The Chair of Preschool Education and Methodology of the Faculty of Preschool Education organized a student conference on the occasion of International Children's Day. The
conference was entitled “Key Problems of Aesthetic Education of Preschool Children.”
In her opening remarks, Svetlana Marutyan, Head of the Chair, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, said although the Chair had been implementing a number of events since its formation, this one was unique since it was organized and presented by students.
Speaking about the activities of the Chair, Svetlana Marutyan said the professors of the Chair also deal with issues of aesthetic education, including music education of preschool children.
“The Chair always keeps issues of aesthetic education in the spotlight. As a result of our continuous work, we have developed practical and theoretical methods to be applied in preschool institutions,” said the head of the Chair.
In their reports, the students emphasized the role of music and computer games as important means to develop children’s creative skills and promote preschool education. They also attached importance to children's literature in the development of their aesthetic insight.
Based on the results of their trial period as well as theoretical knowledge, the participants highly appreciated the role and organization of aesthetic education in preschool institutions.
In addition to their reports, the students also presented their handicraft works during the conference. As the organizer of the conference, Associate Professor, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences Janna Khachatryan said, the handicraft works were related to all types of development processes, including cognition, learning, memory, concentration, perception, imagination and creativity.
“Children develop a sense of beauty and learn to differentiate between beautiful and ugly, harmonious and chaotic phenomena. All the above-mentioned values will be unaccomplished if educators fail to pay adequate attention to painting and make gross methodological errors during the formation of children's decorative crafts,” she said.
Lusine Poghosyan, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Preschool Education, also highlighted the role of aesthetic education. "It is the duty of each educator to help children develop their aesthetic perception and taste, world outlook, sense of beauty and manage their feelings. Similar events will contribute in future to the establishment of students as educators and improve the quality of their work. They help us reveal students’ scientific potential and their abilities,” she stressed.
The choir of the Faculty and children of five kindergartens of Yerevan’s Kentron community performed during the intervals. The event was attended by professors and students of the Faculty, heads and children of the aforesaid kindergartens where the students underwent their practical training.
