EDET561 - Effective Teaching 1: Early Years Learning and Pedagogies: Play-Based Curriculum and Assessment

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

EDET501 Effective Teaching 1: Promoting Positive Learner Engagement

Unit rationale, description and aim

Includes: 20-days placement with children aged 3 to 5 years

Play-based pedagogy has a long history within the early childhood education and care sector and is recognised as a complex learning activity and pedagogy that actively engages children and gives them agency in their own learning.

In this unit, pre-service teachers will engage with a range of appropriate pedagogical practices and develop their understanding of 21st century approaches to learning and the role of the teacher as active, intentional facilitator and provocateur. Play-based learning and inquiry experiences will be critically considered from multiple perspectives including the broader ecological, social and cultural contexts of learning and teaching; the diversity of experiences; the relationships that shape young children’s lives, and the nature and needs of young learners. The principles and perspectives underpinning contemporary curriculum will be examined, with particular attention given to relevant and current curriculum documents. Pre-service teachers will be introduced to a range of teaching approaches and strategies that effectively facilitate young children’s learning and transitions, with particular attention given to play-based learning across disciplines and age-levels. Appropriate assessment techniques including types and functions, documentation and reporting, that enhance planning for learning and engagement of children and families in this learning will be considered in this unit.

The aim of this unit is to develop pre-service teachers’ understanding of contemporary learning and pedagogical practices in the early years and the applicability of early years pedagogies across both prior-to-school and primary school contexts.

This aim will be achieved through the inclusion of professional experience at an early childhood centre where pre-service teachers will examine the nexus between theory and practice in the centre context. The supervised and assessed placement will consist of 20 days in an early childhood setting for children aged 3 to 5 years.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Articulate a professional philosophy for education that embodies cultural-historical and other contemporary teaching approaches to early learning including theories of play, demonstrates an awareness of equity, social justice and respect for diverse human experiences in safe and supportive learning environments (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9; APST 1.2, 1.3, 4.4, 7.1, 7.2; ACECQA C1, C2, C7, F3)

LO2 - Analyse research, major theories, policies and relevant curriculum documents to select effective teaching methods, communication strategies, manage learning environments and challenging behaviour, and resources (including ICT) which facilitate inclusive, engaging learning experiences including play-based learning for diverse young learners (GA4, GA5, GA8; APST 1.2, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4; ACECQA B1, B9, C1, C2, C3, E1, E2, E3)

LO3 - Create learning experiences (including play-based) that support children’s learning and development across a range of contexts, curriculum disciplines and age levels and can effectively support children’s wellbeing as they transition from prior-to-school to school contexts (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9; APST 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5; ACECQA A4, A6, A7, B1, B9, C1, C2, D4)

LO4 - Demonstrate knowledge of and purpose for a range of appropriate assessment techniques, including effective documentation and reporting, that enhance planning for learning and engagement of children and working with their parents/families/carers sensitively and confidentially (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9; APST 2.3, 3.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 7.3; ACECQA B1, B9, C1, C2, C4, D1)

LO5 - Apply professional communication skills and a range of teaching resources and strategies, reflect critically upon teaching practices in an early childhood context of the Professional Experience, and respond to feedback from colleagues and supervisors, as a means to develop and refine professional practice (GA5, GA7, GA8, GA9; APST 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2; ACECQA A3, A4, A6, B1, B9, C2, C3, C4)

Graduate attributes

GA4 - Think critically and reflectively

GA5 - Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - Locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information

GA9 - Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media

AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL

On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:

ACECQA Curriculum Specifications

On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should have developed the following specific knowledge:

Content

Topics will include:

• Philosophical and cultural-historical perspectives and theories informing contemporary learning and teaching practices, with a specific focus on the early years including images of children and childhood.
• Historical and contemporary definitions and types of play including consideration of cultural influences on understandings and pedagogical roles of teachers.
• The importance and potential of play in early childhood and school settings - connecting to curriculum (Early Years Learning Framework (ELYF) and integrating curriculum areas.
• Assessment and reporting/sharing practices in play-based pedagogies that recognise children’s diverse capacities from multiple standpoints.
• Documentation, assessment and reporting/sharing that makes children’s competence and learning visible to children, families, colleagues and other professionals in early childhood settings.
• Play and inquiry from multiple perspectives including Indigenous perspectives, gender and culture.
• Opportunities to address marginalisation through facilitation of intentional teaching strategies, manipulation of the environment and selection of resources.
• Brain development and Experiential Learning Theory.
• Considerations that facilitate engaged children’s play: human and physical environments and resources including teaching strategies and approaches.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit. Students should expect to participate in a range of the following: online engagement, lectures, tutorials, seminar presentations and group discussions, both online and face-to-face, self-directed study activities and assessment tasks. Some participation in appropriate educational settings may be required.

This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as reading, reflection, discussion, webinars, podcasts, videos etc.

Face-to-face/Online Learning support

Students enrolled in both face to face and online learning modes are required to regularly log into the Learning Management System to access recorded lectures and important announcements, to communicate with other students and lecturers, and to submit assessments and access feedback and grades. Students who are enrolled in either face to face or online learning will have equal access to support from the lecturer in charge and tutors.

