Outline

Overview

Students conduct observations and prescribed activities in a preschool, long day care centre or kindergarten with children between 1 and 6 years as well as professional interactions with staff. Students will acquire knowledge of the functions and routines in an early educational setting, develop professional communication skills and confidence in working with other professionals, understand how language is used and targeted as a part of the curriculum in preschool settings, develop skills in carrying out language stimulation activities with preschool age children, and relate observations to relevant theory and research.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	CSCD3091
Academic unit	Communication Sciences
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	CSCD1032 and CSCD1034
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Isabelle Boisvert, isabelle.boisvert@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Orientation and class attendance Orientation and attendance	0%	Multiple weeks	6 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Required paperwork Paperwork to be submitted	0%	Multiple weeks	Professional agreements and checklists
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Language activity plans Requirements to be discussed in class	0%	Week 04	4 language development activity plans
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	Preschool visits and conduct of language activity plans Professional experience where students will lead activities with children	0%	Week 10	12 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reflection Reflection	0%	Week 12	1000 words - Guidance provided in class
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Multimedia presentation Requirements provided in class	0%	Week 13	5 minutes multimedia presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Coaching plan Coaching plan	0%	Week 13	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Orientation and class attendance: Orientation activities help students prepare theoretically, emotionally and practically for their fieldwork experience.
Language activity plans: Students are required to plan four language enrichment activities with preschool-aged children, using an evidence-based language and emergent literacy program. The plans should focus on how to manage the behaviour and support attention for the small group of preschool children.
Preschool activities: Students will observe preschool sessions, and develop and conduct language development and emergent literacy activities with children. Specific requirements will be provided in class. Adaptations will be provided to meet COVID-safe regulations.
Reflection: Students will reflect on their own development and delivery of the language and emergent literacy program. This should include a summary of their learning in carrying out the task, with reference to theory discussed in class and in previous units of study.
Coaching plan: Students will choose a skill area for either interaction, communication or literacy, relevant to preschool children and their teachers. Using the principles of adult learning and coaching, students will develop a written coaching plan and a multimedia presentation around how you would support early childhood educators’ confidence in using these skills.
Fieldtrip unit paperwork:
Students are required to submit the following paperwork to pass this unit:

- Professional Behaviour Checklist

- Student Preschool Learning Agreement

- Fieldwork Placement Evaluation

You must complete all the assessment tasks to pass the entire unit. Failure to complete any assessment item will result in you being awarded a Fail grade, regardless of your cumulative marks in the unit of study. Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Preschool visits and activities	Field trip (12 hr)
Week 01	Unit of Study Orientation	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Class 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Class 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Class 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Class 4	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Class 5: Review and coaching plan development	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: This unit of study focuses on professional practice and consists of developing language-development activities that can be presented to preschool children. Classes will help you prepare for your preschool visits. Students are expected to attend and participate in preschool sessions. Specific requirements will be discussed in class during the orientation session. If you cannot attend on any occasion, you must agree on an alternative time with the lecturer or request a special consideration to the coordinator within three days.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Will be available on the Canvas site.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate professional behaviour and skills as demonstrated on the professional behaviours checklist in community contexts
LO2. explain how language is used and targeted as part of curriculum in a preschool setting
LO3. relate observations to relevant theory and lecture material
LO4. plan and conduct language enrichment activities for groups of preschool children and learn how to observe and interpret behaviour in order to choose an appropriate behaviour management strategy for a group of children
LO5. use professional verbal and written communication skills with children, carers, peers and other professionals
LO6. describe and explain rationales for language-based preschool activities
LO7. use technology to locate information and evidence to support rationales for language-based preschool activities
LO8. develop a coaching plan for educators of preschoolers, based on one of the identified skills and behaviours of early childhood workers which are effective in enhancing communication skills and literacy in young children
LO9. deliver culturally appropriate language-based preschool activities for clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with consideration for the individual, family and community
LO10. identify skills and behaviours of early childhood workers which are effective in enhancing communication and literacy skills of young children
LO11. interpret peers’, children’s, other professionals’ as well as your own behaviour via reflection
LO12. observe how and where opportunities may arise for speech-language/hearing or other allied health professionals to advocate for clients and their families within community settings.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Due to Covid-related restrictions, preschool activities have been replaced with telepractice activities for this semester, using Playroom@USYD.

Additional information

Because of the adaptations required with the ongoing pandemic, discrepancies may be found between the information here and the information available in the course handbook.

More information related to this unit will be provided in class.

Work, health and safety

Students must hold a current CPR certificate
Students must complete a Police Check https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/criminal_history_check
Students must obtain a current Working with Children Check before they can enrol in this unit.
Attendance at Fieldwork orientation is compulsory.
Students must advise the Unit Coordinator before enrolling in this unit of study if they are a prohibited person under the NSW Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CSCD3091: Fieldwork

Semester 2, 2021 [Professional practice] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect