The Role of Placement and Practicum in the Professional Readiness of ECEC Educators Working with Infants and Toddlers

Autor/inn/en	Katsiada, Eleni; Hatzigianni, Maria; Sotiropoulou, Eleni
Titel	The Role of Placement and Practicum in the Professional Readiness of ECEC Educators Working with Infants and Toddlers
Quelle	In: Early Years: An International Journal of Research and Development, 43 (2023) 3, S.528-544 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Katsiada, Eleni) ORCID (Hatzigianni, Maria) ORCID (Sotiropoulou, Eleni)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0957-5146
DOI	10.1080/09575146.2023.2227782
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education; Infants; Toddlers; Student Placement; Practicums; Student Attitudes; Program Effectiveness; Early Childhood Teachers; Preschool Teachers; Undergraduate Students; Teacher Attitudes; Beginning Teachers; Satisfaction; Student Exchange Programs; Study Abroad; Greece + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Early childhood; Education; Frühkindliche Bildung; Frühpädagogik; Pre-school education; Vorschulerziehung; Infant; Toddler; Toddlers; Kleinkind; Infants; Schülerpraktikum; Practicum; Praktikum; Praktika; Schülerverhalten; Early childhood education; Teacher; Teachers; Frühe Kindheit; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Preschool education; Erzieher; Erzieherin; Kindergärtnerin; Vorschule; Lehrerverhalten; Junior teacher; Junglehrer; Zufriedenheit; Schüleraustausch; Studies abroad; Auslandsstudium; Griechenland
Abstract	This study took place in the University of West Attica, Department of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Greece, founded in 2018, which focuses on the learning, development and education of children under four years of age. Greece has a split early childhood education system, and there is minimal attention given to infant and toddler research. This study explored students' views before and after their final practicum through two online questionnaires to identify the effectiveness of the undergraduate programme of studies in preparing ECEC educators for their professional roles. The study also interviewed in-service educators in their first year of employment and graduates who have completed their practicum in a foreign country under the Erasmus+ programme. Findings revealed an overall satisfaction with the existing programme and the effectiveness of the final practicum. Students who completed an Erasmus+ practicum were particularly positive about their experience and the knowledge they acquired, and they encouraged more students to apply for the Erasmus+ mobility scheme. All participants provided useful insights and suggestions for further improving the programme, such as extending the placement and practicum. Implications for ECEC educators' education are discussed, along with recommendations for future research. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01