Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Studies)

Effective from 01-JAN-2020 : Code Y42

This course is dedicated to producing quality graduates ready to take up employment across the early childhood education sector, including teaching children aged 0-3 years, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, pre-primary and years 1-3 in a primary school. Dealing specifically with children aged 0-8 years, Early Childhood Studies focuses on the care and education of children in this age group in partnership with families and communities. A variety of flexible admission options is available to suit applicants with different needs, all of which are required to demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy, as teachers require these skills to support the development of students. The course also includes the opportunity to complete a fast tracked final year and achieve eligibility for employment in schools from term 4 of that year. A key feature of this course is the equal emphasis given to both the theoretical groundings of early childhood education and the practical application of knowledge and skills in a wide range of early childhood settings. A coordinated program of professional practice experiences at key points throughout the course allow students to make the connection between theory and practice, while building both professional and generic employability skills in real care and education environments. In addition, students have the opportunity to tailor their learning experience by specialising in curriculum areas of particular interest.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Practicum Requirement

In each year of the program, students undertake compulsory Professional Experience and in the final year, students undertake an Assistant Teacher Program (ATP) comprising of one term of approximately 10 weeks of continuous teaching practice. The Assistant Teacher Program is conducted during the final year of the course in the second term of the school year.

Duty of care

The Department of Education Western Australia and cooperating non-government schools have the right to determine 'fit and proper persons' to enter and practice in schools. For these reasons, all Pre-Service Teachers 18 years of age and over will be required to have a current Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and a current Working with Children Check, or the equivalent clearance issued by the relevant State authority before commencing this period of Professional Experience. Further information can be found at http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional- practice/clearances

Attendance requirements

Generally, host Schools and Centres require that the Pre-Service Teachers attend the Professional Experience on a full-time basis and otherwise meet their specific attendance requirements of the particular professional experience. There is limited scope for ECU to negotiate any deviations from these requirements.

Professional practice rules

During the Professional Experience , it is imperative that Pre-Service Teachers always demonstrate professionalism and respect for industry partners. Pre-Service Teachers must abide by the professional standards set out in the ECU Student Code of Conduct and comply with the applicable University policies and rules. The Student Code of Conduct can be found at: http://policysearch.ecu.edu.au/PolicySearch/Record/767/file/document The host School/Centre has absolute discretion to terminate the Ppre-Service Teachers placement prior to completion of the Professional Experience. Situations where this discretion has been exercised are typically where the School/Centre has had concerns about Pre-Service Teacher's conduct or performance. ECU may also withdraw a Pre-Service Teacher from Professional Experience in certain circumstances. Early termination or withdrawal from the Professional Experiencee placement may result in a Fail grade for this unit.

Implications of failing

The Professional Experience units are designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners. Failure to pass these units may result in exclusion from the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Apply broad discipline knowledge to a range of theoretical and practical early childhood situations.
2. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex early childhood problems.
3. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate discipline specific solutions/responses.
4. Use digital technologies and literacies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources.
5. Communicate early childhood knowledge and values in professional and public contexts.
6. Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for cultural diversity, including Indigenous cultural competence.
7. Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values.
8. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and professional practice.

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

This course has been Accredited by: Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).

Registration

Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) is required to practice in the profession.

Graduates must meet the Teacher Registration Board of WA (TRBWA) literacy and numeracy proficiency requirements prior to graduation for teacher registration in Western Australia. Further information is available at http://www.trb.wa.gov.au

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 3)

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• AQF Cert IV;
• Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or
• Experience Based Entry Scheme.

English Language requirement (Band 5)

International  students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.5 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components; and, a score of 8.0 or more in the components of speaking and listening.  Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.

Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:

• Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
• Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
• Aboriginal Student Intake Test;*
• AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).

Note:
If secondary education and degree studies were completed within a period of 2 years before applying for registration in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, applicants do not need to provide proof of English competency. 

Applicants who have completed their secondary education in South Africa in English and have an undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University are deemed to have met English language requirements.

Applicants from the Seychelles:

Successful completion of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) grade C or above, PLUS a completed 4 year National Diploma.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to satisfy non-academic criteria, in addition to satisfying academic entry criteria. Applicants' non-academic capabilities will be assessed based on completion of a Non-Academic Requirements for Teacher Entry (NARTE) online questionnaire.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 4 Years
• Part Time: 8 Years

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time
• Mount Lawley: Full Time, Part Time
• South West (Bunbury): Full Time, Part Time
• Online: Part Time, Full Time

Non standard timetable requirements

Students have the opportunity to complete a fast-tracked final year and achieve eligibility for employment in schools from Term 4 during the same year.

Course Coordinator

A/Prof Marianne KNAUS

Course Structure

Students must complete the above two units LIT1200 (Personal Literacy) and NUM1200 (Personal Numeracy) to satisfy the requirements of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). All students who enrol in an accredited pre-service teacher education course (undergraduate and graduate) from 1 January 2017 will have to successfully complete tests about their personal levels of literacy and numeracy to graduate. Students who enrol in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Studies) will need to complete successfully both components of the personal Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) to enrol beyond 240 credit points within their course.

Year 4 - Semester 2

Students are required to select one of the following four options:

# Designated Unit - a Unit or Unit of Competency which a School has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners.

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course