Additional equipment requirements for online learning:

• Reliable broadband access is recommended.
• Headset with microphone to listen to podcasts, view videos and interact in synchronous classes.

ACU Online

This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: TEACHING REQUIREMENTS

This unit includes an early childhood workplace immersion experience where pre-service teachers will examine the nexus between theory and practice by knowing, doing and being in the context. The supervised and assessed placement will consist of 20 days, could be a maximum of 5 individual days and a minimum of a 15-day BLOCK, in an early childhood setting for children aged 3 to 5 years. The following engagements are recommended across the 20-day placement for early childhood settings.

Recommended progression of the early childhood workplace immersion experience.

Days 1 – 15 (Single days or incorporated into the block) - Proposed Teaching Expectations

Days 1-5

1. Orientation, observation and assisting the supervising teacher/s
2. Observation and assisting the supervising teacher/s, plus planning and implementation of two teaching episodes per day
3. Observation and active participation in small group teaching; assisting the Supervising Teacher in the teaching and learning process, plus managing context routines
4. Observation of teachers in the learning context, their teaching and practices, management of contexts and individuals
5. Observe communication skills that the Supervising Teacher uses with children/learners, parents and other staff
6. Critical reflection on pre-service teacher’s role in the early childhood education setting as participant, leader, team member, co-teacher/collaborator 

Block Practicum: Days 6-20

1. Structured observations and small group/team teaching
2. Plan/implement and assess a set of two, play-based, sequential learning experiences per day individually or with the other pre-service teacher (if in a paired placement)
3. Managing context routines or transitions connected to sequenced lesson/learning experience
4. Ongoing observation of teachers and other education stakeholders (e.g. transdisciplinary specialists, leadership teams, other teachers etc.) in the education setting, their teaching and practices, management of the learning environment and children
5. Continual self-reflection and evaluation

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures are designed to allow pre-service teachers to progressively demonstrate achievement of the unit learning outcomes and to develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. The units in this course focus on developing understanding of, and skills across the professional knowledge, practice and engagement domains needed to meet expectations of the APST: Graduate level, and ACECQA Curriculum Specifications.

There are four assessment tasks in this unit, including two hurdle requirements, all of which must be passed to pass the unit. Assessment tasks are sequenced to allow feedback and progressive development. Through completing Hurdle Requirement 1 pre-service teachers will demonstrate understanding of the legal and ethical expectations of teachers. In Assessment Task 1 pre-service teachers develop knowledge of historical and contemporary understandings of childhood learning and pedagogy to create a professional philosophy statement of pedagogy and learning for children. In Task 2 pre-service teachers apply this knowledge and understanding to design, implement and evaluate sequences of play-based learning experiences. The final hurdle requirement comprises successful completion of a 20-day professional experience placement in an early Childhood setting with children from 3 to 5 years. This placement facilitates connections between unit content and the ‘real world’ of learning and teaching, thereby preparing pre-service teachers for their role as teacher.

Minimum Achievement Standards

The assessment tasks and their weighting for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. In order to pass this unit, students are required to submit all assessment tasks, to meet the learning outcomes of the unit and achieve a minimum overall passing grade of 50%. In addition, Pre-service teachers must attain a Pass in the two hurdle tasks. These are the preparation for the Professional Experience Placement (PEP) and the Professional Experience Assessment (PEA).

Assessment in EDET561 includes two Critical Tasks: Assessment Task 1 – Critical Analysis of Literature; and Assessment Task 2 – Pedagogical Case Study. These tasks are core to the demonstration of a number of Australian Professional Teacher Standards.  Pre-service teachers must demonstrate mastery of every summative Graduate Teacher Standard identified and attain a score of at least 50% in Tasks 1 and 2 in order to pass this unit.

Electronic Submission, Marking and Return

Assessment task submission and return of marked assessment will be done through the Learning Management System. Tasks will be marked and returned three weeks after the assessment is completed.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Required text(s)

Australian Curriculum https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/.

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. Early Years Learning Framework https://www.acecqa.gov.au/acecqa-approved-learning-frameworks-version-2.0-communications-toolkit

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) www.acara.edu.au 

Recommended references

Cameron, M., McLachlan, C., Rawlins, P., & McLaughlin, T. (2018). Assessment of, as and for learning: The challenges of assessment terminology. Early Education. 64, 18-23.

Ebbeck, E., & Waniganayake, M. (Eds.). (2016). Play in early childhood education. Learning in diverse contexts (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Ewing, R., Kervin, L., Glass, C., Gobby, B., Le Cornu, R., & Groundwater-Smith, S. (2019). Teaching: Dilemmas, challenges and opportunities (6th ed.). Cengage Learning Australia.

Fleer, M. (2018). Intentional teaching of cultural competence in play-based settings: A cultural-historical view. A Research in Practice Series Title. Early Childhood Australia.

Fleer, M. (2018). Child development in educational settings. Cambridge University Press.

Fleer, M. (2017). Play in the early years (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Fleet, A., Patterson, C., & Robertson, J. (2017). Pedagogical documentation in early years practice seeing through multiple perspectives. Sage.

Fróes, I. (2019). Young children's play practices with digital tablets: Playful literacy. Emerald Publishing.

McLachlan, C., Fleer, M., & Edwards, S. (2018). Early childhood curriculum: Planning, assessment and implementation (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.