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USQ Home > Programs and Courses > 2008 USQ Course specifications > E > ECE4010 S2

ECE4010 Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Settings

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
ECE 4010 78922 2, 2008 EXT Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Settings 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOEDU
Academic org: FOE004
Student contribution band: National Priority Teaching
ASCED code: 070101

Contents


STAFFING

Examiner: Alice Brown
Moderator: Marian Lewis


OTHER REQUISITES

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html.


RATIONALE

Early childhood professionals working in dynamic and diverse environments require an understanding of leadership and management theory in order to develop effective practices in the operation of specific settings eg primary school, preschool, kindergarten, child care centre, outside school hours care and integrated services. These practices will be influenced by the educators understanding of socio-cultural and socio-political influences affecting the provision of early childhood services.



SYNOPSIS

This course will introduce students to the key elements of leadership, management and administration for early childhood settings; the value and importance of personal professional reflection; and the role of and support provided by community and government agencies.



OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.
Critically analyse the cultural, social, economic and political influences and their implications on the provision of early childhood services (Assignment 1)
2.
Describe and analyse the elements of successful leadership and visioning in early childhood settings (Assignment 1)
3.
Explain the role and process of organisational planning in early childhood settings (Assignment 1 and 2)
4.
Understand organisational systems and structures that support appropriate and ethical management of diverse early years contexts (Assignment 1 and 2)
5.
Identify and apply effective management strategies for the successful operation of diverse early childhood settings (Assignment 2)
6.
Demonstrate professional self confidence and know how when and where to seek personal and professional support and advice (Assignment 2)
7.
Demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing (Assignment 1 and 2)


TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
1. Visioning, leadership, and strategic planning in early childhood settings
 25.00
2. Contemporary management theory and application
 25.00
3. Human resource management
 15.00
4. Financial management for early childhood teachers and directors
 15.00
5. Working with parents, professional bodies, community agencies and governments
 20.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).



REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library/ . The gateway to education resources is here... http://www.usq.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

Barbour, C & Barbour, NH 2004, Families, schools and communities: building partnerships for educating children, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Click, P 2003, Administration of schools for young children, 6th edn, Delmar, Albany,NY.

Decker, C & Decker, J 2005, Planning and administering early childhood programs, 8th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Ren-Etta Sullivan, D 2006, Learning to lead: effective leadership skills for teachers of young children,

Short, P 2002, Leadership in empowered schools: themes from innovative efforts, 2nd edn, Merrill, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Taylor, BJ 2002, Early childhood program management: people and procedures, 4th edn, Merrill/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Wright, Springate, K & Stegelin, DA 2003, Building school and community partnerships through parent involvement, 2nd edn, Merrill/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Zenger, JH 2002, The extraordinary leader, McGraw-Hill, OH, USA.



STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Assessments 40.00
Directed Study 45.00
Private Study 80.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
ASSIGNMENT PART A 50.00 50.00 12 Sep 2008
ASSIGNMENT PART B 50.00 50.00 03 Nov 2008

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.
  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
  8. University Regulations:
    Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner.
2. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of request being made by the examiner. The student must retain this copy until the grade for this course has been finalised.
3. In accordance with the University's assignment extension policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
4. The Faculty will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media. The Faculty will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile. Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements.
5. In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area the due date for the assignment will be the next working day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience.
6. Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete - Make up). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study.
7. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination); IDM (Incomplete - Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
8. When there is more than one marker for a single item of assessment, the distributed patterns and means for the different markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
9. Marking criteria are provided in course material as mark sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
10. Summative assessment items will receive a numerical score. Any ungraded assessment requirement will receive a Pass, Fail or Incomplete.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  1. Students will require access to e-mail and internet access to USQConnect for this course.
  2. Students are to use a recognised referencing system as specified by the examiner.
  3. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.
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