In this master's thesis, we focus on the puppet as a teaching method at the primary school level, from grades 1 to 5. Based on theoretical foundations and teachers' perspectives and experiences, the main purpose of the research was to demonstrate how puppets can be used to move from the traditional way of teaching to a more fun and creative way of learning and teaching...
The use of puppets in education offers numerous advantages. They can serve as a motivational tool, encourage creativity, help children to overcome fears, encourage communication, abstract thinking, etc. Crucially, puppets place children in the role of active creators (Korošec, 2002). When using puppets, the teacher is put to the background as the puppet assumes the authority, but children can trust it more than the teacher (Majaron, 2002).
In the empirical part of the thesis, we studied the use of puppets as a teaching method among primary school teachers. We were interested in how often, in what ways, and in which subjects teachers most frequently use puppets, as well as their attitudes towards them. We also sought to understand why teachers do not use puppets more frequently. Additionally, we examined how students respond to puppets in different grades. We wanted to see if they would accept them with equal enthusiasm in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades of primary school. At the same time we wanted to demonstrate that puppets can be used in any subject at the primary school level.
We established that puppets are used as a teaching method, but only rarely, with most teachers using them only a few times a year. Teachers who do use puppets highlighted that they help motivate students. Puppets are most frequently used in teaching the Slovenian language. By implementing three lessons in three age-different classes (1st, 3rd, and 5th), we found that puppets engaged students in all three grades.
We used descriptive and causal non-experimental methods of pedagogical research, as well as quantitative and qualitative research approaches.
We collected the opinions and experiences of Slovenian teachers regarding the use of puppets in teaching by use of a questionnaire. The students' response to the puppet was examined by conducting three lessons in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade in different subjects. After each lesson, we distributed a short questionnaire to the students, using a five-point Likert scale. After the lesson, the teachers answered a structured interview.
|