Guest lecture with a practitioner: innovation in early childhood education

How can an ordinary pedagogical seminar be transformed into a space for creativity, professional growth, and new ideas? Master’s students specializing in A2 “Early Childhood Education” at the Faculty of Preschool, Special and Social Education explored this question during a guest lecture held on October 27, 2026.

The topic of the meeting, “Innovative Approaches to the Preschool Education Methodologist’s Work with Teaching Staff,” brought together university-based theory and the practical experience of early childhood education professionals.

The lecture was delivered and moderated by Nelia Skrypnyk, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor at the Department of Early Childhood Education. The invited speaker, Olena Miniaylo, a preschool methodologist at Preschool Education Institution No. 12 in Uman, shared her professional experience and insights with the students.

The meeting was accompanied by an informative multimedia presentation. Through practical examples, students had the opportunity to see how modern methodological approaches are implemented in real educational settings and to reflect on the role of the preschool methodologist in supporting the professional development of teaching staff.

The participants were particularly interested in the experience of organizing a seminar for educators entitled “Creating and Using a Book Trailer for a Fairy Tale.” This example demonstrated how the familiar world of fairy tales can become a source of creative ideas for professional collaboration among educators. After all, innovation in early childhood education is not only about introducing new tools but also about learning to look at familiar things from a new perspective, engaging colleagues, and inspiring them to experiment.

The participants highlighted the practical value of the meeting and the relevance of the topic. After all, high-quality preparation of future educators emerges where knowledge gained in university classrooms meets the experience of professionals who work in preschool education institutions every day.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Olena Miniaylo for sharing her professional experience and inspiring ideas, and to Ms. Skrypnyk for organizing such an informative and engaging meeting! We are convinced that professional dialogues of this kind help future specialists approach their chosen profession with greater confidence and discover new opportunities for the development of early childhood education.

And, of course, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Defenders of Ukraine for their courage and for making it possible to study, work, and build the future even in these challenging times.

Learning today — creating high-quality early childhood education for tomorrow!

Department of Early Childhood Education