturer in Early Childhood Education
University of Joensuu
Savonlinna Department of Teacher Education
2003

3. In Finland: * school begins at the age of seven
* early childhood education means all education under 7
* preschool means education of six-year-olds
* sustainable education means education for sustainable development (Åhlberg 2003)
* sustainable education is a part of ECE and preschool
* care, education and teaching

5. U. Bronfenbrenner’s paradigm
Lewin: B= (PE) (Behaviour is a joint function of person and environment)
Bronfenbrenner: D=f (PE) (Development is a joint function of person and environment)
D t = f (t-p) (PE) (t-p) ’t’ is a certain time; ’t-p’ is a time period

6. Bronfenbrenner asks:
The answer that is the most difficult to reach is concealed in the letter ’f’. He asks:
What is the process that is to be created by the person and the context?

8. L. Vygotsky´s Theory
”The central issue in Vygotsky’s theoretical thinking is in the Development of qualitatively novel (’higher’) psychological functions in the history of cultures and ontogeny of children in the process of organisms’(i.e. culture, or child) goal-directed acting upon their environments” (Valsiner, 1987: 64).

9. Vygotsky underlines
the social roots of development: 1) cultural-historical factors 2) interaction of individuals
social situations of development
environment´s qualitative changes lead to psychic changes (Vygotsky, 1978: 52-57)

10. Vygotsky´s Socio-Cultural Theory
* language has a most significant meaning for the development of mental activities
* learning influences in development
* the zone of proximal development (ZPD)
* interaction, internalisation, genetic law of cultural development: two plans (social and psychological)

12. Didactics is a discipline, the study of teaching
school pedagogy: between school and society
teaching is a process of planning, action and evaluation; values, goals, contents and methods
Kansanen (1991): ”pedagogical thinking is a basic skill behind a teaching of teachers”

13. Theories of Learning
constructivist theory; knowledge is seen neither absolute nor objective
changing nature of knowledge
children learn in activity, in relation to other persons and environment

15. Philosopher-pedagogues
Friedrich Fröbel
A.S. Neill
Johann Pestalozzi
John Dewey
Rudolf Steiner
Maria Montessori
Helen Parkhurst
Célestin Freinet
Vasili Suhomlinski
Loris Malaguzzi
period:

16. Categories of history’s philosopher-pedagogues’texts
world outlook
concept of man
concept of society
concept of knowledge generation
concept of education
main method of education
practical pedagogical process

18. The text analysis
has been made from Finnish textbooks of early childhood education and preschool published during 30 last years.

19. Study of the books
the definitions of ’Early childhood education’ and ’Preschool’ have focused
the concepts ’Early childhood education’ and ’Preschool’ have been analyzed
the concepts ’Early childhood education’ and ’Preschool’ have been modelled

20. Three dimensions in the definitions
the definitions of ECE and preschool have meant
1) practice
2) science
3) subject
(sometimes administration)
preschool has always been a part of ECE

21. Systems theory four dimension model of the concept of early childhood education. Explanation: ECE=early childhood education

22. Systems theory four dimension model of the concept of preschool
Systems theory four dimension model of the concept of preschool Explanation: ECE=early childhood education

23. The ECE curriculum in relation to the systems theory four dimension model of the concept of early childhood education. Explanation: ECE=early childhood education

24. Usefulness of the Systems Definition for ECE and SE
this kind of theory is an educational theory for educational phenomenon
it is a systems theory for systems phenomenon
it gives many components of whole concepts
it gives also the sub-components, such as practice: care, education, teaching

25. The Usefulness of the Systems Definition of ECE for SE
SE can be placed in the centre of the systems model and it must be discussed:
what is the function of SE in ECE and preschool paractice?
what is SE as science, related to ECE science?
what is SE in ECE and preschool subject in teacher education?

26. what does SE mean as the contents of thinking in the sphere each separate dimension?
it is possible to plan how scientific reasearch can be focused on any of specific model-based combinations according to the needs emerging from the issues of SE
life context: historical, social, community and personal dimensions
goals have to be created for SE, we ought to know what is worth of aspire for

27. Early Childhood Education
The result which has been created and which has to be further developed:
Systems Theory of
Early Childhood Education