Course Title: Action Research in Early Childhood Settings

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Action Research in Early Childhood Settings

Credit Points: 24


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

TCHE2373

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013

Course Coordinator: Dr Barbara Chancellor

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99257858

Course Coordinator Email:barbara.chancellor@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course is the first course in Year 4 of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education). Students must have successfully completed year 3 of the program to be eligible to undertake this course.


Course Description

This course introduces students to Action Research methodolgy in early childhood settings. It prepares students to undertake a research project investigating aspects of their own teaching practice in an action research model. It also prepares students to develop a professional portfolio during Year 4.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students will explore research projects in early childhood that have used an action research methodology. They will investigate methods associated with this methodology. By designing a professional portfolio, students will explore models of portfolios and identify aspects that are important to include from both their own practice and from the contexts they undertake PP3 and PP4.


Students will present a literature review based on action research projects conducted in early childhood in Australia and in international settings. They will also design a professional portfolio that will be developed during Year 4 while they are on PP3 and PP4.


Overview of Learning Activities

Intensive mode, there will be a combination of lectures, tutorials and independent activities.


Overview of Learning Resources

Set text: Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett and Farmer, (2009). Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings, 4th. Edn., Cengage Learning, Melbourne.

Resources available on line.


Overview of Assessment

Task 1: Literature Review, 50%

Task 2: Professional Portfolio, 50%.