Competence Development in Early Childhood Education: Task-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning in Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republi

Abstract

The paper focuses on the development of teachers’ competences in pre-primary education in Task-based Learning (TBL) and Project-based Learning (PBL). It presents the objectives and first results of the Learning by Doing – Attainment of Basic Competences in ECEC project supported by the ERASMUS+ Programme. The project aims to support the theoretical basis of TBL and PBL and their implementation in pre-schools in Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The paper presents theoretical backgrounds and the analysis of data obtained in the pilot, which focused on pre-school teachers’ existing experience in TBL and PBL. The study shows that verbal and demonstration methods still predominate in the practice of teachers from the research sample. The PBL method was mostly used by Slovenian teachers, and many respondents showed a misunderstanding of the basis of both methods and their use. Some of the obstacles mentioned were the insufficient expertise of teachers, size and diversity of the classes, material conditions, and lack of time.