THE ACQUISITION OF SKILLS IN CHILDREN’S EDUCATION TEACHING: LAYING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE ACADEMIC CONTEXT AND THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The present work describes the research of an innovate educational experience, developed in a University classroom, specifically for the subject called: General Didactic, in the second year of the Degree in Pre School Education. The aim was to prove the increase in basic and professional skills for the students of this subject. The innovation consists of paring a Children Teacher, expert in Work Projects methodology for childhood period. Her contributions are included in the planning of the subject development, inviting her to give a Seminar at the Faculty, designing Cooperative Work Projects, from her students previous ideas in class meetings, and finally, organizing Workshops by the University students, in order to receive the visit of one hundred children from 3 to 6 years old, accompanied with their teachers, who participate for one morning session, in the proposed activities for each Workshop. The application of a Likert Scale was elaborated specially for this purpose at the beginning (pretest) and at the end (postest) of the subject, when the students were asked about their basic and professional skills level. This application lets us value the utility of the innovation, when proving that there are significant differences between the pretest and postest average, which verifies the increasing acquisition of skills among the students.