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Unit of study_

EDMT5705: Foundation Studies in ECE

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides students with an introduction to early childhood education in contemporary Australia. Students will critically examine historical, theoretical, professional, ethical and social justice underpinnings of early childhood education policy and practice.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EDMT5705
Academic unit Education
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Marianne Fenech, marianne.fenech@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Wilma Murdoch, wilma.murdoch@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small test hurdle task Journal reflections on professional development
3 x personal reflections on readings written in class during tutorials
20% Multiple weeks 1000 words total
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Essay & Reflection - critiquing images of children and childhoods
n/a
40% Week 09
Due date: 25 Apr 2024 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO7
Assignment hurdle task Limited time, open book text in class
Limited time, open book test.
40% Week 13
Due date: 22 May 2024 at 10:00
2000wd equivalent.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Essay - critiquing images of children and childhoods: Reflect on images of young children and childhood, and research the notion of 'images of children in early childhood education' 
  • Journal - reflections on professional development: Submit three journal entries in response to set readings.
  • Open book: Short answer questions designed to assess students’ understanding of unit content and how it can be applied in practice.
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).

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the unit Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 1. Building academic skills through an exploration of images of children and childhood; 2. Researching, evaluating databases, critiquing sources Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO6 LO7
Week 03 Academic and reflecting writing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO7
Week 04 Academic honesty and referencing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO7
Week 05 Understanding of practices in early childhood education: an historical overview Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2
Week 06 Introducing: the National Quality Framework (NQF) and Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 07 Theoretical approaches to early childhood education Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4
Week 08 Partnerships with families and communities Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4
Week 09 Early childhood education as ethical practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 10 Early childhood teaching as the pursuit of social justice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 11 Teacher professionalism in early childhood education Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO5
Week 12 1. Bringing the unit content together; 2. Completion of unit evaluations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO5

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 eReserve link available on Canvas.

Required textbook: Grellier, J. & Goerke, V. (2018). Communications toolkit. (4th ed.). South Melbourne: Thomson.

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 importance of quality early childhood education for young children, and the role early childhood teachers play in providing quality early learning programs
  • LO2. critically analyse the historical and contemporary provisioning of early childhood education in Australia
  • LO3. recall and apply key ethical and regulatory accountabilities early childhood teachers are required to meet in their everyday practice
  • LO4. demonstrate multiple theoretical, partnership and social justice approaches to early childhood education
  • LO5. critique dominant constructions of teacher-professionalism as you begin to develop a professional identity and philosophy
  • LO6. articulate multiple constructions of children and childhood and critically consider the implications of these for professional practice
  • LO7. meet the expectations of academic study, including appropriate referencing, in the context of the discipline of early childhood education.

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

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

No changes made to content. Assessment tasks modified to be explained more clearly.

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.

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