Course Title: Current Issues in Early Childhood Education

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Current Issues in Early Childhood Education

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
TCHE2157	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 1 2010
TCHE2191	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006

Course Coordinator: Berenice Nyland

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7805

Course Coordinator Email:berenice.nyland@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 220.4.17

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no pre-requistes or any assumed knowledge and capabilities for this course.

Course Description

This course examines some of the complex issues that impact on the provision of early childhood services for children and their families.

The social, political and educational context of the development and delivery of services for children birth – 6 years is the focus of the course. Topics include program quality, regulations, advocacy, management and children’s rights as well as discussions on history, government policy and the politics of early childhood education.

This is a reading course and whilst the readings deal with general principles students will apply these principles to the range of service delivery models and types that exist in Australia. Services include pre-schools, kindergartens, childcare centres (including preschool programs), early learning centres, and out of school hours care (OHSC).

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Your learning in this course will develop the following graduate capabilities:
2.7 Engagement with on-going research and development.
3.1 Abilities to identify, synthesis and evaluate information.
4.5 Skills to reflect on, link and apply theory to everyday life. To generate own theories based on experience and reflection.
7.6 An awareness of different contexts, knowledge, cultural, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds of children, families and their communities.

Specific learning objectives include:
• To demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the changing nature of Australian society and the impact on service delivery for young children and their families
• To develop appropriate strategies to undertake an advocacy role on behalf of the best interests of children and their future
• To gain knowledge of the regulatory environment and quality improvement initiatives in Australia
• To demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of managing and planning early childhood services

Overview of Learning Activities

Pre-service teachers will a selection of readings that address the topics of the course. These readings are compulsory and students are also encouraged to research these topics by seeking out further readings.
Each reading is presented with an accompanying question or task. Students will prepare a short essay for each question or task.
There will be opportinities provided during the semester where pre-service teachers will be able to discuss the readings, ask questions of clarification and share their knowledge with peers.

Overview of Learning Resources

Learning resources will be available through the Online Learning Hub. These will include: journal articles, policy papers, case studies, electronic readings and access to library databases and other resources.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks are directly linked to the stated objectives and outcomes. Assessment in the course will be both theoretical and practical in nature. A range of formative and summative assessment types will be incorporated into the course.

Students should refer to Part B of the course guide for further information on assessment.