Αρχική

I welcome you to the Department of Early Childhood Education of the academic year 2020-2021. The Department with all its memebers has a dynamic development path that we co-shape with the main goal of student-centered learning.

As part of your studies, you will participate in an Undergraduate Program with four courses, and as graduates you will have the opportunity to study in two Postgraduate Programs and continue, if you wish, in doctoral studies. In addition to the Curriculum, you can participate in training activities, summer and winter schools, research programs, conferences, international mobility partnerships and internships. Overall, you are integrated and shaped into a becoming the modern educator who is capable of both research and teaching.

The sciences of Education and Kindergarten school are important fields for childrens’ education and the future of the country. We hope for a fruitful interaction in the learning community so that through the participation in the activities of the Department, you, the future pre-primary teachers, feel able to act for your noble ideals in theory and in practice.

Curricula are subject to a dynamic review process. We are waiting for your suggestions, as we believe that the joy of achieving your own efforts is a collective process that concerns, without any exception all members of the Department including students, graduates of all categories, faculty, special laboratory teaching staff (E.DI.P. And Ε.Ε.P.) administrative and special technical laboratory staff (Ε.Τ.Ε.P.).

I wish you a Happy Academic Year and a beautiful journey of knowledge and life.

The Head of the Department
Katerina Plakitsi
Professor

President

Plakitsi Katerina, Full Professor

Katerina Plakitsi is a Professor of Science Education and President of the Department of Early Childhood Education, School of Education of the University of Ioannina.

She is President of the International Society of Cultural-historical Activity Research (https://www.iscar.org/, http://iscar2019.conf.uoi.gr) and founding member of the ISCAR – STEM thematic unit. She has studied Physics and Pedagogy with main research interests: concepts and theories of Science Education, informal forms of education in science education activities for the environment and sustainable development.

She has authored Science Education Curricula, textbooks, books on science education, articles in international journals and publishes the magazine Science Education: Research and Practice. She is scientifically responsible for European programs (www.epoque-project.eu, http://bdfprojects.wixsite.com/mindset, Capacity Building for higher Education Europe – Asia/21st Cenrury Teaching skills), in Interreg Cross-border Cooperation Programs (Greece-Albania: SOLIS) and has founded the international research team @formal and informal science education (@fise group).

She is the Director of the Laboratory of the Department of Early Childhood Education for Science Education and Sustainability Education. She is the Director of the Interdepartmental Program of Postgraduate Studies entitled: Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability, in collaboration with the following Departments of the University of Ioannina: a) Department of Early Childhood Education (accelerated Department), b) Faulty of Medicine and c) Department of Biological Applications & Technology.

Department

HISTORY

The first University Education Departments were established by law 1268/82, par. 46, in the Universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Ioannina, Thrace and Crete. However, their organization and operation began gradually, beginning in 1984-85. The Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina started operating in the academic year 1987-88 and its first students graduated in 1991-92.

MISSION

The organization and operation of the Pedagogical Departments is governed by the PD. The Pedagogical Departments, in particular, under article 1 par. 2 of Law 1268/82 have as their mission:

To cultivate and promote Pedagogical Sciences through academic and applied teaching and research.
To provide their graduates with the necessary equipment to ensure that they are well trained for their scientific and professional careers.
To help raise the level and meet the increasing needs of Education in pedagogy issues.
Contribute to the treatment and resolution of pedagogical problems in general (Article 2 of Presidential Decree 320/83).

Since 4/11/93 the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina (WTN) has gained autonomy.

The academic year 1996-97, the School of Education of the University of Ioannina was founded, where it joined the Pedagogical Department (NTU) and the Department of Primary Education (NTUA).