Primary teacher education

By using as a problematic reference two essays by John Dewey, “Unity of science as a social problem” and “Experience and education,” the course intends to examine the characteristics, methods and intervention areas of experimental research in educational sciences and the possibility to use the results in taking decisions of educational policy. They will be examined the epistemological and methodological problems taking place on field research within the educational sciences, paying a special attention to the research on efficacy of educational systems in conveying linguistic abilities. At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge concerning the main themes of pedagogy and will be able to know and understand general themes and issues related to educational sciences study areas. They will have also acquired knowledge connected to the use of tools for observation and collection of data, especially in contexts of primary and pre-primary school. Students will acquire knowledge concerning the use of research and analysis methods, with a special reference to the population on children in primary and pre-primary school (Knowledge and understanding). By attending the course of Experimental Pedagogy, students will reach the ability of applying the acquired knowledge and skills, so to be able to plan and carry out little experimental researches, and to build, validate and use evaluation and observation tools, especially those intended to children in primary and pre-primary school. They will be also able to present the data collected so as they are accessible even to non-expert readers (Applying knowledge and understanding). At the end of the course, students will know how to interpret information and reflect on issues connected to the study area, proving to have acquired a scientific attitude and to have critical and auto-critical skill. They will have specifically reached a special attention to critical analysis in the context of primary and pre-primary school (Making judgements). By activities of study and reflection on themes of pedagogy, tool analysis, communication models and modalities, and diffusion of results, students will develop instrumental skills (writing, speaking, computing) so to promote the ability of engaging with others, identifying with one's working role and work as a group (Communication skills). Another and more general outcome expected at the end of the course is the skill of learning or acquiring the needed abilities to start further studies with a high level of autonomy, to integrate in the world of work and to be an active part of society (Learning skills).