In short
ProuD! explores how pedagogical documentation – images, notes and drawings capturing young children’s play and learning – can act as a lever for professional growth. In collaboration with childcare organisations and preschools in Flanders and Finland, a hands-on support tool was developed. This tool helps childcare workers and preschool teachers working with children aged 0 to 6 to engage purposefully with pedagogical documentation, with a strong focus on collegial dialogue and enhanced pedagogical practices.
Need and relevance
Pedagogical documentation is more than a record of children's activities. It can be a powerful tool to spark reflection, initiate meaningful conversations between colleagues and strengthen pride in one’s own practice. However, professionals often lack the methods to fully harness its potential. ProuD! addresses this need.
From approach to impact
The design-based research followed three phases and was guided by three key questions:
- How do professionals use pedagogical documentation in their professional development?
- Which methods support reflective, collegial learning based on pedagogical documentation?
- What can we learn from each other’s documentation, also internationally?
The result is an accessible support tool that fosters reflective and collegial learning through pedagogical documentation, with a clear focus on professional growth. The project contributes to inspiring and sustainable professional development in early childhood education and care.
Partners
This research was done in collaboration with the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Helsinki, Finland).
Onderzoeksrealisaties en -publicaties
Proud Toolbox
Our toolbox helps you exchange ideas with colleagues based on pedagogical documentation. A few rules clarify the approach.
Download the toolbox and gamerules
Objective
To support reflective, collegial learning based on pedagogical documentation, with a focus on professional growth.
Participants
- One or more organisations in the field of childcare or preschool education
- At least two colleagues who are willing to exchange documentation and insights using the ProuD! approach
- A pedagogical coach, educational support staff member or school leader
What is pedagogical documentation?
Pedagogical documentation refers to illustrations of children's learning, collected in the form of visible traces such as photos, audio or video recordings, children’s statements, written observations and children's creations (Malavasi & Zoccatelli, 2013).
Strengths
- A systematic, step-by-step approach
- Better understanding of yourself and your colleague
- Learning and reflecting together
- Growing professionally and sharing that growth
- Making your practice visible and stronger
Article Early Childhood Development and Care
The professional actuation of pedagogical documentation in Belgian and Finnish early childhood education settings.
ProuD! abstract
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