TITLE:
What Students Learn about Recognizing Children’s Capability
AUTHORS:
Mag Alina Georgeta
KEYWORDS:
Children’s Capability, Rights’ Perspectives, Challenges, Contemporary Research, Curricula for Training Teachers
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.9 No.15,
November
14,
2018
ABSTRACT: Recognition of the role and contribution to children’s learning and development of those who are trained to work in the early years is long overdue and welcomed, although the contentiousnessand questions of how to prepare students still need to be addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate what disciplines from the curricula of the Teacher Training Department, inside “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu allowstudents to identify the effective ways of recognizing children’s capabilities. The methods used were interview, observation and focus groups. 20 teachers and 50 students were engaged with this challenging work. The qualitative analyses of the data collected proved that this topic is mainly mentioned, but not enough trained. Findings revealed that curricula need serious improvements topreparestudentsto meet the needs of children. The focus groups organized allowteachers and students involved to reflect on their own ideas, experiences and ways of practicing. The study offered opportunities to reflect on new ways of teaching and learning, tosupport students with a curriculum that highlights children’ rights and capabilities.