Course specification for EDU8007

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EDU8007 Developing Matters in Early Childhood Education

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Develop Matter Early Child Ed
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts
School or Department : School of Education
Student contribution band : National Priority - Teaching
ASCED code : 070101 - Teacher Education: Early Child
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Rationale

Critical evaluation of developing practices and emerging trends is an essential skill for leaders in early childhood. Early childhood professionals are challenged to address constant demands for change, development and to respond to emerging issues at local as well as international levels. Awareness of theoretical shifts and changes in philosophical orientations need to be interrogated in relation to current research. The opportunity to explore and critically evaluate widely accepted practices and emerging trends is an essential feature of the continued development of an educator. This course provides such an opportunity for early childhood educators.

Synopsis

The course explores current international, national and local issues related to many facets of the care and education of young children. Students will be encouraged to identify emerging trends and relate then to philosophical and theoretical perspectives and to consider the implications for the broader socio political and educational context, as well as explore in depth specifically relevant issues pertinent to the students own field of education.

Objectives

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. identify current local, national, international issues and trends in the education and care of young children (Essay; Independent Literature Review);
  2. evaluate critically the social, educational, political and economic bases of current issues and trends in early childhood education (Essay; Independent Literature Review);
  3. review and critique practices in light of emerging issues (Essay; Independent Literature Review);
  4. articulate contemporary positions as an informed leader and advocate in early childhood (Essay; Independent Literature Review);
  5. reflect on professional and ethical dimensions of early childhood education (Essay; Independent Literature Review);
  6. use written communication effectively and appropriately (Essay; Independent Literature Review);
  7. demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing (Essay; Independent Literature Review).

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Global change, image of childhood and their impact on early childhood 12.50
2. Theoretical and pedagogical shifts in curriculum 15.00
3. The impact of technology and the media on early childhood 12.50
4. Ethics, equity and professionalism in early childhood 15.00
5. Partnerships with families and partnerships in education 12.50
6. Quality assurance and accountability 12.50
7. The process of identifying and reflecting on trends 20.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=EDU8007)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

There is no prescribed text for this course.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Anning, A, Cullen, J & Fleer, M 2008, Early childhood education, society and culture, 2nd edn, Sage Publications, London.
Decker, CA, Decker, JR, Freeman, N & Knopf, H 2016, Planning and administering early childhood programs, 11th edn, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Ebbeck, M & Waniganiyake, M 2003, Early childhood professionals: leading today and tomorrow, McLennan & Petty, Eastgardens, New South Wales.
MacNaughton, G 2003, Shaping early childhood: learners, curriculum and contexts, Open ¾«¶«´«Ã½app, Berkshire, UK.
Swiniarski, LB & Breitorbe, M 2003, Educating the global village including the child in the world, Merrill Prentice Hall, Upper Sadde River, New Jersey.
Waniganayake M, Cheeseman, S, Fenech, M, Hadley, F & Shepherd, W 2017, Leadership: contexts and complexities in early childhood education, 2nd edn, Oxford ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Press, South Melbourne, Victoria.
Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information .

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 80.00
Independent ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 85.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1 40 40 01 Apr 2020
ASSIGNMENT 2 60 60 11 May 2020

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to participate appropriately in all activities including discussion fora scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Not applicable.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. APA style is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use APA style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The APA style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide at .

Other requirements

  1. Successful completion of this course requires experience in, and access to early educational settings.

Date printed 19 June 2020