A Comparison Study of Preparing Kindergarten Teachers in bachelor- level teacher education programs between Czech Republic and China: Focus on the Field of Kindergarten Arts Education

Mgr. Zhaohao NIAN, M.A.

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

Comparative research is not only about comparing the similarities and differences between two countries on a particular research topic, but also about trying to find better educational solutions through the results of the comparison between the two countries. This study attempts to provide a reference for the problems of arts education in Chinese kindergartens through a comparative study between the Czech Republic and China on this research topic.Since the researcher conducted field observations in several kindergartens in the Czech Republic, the researcher found that kindergarten teachers in the Czech Republic have the flexibility to carry out kindergarten activities without writing lesson plans. This is in stark contrast to the situation in China, and given that English, rather than Czech, was used during the collection of the research data in the Czech Republic, the researcher focused on the field of kindergarten arts education in kindergartens to facilitate further communication and exploration of the details of the process based on the artwork. Furthermore, based on the convenience of the researcher's current university in the Czech Republic, the researcher framed the study in relation to preparing kindergarten teachers in the bachelor-level kindergarten teacher education programs, the researcher found four potential key dimensions of the teacher education process: subject courses; professional guidance from teacher educators; field practice; and teachers' reflection. Based on these four dimensions, the researcher looked for details of the processes of university-trained kindergarten teachers (related the field of kindergarten arts education) in the two countries, using a variety of data collection methods such as textual analysis, participant observation and group interviews, combined with data processing software to analyse and summarise the data, and then compared the two countries to find similarities and differences. Finally, based on the differences in the comparative study, the researcher provides reflective answers to the educational questions identified and gives reflected conclusions. It is worth mentioning that through the comparative study between the Czech Republic and China under the theme of this study, the researcher gives advice to the teacher education institutions in Chinese universities and kindergartens: observe and discover the artistic elements in surrounding objects in the current environment, and then on this basis inspire the student teachers/children to create their own personal style in the arts field; guide the educational aim is to help children to express themselves through artistic elements, not as an end in itself but as a tool; to guide teaching objects in their surrounding environment, to inspire them to think about potential themes and to personalise their teaching, etc.

Abstract:

Comparative research is not only about comparing the similarities and differences between two countries on a particular research topic, but also about trying to find better educational solutions through the results of the comparison between the two countries. This study attempts to provide a reference for the problems of arts education in Chinese kindergartens through a comparative study between the Czech Republic and China on this research topic.Since the researcher conducted field observations in several kindergartens in the Czech Republic, the researcher found that kindergarten teachers in the Czech Republic have the flexibility to carry out kindergarten activities without writing lesson plans. This is in stark contrast to the situation in China, and given that English, rather than Czech, was used during the collection of the research data in the Czech Republic, the researcher focused on the field of kindergarten arts education in kindergartens to facilitate further communication and exploration of the details of the process based on the artwork. Furthermore, based on the convenience of the researcher's current university in the Czech Republic, the researcher framed the study in relation to preparing kindergarten teachers in the bachelor-level kindergarten teacher education programs, the researcher found four potential key dimensions of the teacher education process: subject courses; professional guidance from teacher educators; field practice; and teachers' reflection. Based on these four dimensions, the researcher looked for details of the processes of university-trained kindergarten teachers (related the field of kindergarten arts education) in the two countries, using a variety of data collection methods such as textual analysis, participant observation and group interviews, combined with data processing software to analyse and summarise the data, and then compared the two countries to find similarities and differences. Finally, based on the differences in the comparative study, the researcher provides reflective answers to the educational questions identified and gives reflected conclusions. It is worth mentioning that through the comparative study between the Czech Republic and China under the theme of this study, the researcher gives advice to the teacher education institutions in Chinese universities and kindergartens: observe and discover the artistic elements in surrounding objects in the current environment, and then on this basis inspire the student teachers/children to create their own personal style in the arts field; guide the educational aim is to help children to express themselves through artistic elements, not as an end in itself but as a tool; to guide teaching objects in their surrounding environment, to inspire them to think about potential themes and to personalise their teaching, etc.

Keywords

Comparative research, kindergarten teachers education, kindergarten arts education.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 1. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Štefan Chudý, Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Education

Doctoral programme / field:
Education / Education