Academic CentreThe first study visit of Erasmus+ Strategic partnership project "Developing Teachers’ Skills to Educate Pre-School Children with and Through Digital Technologies" (DigiKid) 2020-KA-203-12, project No. 2020-1-EE01-KA226-HE-093388 took place in Estonia (Tartu, Narva, Rakvere) from September 12 to 17, 2021.
Academic personnel from Narva College of the University of Tartu (Narva, Estonia), the Heidelberg University of Education (Germany), the University of Primorska (Slovenia) and the University of Latvia (Latvia), as well as kindergarten partners from CreaKids (Latvia), Koper kindergarten (Slovenia) and Rohuaia kindergarten (Estonia) participated in the study visit.
The lead partner of the project (University of Tartu) had prepared an extensive programme to explore preschool teachers’ knowledge and practice of digital literacy on multiple levels.
On the first day of the visit (in Tartu) participants joined a remote conversation with Tartu preschool education experts and were acquainted with a technology enhanced learning process in Poku kindergarten.
Image: remote conversation with Tartu preschool education experts in the University of Tartu (photo by I. Margeviča-Grinberga)
Later, the participants visited the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research where the head specialist of preschool and elementary education, Triin Rass, talked about preschool education in Estonia, presented the current situation of teacher education, and highlighted the developments in teacher education, for example, starting with next year teachers’ assistants in Estonia will be required to have a degree in education.
Image: meeting with preschool and elementary education specialists from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (photo by I. Margeviča-Grinberga)
The project participants gained insight about fostering the development of teachers’ digital competence in the University of Tartu by visiting the Department of Education Innovation. There, pre-service and in-service teachers can try out and analyze the latest technologies, such as 3D printers and different types of interactive whiteboards.
Image: exploring the work of the Department of Education Innovation of the University of Tartu (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
On the second day (in Narva) the project participants joined classes in Käoke kindergarten where children were using iPhone apps, Bee-Bot robots, and outdoor mobile robots. Many tasks involved reading QR codes and following instructions. The children were especially interested in “sound boxes” (Sound-Recording Pegs, EZSound Box) where they could hear various animals.
Image: classes in Käoke kindergarten (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
After classes in the preschool, the project team went to Narva College of the University of Tartu to discuss the questionnaires for teachers and parents that had been developed within the DigiKids project. The discussion was followed by a question-and-answer session with the graduates, students and academic personnel of Narva College preschool teacher education programme. The academic staff presented the contents of preschool teacher education course, particularly highlighting the need to develop pre-service teachers’ digital competence during their studies.
Image: discussion in Narva College of the University of Tartu (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
On the third day (in Narva) the team visited Tareke kindergarten and saw their programming classes. The participants had the opportunity to see how robots and programming were used to promote Estonian as a second language learning. It is interesting to note that Tareke kindergarten implements several bilingual education programme models. The children have classes with two teachers – preschool teachers and teachers’ assistants. After the classes, a discussion was held with the project team and Tareke kindergarten’s academic staff about the importance of digital technologies in children’s preschool development.
Image: classes in Tareke kindergarten, Narva (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
Image: programming classes in Tareke preschool, Narva (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
During the second part of the day, the project team participated in Preschool Education Conference at Narva College of the University of Tartu. The conference was dedicated to the use of digital technologies in outdoor learning in preschool.
Image: Preschool Education Conference at Narva College of the University of Tartu (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
Image: Preschool Education Conference at Narva College of the University of Tartu (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
Around 100 preschool teachers from Estonia joined the conference on the fourth day of the study visit. DigiKids partners from Germany, Slovenia, and Latvia shared their experience in the conference. CreaKids preschool education specialists Zane Rumberga Pliena and Liene Dumpe represented Latvia.
Image: CreaKids preschool teachers presenting at Preschool Education Conference at Narva College of the University of Tartu (photo by I.Margeviča-Grinberga)
During the first study visit of project, the representatives from the University of Latvia gained a comprehensive understanding of the digitalization of Estonian preschool education, preschool teacher education, outdoor learning, and technology enhanced bilingual preschool education.
The next study visit for the project participants is planned in October in Koper, Slovenia.