Interpretation, construction & practice of the concept of teaching : A qualitative study of the concept of teaching in preschools

The aim of this study is to examine the way preschool teachers relate to, and apply the concept of teaching in various aspects. Furthermore, this study has the purpose of portraying the constructions of the concept of teaching, that give meaning and a course of action in their goal-directed work. The following questions are the starting point for the study: How do preschool teachers interpret the concept of teaching in the preschools practice? How do preschool teachers construct the concept of teaching in their team of co-workers? In what ways is the concept of teaching expressed in projects on the preschools educational documentation (processvägg)? To conduct our study a qualitative research method is applied. We interviewed eight preschool teachers from six different preschools in Stockholm county with sound recording. Further we accumulated photos and notes of each preschools educational documentation. The theoretical framework includes an social constructivistic perspective along with the concepts of the impact of language as well as discourses power. The aim and questions of the study is answered through the appliance of the theoretical framework which is presented in the study’s result and analysis part. The main results of the study are presented in three main categories that present the conclusion that preschool teachers do not perceive the concept of teaching as unclear. However there are different interpretations and discourses that, in collaboration, can cause a difference in how teaching is constructed, practiced and expressed. The preschool teacher's responsibility and leadership is shown to have an impact on how the concept of teaching is constructed. The impact of construction is shown through the use of language and discourses power in their team of co-workers, from planning to expression in practice and in educational documentation