Trialog: Holistic educational documentation for Waldorf kindergartens

Testing the new procedure in 19 selected pilot institutions

Early childhood development takes place on the physical, mental, and emotional level and can often only be understood by adults through careful and continuous observation. In order to make the differently developing educational processes of children transparent, all daycare institutions are therefore legally required to provide documentation. Against this background, the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens in North Rhine-Westphalia initiated the development of an independent educational documentation system. It is based on Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophical view of humanity and the world and, beyond the scope prescribed in the educational plans, perceives the child holistically and throughout the entire preschool period.

The so-called Trialog procedure was developed by educational scientist and Waldorf educator Margarete Kaiser together with a working group established specifically for this purpose. In NRW, this instrument, tailored to the specific requirements of Waldorf kindergartens and crèches, has already proven successful. It is now to be tested nationwide and adapted to the respective legal frameworks. For this purpose, Trialog has also been in use in 13 additional federal states since spring 2021. Over a period of two years, the procedure is being applied in 19 pilot institutions in both urban and rural areas and evaluated in practice with regard to its strengths and weaknesses. On site, managers and educators are supported by Prof. Dr. Stefanie Greubel from Alanus University. The educational scientist, who holds a doctorate, is a professor at the Institute of Childhood Education in Alfter near Bonn and places great value on close collaboration with those responsible in the regions. In addition to personal visits to present and introduce the materials, the tasks of her three-person project team currently also include conducting surveys and supplementary workshops as well as expert interviews. Its work is supported and advised until its completion in March 2023 by an academic advisory board composed of members from four other German universities. “At present, at least with regard to the preliminary studies, there is still a very heterogeneous picture concerning the attitude toward and implementation of educational documentation in Waldorf institutions,” says Greubel. For the educational documentation to succeed sustainably, it is therefore important to offer those involved a well-tested and practice-oriented instrument that corresponds to their pedagogical guidelines and requirements and meets them where they currently are.

The nationwide project is funded, among others, by the Association of Waldorf Kindergartens as well as the Software AG – Foundation. Elke Rahmann, who works here as project manager in the field of early childhood education, emphasizes the special features of Trialog: “The children are perceived appreciatively and in detail in their uniqueness. At the same time, the documentation procedure requires educators to engage in comprehensive and structured reflection, a high degree of self-reflection, and the involvement of parents.” In this way, says the mother of two, the professional quality in the institutions is increased and the relationship between parents, child, and educators is strengthened in the long term.

The Institute of Childhood Education is part of the Department of Educational Sciences at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Alfter near Bonn. Under the direction of Professor Dr. Janne Fengler, students here are trained in small groups and in intensive dialogue with the teaching staff to become childhood educators with the degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Future experts for the age group from one to ten years can choose between full-time study (6 semesters) and a part-time model while working (5 semesters). The latter is aimed at state-recognized educators and professionals with comparable qualifications who wish to expand their existing skills in theory, research, and practice. Alongside other reform pedagogy concepts, Waldorf education is a focus of this practice-oriented degree program. Further information about the Department of Educational Sciences and upcoming events such as trial weeks for prospective students can be found here.

(Image: M. Kaiser)