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Unit outline_

EDEC1005: Introduction to EC Education

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides students with a critical introduction to early childhood education as a discipline and as a profession in contemporary Australia. Students will explore the historical and socio-political influences that have shaped the development and provision of early childhood education in Australia, and critically examine theoretical, ethical and social justice underpinnings of early childhood policy and practice. In addition to developing a foundational understanding of their role as a teacher of children aged birth to five years, students will explore how this role extends beyond the classroom, requiring the development of authentic, supportive partnerships with families and collaborations with community networks. Students will become familiar with legal and ethical accountabilities, and critically consider their own development as a professional early childhood teacher. Students' successful transition to university will also be supported through a focus on images of children and childhoods and associated academic literacy tasks.

Unit details and rules

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

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Marianne Fenech, marianne.fenech@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Fran Hughes, jean.hughes@sydney.edu.au
Wilma Murdoch, wilma.murdoch@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Essay - critiquing views of young children and early childhood
n/a
30% Mid-semester break 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO7
Assignment Professional development journal
n/a
30% Multiple weeks 1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
In-semester test Open book test
n/a
30% Week 14 (STUVAC) 1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
In-semester test Online Zoom test question
n/a
10% Week 14 (STUVAC) 5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Essay - critiquing views of young children and early childhood
  • Professional development journal
  • Open book test plus online zoom test question
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 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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 Unit introduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Academic skills 1: researching, database searching, and critiquing sources Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 03 Academic skills 2: academic and reflecting writing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Academic skills 3: academic honesty and referencing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO7
Week 05 A historical overview of early childhood education in Australia Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 The National Quality Framework Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 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) LO3 LO4
Week 09 Early childhood teaching as ethical practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 10 Early childhood teaching as the pursuit of social justice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 11 Teacher-professionalism in early childhood education Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO5
Week 12 1. Bringing the unit content together: Guest speaker 2. Completion of unit evaluations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

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). Communication skills toolkit: Unlocking the secrets of tertiary success. (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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
6.3. Professional identity and development
6.4. Advocacy
LO2
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
2.7. Contemporary society and pedagogy
5.2. Contemporary theories and practice
6.3. Professional identity and development
LO3
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
3.1. Early Years Learning Framework
5.3. Ethics and professional practice
LO4
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
2.7. Contemporary society and pedagogy
4.1. Developing family and community partnerships
5.2. Contemporary theories and practice
5.3. Ethics and professional practice
6.3. Professional identity and development
LO5
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
5.2. Contemporary theories and practice
5.3. Ethics and professional practice
6.3. Professional identity and development
6.5. Research
LO6
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
5.2. Contemporary theories and practice
5.3. Ethics and professional practice
6.4. Advocacy
6.5. Research
LO7
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority - ACECQA
6.3. Professional identity and development
6.5. Research

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

The due date for Assignment 1 has been pushed back to Week 6 in response to feedback from last year's cohort.
  • Student consultations may be scheduled on Mondays. Email Marianne at marianne.fenech@sydney.edu.au to arrange an appointment.

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.