Mitä erityisopettajien koulutuksissa opetetaan? – Havaintoja yliopistojen ja ammatillisten opettajakorkeakoulujen opetussuunnitelmista

Authors

• Marjatta Takala
• Maija Mäkinen
• Seija Eskola
• Minna Saarinen
• Katja Sutela

Keywords:

special teacher education, university, university of applied sciences, curriculum

Abstract

The curricula for special teacher education at universities and at universities of applied sciences was studied. Core categories were searched and compared. Universities educate special teachers for kindergartens, schools, and higher secondary education as well as to vocational education. Universities of applied sciences educate special teachers for vocational education and for working life. Both institutes base their studies on strong special educational knowledge and skills. Universities emphasize research-based education. Their curriculum included a lot of information about learning difficulties, which was not so obvious on headline level at universities of applied sciences. Practical exercises were relevant in both institutes, with goals for professional individual growth and applying skills and knowledge learned. At the heart of both curricula were interaction and network skills. This can be a sign of changes in teacher profession, from working alone to working together.