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Unit of study_

EDMT5687: Language and Communication in EC

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The ability to communicate in different contexts and for different purposes is central to children's life chances. This unit enables students to develop understandings of young children's communication development, as they 'learn how to mean' in the early years. The unit provides theoretical and practical knowledge on guiding young children's learning of language and emergent literacy. Students will learn to listen and analyse young children's language and understand implications for development. They will also explore the centrality of quality literature and language arts experiences to emergent literacy, and the importance of partnerships with families.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EDMT5687
Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
EDMT5550
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Amanda Niland, amanda.niland@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Amanda Niland, amanda.niland@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Book selection and sharing
Reading aloud to a group and brief written rationale
0% Week 06 5-6 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO4
Assignment hurdle task Essay
Full details in Canvas
0% Week 07 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO9 LO10
Assignment hurdle task Children's literature portfolio
Full details in Canvas
0% Week 13 1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment hurdle task Curriculum planning from case study
n/a
0% Week 13 700 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO8
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Book selection and sharing: In-class book sharing and discussion. A written submission of the rationale should be made on Canvas. This assignment is a formative assessment task that will help with the development of your children's literature portfolio for Assignment 3. 
  • Essay: The focus of this essay is on the importance of language interactions in the context of relationships with close adults in facilitating young children's language development, and the role that early childhood teachers can play in this process.
  • Children's literature portfolio: You will select picture books and poems that you consider to be of high quality, to share with young children (following recommendations and including the book used for assignment 1), as the beginning of a portfolio of quality children's literature resources for children aged from birth to 5 years. 
  • Curriculum planning from case study: A planning web  based on a case scenario  and related to exploration of a picture book from your children's literature portfolio.

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Brief introduction to the unit; 2. Language development - learning how to mean - part 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO10
Week 02 Learning how to mean, part 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO10
Week 03 The role of play in supporting language and communication development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 04 Picture books for early literacy development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 05 1. Sharing books with young children and the magic of picture books Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO9
Week 06 Talking to learn - the importance of language skills for children's development and learning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 07 Learning to read, more than letters - Expanding our understandings of literacy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9
Week 08 Storying Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO8
Week 09 Diversity, language and literacy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO9
Week 10 Children's author Lesley Gibbes in conversation with Amanda Niland Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Young children's diverse forms of meaning-making and emergent literacy, including the use of technology Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 12 Q and A, putting it all together Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library Reading List link available on Canvas.

Textbook: Ewing, R., Callow, J. & Rushton, K. (2016). Language and literacy development in early childhood. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

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.

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

  • LO1. articulate the nature of language learning as a social practice in relation to the development, personal strengths and interests of individual children, including the role of parents/caregivers’ language and literacies in children’s language development
  • LO2. explain the relationship between play and language development
  • LO3. identify relevant theories about language learning and meaning-making
  • LO4. explain the centrality of language in all learning and the implications for their role as early childhood teachers
  • LO5. discuss the relationship between spoken, written and visual language
  • LO6. articulate the important role quality rhymes, poems, songs and children’s literature play in the lives of young children
  • LO7. develop criteria for selecting rich authentic rhymes, picture books, fairy tales and poetry to share with young children
  • LO8. apply a variety of language arts activities in their teaching practice
  • LO9. explain the importance of working in partnership with families for young children’s language and emergent literacy development
  • LO10. begin to observe, listen to and assess young children’s language development in birth to five settings within a developing knowledge base of typical language development for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         
LO6         
LO7         
LO8         
LO9         
LO10         
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1 A T Learning, development and care
1.2 A T Language development
1.3 T Social and emotional development
1.4 A Child health, well-being and safety
1.6 A T Diversity, difference and inclusivity.
2.1 T Alternative pedagogies and curriculum approaches.
2.2 A T Play based pedagogies
2.3 T Guiding behaviour / engaging young learners
2.4 T A Teaching methods and strategies
2.5 A T Children with diverse needs and backgrounds
2.6 A T Working with children who speak languages other than, or in addition to, English.
3.1 A T Early Years Learning Framework
3.4 T A Language and literacy
3.7 T Creative arts and music
3.9 A T Curriculum planning, programming and evaluation
4.1 A T Developing family and community partnerships
4.4 A T Socially inclusive practice
4.5 A Culture, diversity and inclusion
6.3 T A Professional identity and development

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

No changes

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

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.