80407 ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY EDUCATION

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
00	80407 	S1  	X 	ISSUES & TRENDS EARLY EDUC	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

The  opportunity to explore and to critically evaluate widely-accepted
practices  and  emerging trends is an essential feature  of  the  pre-
service  program of any profession. To develop as a profession,  early
childhood educators will need to address constant demands for  change,
development  and  response to emerging issues  at  local  as  well  as
international levels. This unit provides such an opportunity for early
childhood educators.

SYNOPSIS:

The  unit explores historical and contemporary issues related to  many
facets  of  the  care  and  education of  young  children.  Particular
emphasis  will  be given to when, where and how early education  takes
place. Students will be expected to read in depth in a number of areas
presented for study.

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

1. identify current local, national and international issues and
   trends in the education of young children;
   
2. evaluate critically the social, educational, political and
   economic bases of current issues and trends in early childhood
   education;
   
3. assess issues in relation to current teaching situations and
   develop constructive responses;
   
4. adopt an active role as advocate for young children.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Configuration of childhood and impact of early  childhood             12.50
services

Theoretical and pedagogical shifts in curriculum                      12.50

The impact of technology on early childhood                           12.50

Equity issues and the early childhood program                         2.50

Ethics and professionalism in early childhood                         12.50

Children and the media                                                12.50

Family support programs of partnerships in education                  12.50

Quality assurance and accountability                                  12.50

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Seefeldt, C. & Galper, A. (eds) 1998, Continuing Issues in Early
Childhood Education, 2nd Edn, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Directed Study                                	50
Private Study                                 	60
Assessments                                   	55

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              19/05/00  LITERATURE REVIEW                         40.00     Y   N
2   S              END S1    3 HOUR EXAMINATION                        60.00     N   N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    When  there  is  more  than  one marker  for  a  single  item  of
     assessment, the distribution patterns and means for the different
     markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
2    Marking   criteria  are  provided  in  unit  material   as   mark
     sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
3    Summative  assessment  items will be  given  a  numerical  score.
     Ungraded summative assessment will be given either Pass, Fail  or
     Incomplete.
4    Unit Grades will be calculated by aggregating the weighted result
     or  numerical  score  for  each summative  assessment  item.  Any
     ungraded  assessment requirement will receive  a  Pass,  Fail  or
     Incomplete.
5    All  assessment  items  must  be attempted/submitted.  Assessment
     items must be passed overall
6    If  assignments  are  submitted after the  due  date  without  an
     approved extension of time, a penalty of 20% of the mark for  the
     assessment item will apply for each week late.