Courses for the Sommer Semester 2025

Heterogeneity in educational processes - Seminar

The aim of the seminar is to sensitise students to various aspects of heterogeneity (e.g. gender, migration) in early childhood learning environments such as daycare centres and families and to get to know and assess their significance for educational practice. As an example of an action concept, the students present various programmes for children/families for dealing with heterogeneity in early childhood learning environments. The seminar is designed as a mix of asynchronous (i.e. digital) and synchronous (i.e. face-to-face) seminar units. Students are expected to be interested in the topic, committed and keen to engage in discussion, as well as willing to read specialised literature (also in English).

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Wed, 2-4 PM, First session: 16.04.2025

__

Cooperation with families in early childhood education and care - Seminar

The vast majority of children in Germany attend a daycare centre before starting school and spend a lot of time there every day. The daycare centre is therefore a very important additional place of learning - alongside the family - for young children. However, in order to provide children with the best possible support in their development, good cooperation between the two instances is required and cooperation with families is therefore considered a central component of early educational quality. But how is such cooperation actually organised? How is cooperation with families conceptually integrated into the centre? What role does the early childhood educator play here? What challenges exist in the course of social change processes and due to current influences and developments in this field of action? The seminar will develop the theoretical foundations of successful approaches to working with families, discuss research findings and identify current challenges. At the same time, there will be tasks that will be worked on in small groups. Participants must also be prepared to take part in role plays in order to reflect on specific situations together.

Instructor: Charlotte Enß

Time: Tue, 12-2 PM, First session: 15.04.2025

__

Projects with a focus on early childhood education and care - Project seminar

Practical or research projects are planned, implemented and reflected upon in small groups. A connection to early childhood education and care is desirable. A project presentation takes place at the end of the lecture period. Each project group prepares a project report. It is possible to combine the project with the Bachelor's thesis. Please contact me about this at an early stage.

Instructor: Katharina Kluczniok

Time: Wed, 10 AM-12 PM, First session: 16.04.2025

__

Shaping early childhood education in real life: Design thinking as a method for innovative problem solving - Project seminar

In this project seminar, we will work in small groups over the course of the semester on a challenge, i.e. a real problem at a daycare center in Potsdam. The aim of the seminar is to use the design thinking method to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to the problem of the Potsdam daycare center. The seminar will begin with a theoretical introduction to the design thinking method. You will then go through all the phases of a design thinking process. Within this process, you will conduct research in the field and with the employees of the daycare center, i.e. conduct observations and interviews. At the end, you will generate a client-oriented solution that will allow you to help shape the daycare center in real life. The course takes place every 14 days for 4 hours. Participation requires a high degree of independence, the willingness to work in a team of max. 5 people and attendance at a daycare center in Potsdam Golm. IMPORTANT: You do not choose the project topic or the project group in which you will work. THE DATES FOR THE FIELD RESEARCH ARE FIXED AND CANNOT BE CHANGED (either in the morning or in the afternoon Mon., 28.04.2025). Please pay attention to the event dates!

Instructor: Nicole Voss

Time: Wed, 10 AM-2 PM, First session: 16.04.2025

__

Projects on (childhood) educational topics - Project seminar

In this project seminar, you will work in small groups on your own project and will be supervised by the lecturer. You will define, plan and carry out your project. In this seminar, you will apply the theoretical and methodological knowledge you have acquired during your studies and reflect on the process of your project. There is room for all project ideas in this seminar, even if the focus may be in the area of early childhood education.

Instructor: Nicole Voss

Time: Wed, 2-4 PM, First session: 23.04.2025

__

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 analyse and assess selected empirical studies from the field of early childhood education and to derive consequences for the assessment of further studies, for educational 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: Wed, 12-2 PM, First session: 16.04.2025