Semester 1, 2023 Online | |
Units : | 1 |
School or Department : | School of Education |
Grading basis : | Graded |
Course fee schedule : | /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules |
Staffing
Course Coordinator:
Requisites
Enrolment is not permitted in ECL1100 if EDX3270 has been previously completed.
Overview
Meaningful human interaction and successful participation in social life rely on a range of communicative skills typically developed during infancy and early childhood. The Australian Early Years Learning Framework recognises the importance of early childhood settings that build on children鈥檚 language and literacy knowledges, and acknowledges the significance of multiple forms of literacy to children鈥檚 successful learning across all curriculum areas. Early childhood educators therefore require knowledge of children鈥檚 pre-linguistic communication and oral language development. In order to create effective literacy learning environments, early childhood educators also require knowledge of the ways that children progress from pre- and emergent literacy to eventually become readers who can decode, interpret and produce written texts.
This course provides an introduction to theories of language development and learning. The course focuses specifically on children's language and literacy development in the years prior to schooling. Key aspects of pre-linguistic communication and oral language development in infancy and early childhood will be explored, including affective, embodied, linguistic, representational and intersubjective communication. The role of symbolic and imaginative play in young children's development of communicative skills, relational learning and meaning-making will be considered. The course will address the role of familial, cultural and educational contexts in providing a diverse range of language and literacy experiences in the early years. Pre-service educators will consider how the theories of language development and learning covered in the course inform pedagogic approaches to fostering young children's development of oral language and early literacy learning.
Course learning outcomes
The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course in accordance with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership鈥檚 (AITSL) Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). On successful completion of this course pre-service educators should be able to:
- apply knowledge and understanding of research and describe, observe and interpret pre-linguistic communication and oral language development in infants and young children (APST 1.2, 5.4);
- describe theories and research related to early literacy learning, and their implications for relevant pedagogic strategies (APTS 1.2, 2.5);
- describe specific forms of play, engaging activities and interactions that contribute to children鈥檚 oral language development, communicative repertoires and early literacy learning (APST 1.2, 2.5, 5.2);
- describe, observe and interpret the role of familial, cultural and educational contexts in providing literacy experiences for young children, and communicate information about children鈥檚 language and literacy learning to parents/carers (APST 3.7);
- describe pedagogic strategies and resources that can be used by educators and parents for fostering children鈥檚 language development and early literacy learning (APST 3.3, 3.7).
Topics
Description | Weighting(%) | |
---|---|---|
1. | Pre-linguistic communication and oral language development in infants and young children | 20.00 |
2. | Theories of language and literacy and their implications for pedagogies in early childhood education | 20.00 |
3. | Functions of play in language development, communication and literacy learning | 15.00 |
4. | Literacy learning through familial, educational and sociocultural contexts | 15.00 |
5. |
|
15.00 |
6. | Pedagogic strategies and resources that foster language development and early literacy learning | 15.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
Student workload expectations
To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.
Assessment details
Description | Group Assessment |
Weighting (%) | Course learning outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Essay | No | 40 | 1,2 |
Planning document | No | 20 | 1,2,3 |
Portfolio | No | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 |