EDE2010 Childhood, Play and Play-based Learning

Requisites

Pre-requisite: EDC1400 or (ECF1100 and (EHF1100 or CMS1000 or EDC1200 or EDC1000))
Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: BEDU (Early Childhood) or BECH or BEED

Other Requisites

Students must be available for a prescribed period of time to undertake a placement in a school or other approved site as required in this course.

Before commencing this course students will be assumed to have read the full details of Professional Experience particulars and familiarised themselves with the requirements. Please see the Education Placement Professional Experience website https://www.usq.edu.au/current-students/assessment/professional-experience and the Professional Experience Book for full details.

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 must hold a valid blue card http://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/volunteers/doineedabluecard.html OR exemption card http://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/faqs/exemption-card-faqs.html.
If undertaking placement outside of Queensland you must ensure that all relevant checks are completed and evidence of this is provided to the Professional Experience office http://www.usq.edu.au/current-students/assessment/professional-experience.

Students need to lodge their blue card application or renewal online . Students will need to register with blue card services and validate their identification online. If successful, the student will be provided an online account number to send to the Professional Experience Team to ensure there are no delays with their placement. Students will not be able to commence their placement without a current blue card. USQ recommends students lodge their renewal at least 28 days prior to the expiry of their current card. https://www.usq.edu.au/current-students/academic/education-placements/blue-cards

Where a student is denied approval for a blue card, enrolment in any initial teacher education program will be withdrawn (refer to https://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/disqualification.html).
If undertaking Professional Experience outside of Queensland, students are advised to check the Working with Children requirements of the state within which Professional Experience will be undertaken (refer to https://www.usq.edu.au/current-students/assessment/education-placements/working-with-children).

Synopsis

This course considers theories of play and their relationship to theories of childhood derived from a range of disciplines. The course introduces the functions, meanings and significance of play in children's lives, and considers the ways that gender, social class and culture shape the everyday forms and functions of play. Emphasis will be given to the role of play in early development, reasoning and communication; the cultural organization of play; the potential of play for enhancing learning, creativity, curiosity and inquiry; and the implications of play for children's participation in and contribution to the relationships and cultures of which they are part. Pre-service educators will be introduced to principles of pedagogy and curriculum that underpin the design of learning activities and environments that are conducive to child-initiated and adult-facilitated play and play-based learning.

A professional experience placement is attached to this course. Bachelor of Education (EC) pre-service educators will complete a 10 day professional experience. Pre service educators enrolled in the Bachelor of Early childhood (BECH) will complete an additional 10 days (20 days overall) to meet regulation requirements. For full details of the Professional Experience particulars, please refer to the Professional Experience website and the Professional Experience Book.

Course offers