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

Early childhood teaching and learning in the arts and sciences requires ongoing construction and reconstruction of new knowledges about learners, learning and the early years context in which learning takes place. The content builds constructively on your knowledge base in the areas of the arts and sciences and promotes ongoing development of effective communication capabilities using appropriate literacies for engaging in confident leadership in students' professional learning environments.

Aims

This unit aims to challenge you, as leaders in early childhood teaching and learning, to interrogate a broad range of ideas, principles and guidelines to assist in making decisions about curriculum in the arts and sciences. It challenges you to engage with trans-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary knowledge and innovation. You will be challenged to engage in critical evaluation of approaches to teaching and learning and to use appropriate techniques to analyse and solve problems and to manage change productively.

Objectives

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

1. use knowledge of relevant theories in designing inquiry, creative and representational opportunities for diverse young children (GC: A, F)

2. articulate knowledge of the concepts, skills, attitudes and values which are essential to learning in the arts and the sciences and critique pedagogic practices (GC: A,B)

3. apply knowledge of teaching strategies for monitoring individual child progress in using the arts and the sciences to solve everyday problems (GC: B)

4. demonstrate effective professional communication strategies to enhance learning in the arts, and thel sciences (GC: C)

Content

This unit will cover the following topics:

1. The Arts in Early Childhood
This module consists of a description and experience of the creative process and recent research findings on children's artistry in relation to symbol systems, all forms of art, and the artistic process.

2. Science in Early Childhood
This module emphasises understanding current theories about science explorations in early childhood. Strategies for putting theory into action are examined.

3. Early Childhood Environments
A variety of approaches to organising early childhood environments is discussed. The role of culture, including Indigenous perspectives, will be explored.

4. Inquiry Learning, Creativity and Problem solving
You will examine inquiry learning, creativity and problem solving in the development of key concepts, skills, attitudes and values in the arts and science.

5. Documentation
Strategies are explored for monitoring the progress of children and for working cooperatively with families and children to monitor progress. Students explore methods for recording plans and evaluations in the arts and sciences.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will use a range of teaching and learning approaches utilizing relevant information technologies. Multi-modal strategies include an online learning environment and on-campus groups designed to support the teaching and learning in this unit.

Assessment

Formative assessment will be provided through feedback on initial assignment work and in electronic communication.

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Project in arts and/or science

Length; 2500 words or equivalent
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Semester

Assessment name: Professional Plans
Description: Plan for children's project and accompanying documentation

Length: 2500 words or equivalent
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
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

Readings and other resources will be made available to students through the Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.

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: 30-Oct-2012