Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The arts are a highly significant and important part of every child's education. Through music, movement/dance, media, imaginative play, story and drama, children are provided with ways to experience, understand, appreciate and respond to their worlds, as they develop visual, aural, bodily-kinaesthetic and aesthetic literacies. This unit examines the basic elements and concepts relevant to the art forms of dance, drama, media and music; provides opportunities for practical exploration of these art forms; builds a repertoire of relevant arts pedagogies and extends on the foundational knowledge acquired in EAB011, with further analysis of the importance of the arts in the care and education of young children. You will also develop appropriate strategies for promoting the arts in a variety of early childhood settings for children ranging in age from birth to eight years. Relevant theories, principles and philosophies will be presented and analysed as a basis for developing a quality arts program in the early years.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to build on earlier study of the concepts, skills, processes and values of the arts in early childhood education and foster a sound knowledge and personal appreciation of a wider range of art forms.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. select and use teaching and learning strategies, plans and resources that meet specified learning goals and curriculum requirements for The Arts [QCT Standard One]

2. demonstrate ways of gathering and using student information in the design of learning experiences within The Arts. [QCT Standard One]

3. design and use assessment data to evaluate student learning and review teaching and assessment practices. [QCT Standard Five]

4. identify, evaluate and select early childhood arts programs that provide appropriate experiences and resources for encouraging young children to engage in and develop an understanding of The Arts. [QCT Standard Three; QCT Standard One]

5. demonstrate acceptable standards of communication and professional responsibility and provide evidence of attaining acceptable standards of academic, professional and personal spoken and written English language literacies relating to this unit. [QCT Standard Two; QCT Standard Nine]

Content

This unit will cover the following topics:

• You will be introduced to the unique concepts, skills and processes of each of the art forms of dance, drama, media and music. Students are required to actively engage with the learning processes.



• You will examine the role of the teacher in scaffolding arts learning for young children and become familiar with relevant curriculum documents.



• You will observe and analyse arts pedagogy, including ways of integrating the various art forms.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is delivered through a combination of keynote lectures, interactive tutorials, set readings and discussion. Learning in The Arts comes about through engagement with three active processes making, sharing and responding. You are required to attend at least two arts performances as an essential element of your learning experiences in this unit. The assessment items for this unit are designed to support practice of these active processes while developing skills in designing and implementing quality arts experiences for young children.

Assessment

Assessment in this unit is both formative and summative. Formative assessment will be provided through reflection, discussions, feedback in tutorial sessions, and through written comments on initial assignment work.

There are two items of summative assessment in the unit; a reflective journal and a portfolio.

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: Quality arts pedagogy is linked with the dispositions and attitudes of the teacher. In tutorials, you will participate in four distinct strands of the arts. During the semester, you are required to attend professional performances of at least two of the three performing arts (Dance, Drama and Music), and engage with the fourth strand, Media. You are required to submit a reflective journal, connecting your experiences of these arts performances with your developing knowledge of early childhood arts education, gained through readings and course content.
Length: 1000 words or equivalent.
Relates to objectives: 1, 4 & 5.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Semester

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: In tutorials and lectures throughout the semester, you will participate in four distinct strands of the arts. You are required to compile a portfolio of work that makes connections between your field experience with young children, your active involvement with all practical performing arts workshops and your engagement with readings and course content. Using your knowledge of Media Arts, you will be required to present your portfolio as an digital resource.
Length: 2000 words
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End-Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text

Wright, S. (Ed.). (2003). Children, meaning-making and the arts. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education.

References

Wright, S. (Ed.). (2012). Children, meaning-making and the arts. 2^nd edition. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education.

Risk assessment statement

This unit addresses the arts strands of dance, drama, media and music. As such it requires you to interact with equipment relevant to these art forms. You should ensure that you only use equipment as and when instructed by the tutor. In addition, the workshops may include some physical activity beyond the normal requirements of other university courses. You should notify your tutor should you have any relevant health issues that may preclude your participation.

The physical placement and organisation of peripheral devices such as video camera tripods, cables and extension cords should be considered when participating in workshop activities.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 29-Oct-2012