Study Guide

Description

The competencies required of professional teachers are advanced specialist skills that combine in-depth knowledge of the profession and field with extensive pedagogical competence. The duties emphasise simultaneous independent, communal and networked work, research-based development of pedagogical solutions and learning environments, and analysis of complex social, pedagogical and field-specific phenomena as the premise of a teacher’s work. The education provides competencies for promoting sustainable education and learning.

Competence-oriented teacher education is based on recognising prior competencies of the student, developing necessary competencies and continuous assessment during the education process. The learning outcomes of the study units and the assessment criteria derived from them define the personal goals and learning activities of the students. The competencies of a student are built individually and in various ways. The key learning and assessment environments of professional teacher education are the working and operating environments of the students, as well as the instruction, guidance and digital resources provided by the teacher college. In addition to achieving the learning outcomes, the growth and development into a professional teacher involves reflecting on and building your own identity as a teacher, as well as finding potential for development and innovativeness.

Professional teacher education includes studies in education, professional pedagogy, teaching practice and other studies. The pedagogical model for the studies is inclusive pedagogy.Inclusive pedagogy emphasises the personal premises and goals of the student. The pedagogical methods used in professional teacher education allow for communal and cooperative studying in peer groups. In learning activities, the phenomena of teacher identity and learning are studied in a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional manner, and the students participate in the design of the learning activities.

Professional teacher education consists of multimodal studies: you can complete them primarily online and alongside work. You can complete the studies partially in English, and the teaching practice may take place in an international environment.

Professional teacher education provides a pedagogical qualification to act as a teacher in vocational upper secondary schools, universities of applied sciences, non-formal adult education and general education. Government Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences (1129/2014).

Completing the studies entitles the person to use the abbreviation AmO (ammatillinen opettaja, professional/vocational teacher) to signal their qualification.

Curriculum development and working life cooperation

Learning about pedagogical expertise emphasises extensive phenomena and themes arising from teaching work. These have been compiled into study modules and units in the curriculum. The focuses of the curriculum have been developed in cooperation with networks that involve the staff of vocational schools and universities of applied sciences, alumni of TAMK’s professional teacher studies, students and other stakeholders. In addition to this, the study modules and units involve research on vocational education and pedagogy, focus on the future and regulations that direct education.