Overview

This topic will further develop pre-service teachers’ capacity to apply the methods used to observe, document, and assess children’s learning and development. Pre-service teachers will think critically and apply developmental and sociocultural theories as appropriate. Focusing on the concept of inclusion, pre-service teachers will plan for and justify their teaching … For more content click the Read More button below. This topic continues the professional experience placement from the previous placement topic, engaging pre-service teachers in a metropolitan early childhood setting over an extended period. Visiting the site for 1-day per week for 10-weeks, pre-service teachers track young children’s learning over time and develop an understanding of how a site changes through different seasons. Pre-service teachers begin to see how theory informs practice as they observe young children and make a plan for their learning, working with individual children, small groups and then the whole group. Through a focused inquiry project, pre-service teachers make a valuable contribution to children’s learning and development, combining theory with observations, planning, teaching, evaluation and documentation.

Topic availabilities

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

The topic aims to:

  • Support pre-service teachers to develop and integrate understanding of the theoretical perspectives of children’s physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development aged birth -8
  • Enable pre-service teachers to practise a variety of observation/assessment techniques to gain insight into the types of experiences, activities and ideas that engage young children and identify key developmental milestones
  • Assist pre-service teachers to plan, implement and evaluate learning experiences that link to the curriculum, make a meaningful contribution to children’s learning, and extend their development
  • Provide pre-service teachers with opportunities to work as a contributing member of the educational team, gathering evidence of developing professional knowledge, practice, and relationships

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Examine historical and contemporary theories which underpin child observation, namely developmental and sociocultural theories and how these inform practice
2.
Employ strategies for working inclusively as a pre-service teacher, including pedagogical approaches which support children from diverse backgrounds and those with specific needs
3.
Illustrate competency in observing children’s learning and development to make inferences about pedagogy, curriculum links and learning
4.
Plan, implement and evaluate a series of experiences that are responsive to the observed needs and interests of young children
5.
Show awareness of the broader aspects of early childhood learning, including an understanding of the environment as the third teacher, collegial learning and the importance of relationships with children and families

Assessments

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Current students should refer to FLO for detailed assessment information, including due dates. Assessment information is accurate at the time of publishing.

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Requisites information

Pre-requisites: