Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Studies)

Effective from 01-JAN-2022 : 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.

Internship Option

The internship equips Pre-Service Teachers with the mastery and knowledge to lead their own classrooms. Pre-Service Teachers are placed in either classrooms or early learning settings where they will fulfil a diversity of roles, tasks and duties to provide a well-rounded experience of working as a teacher. Students will be required to attend the school or early learning setting for 4 days per week (8 hours each day) during term 3.

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 Department of Education 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 Practice. Further information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience/before-professional-experience

Attendance requirements

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

Application process

Students will be required to apply fo to enter the unit and sit an interview.

Enrolment process

Students enrol into EDU4500 - Optional unit

Professional practice rules

During the placement, 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 Pre-Service Teachers placement prior to completion of the placement. 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 eacher from placement in certain circumstances. Early termination or withdrawal from the professional practice placement may result in a Fail grade for this unit.

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

To undertake a Professional Practice in a school or childcare setting, all pre-service teacher education students over the age of 18 must have supplied ECU with evidence of the following two clearances: A valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) from the Department of Education WA. A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) from the Department for Child Protection and Family Support WA. Further information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-experience/before-professional-experience

Attendance requirements

Generally host Schools and Centres require that the pre-service teachers attend the placement on a full time basis and otherwise meet their specific attendance requirements of the particular placement. There is limited scope for ECU to negotiate any deviations from these requirements.

Professional practice rules

During the placement, 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 Pre-Service Teachers placement prior to completion of the placement. 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 placement in certain circumstances. Early termination or withdrawal from the professional practice 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 the Progression Panel. 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. Communicate early childhood knowledge and values in professional and public contexts.
3. Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for cultural diversity, including Indigenous cultural competence.
4. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and professional practice.
5. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate discipline specific solutions/responses.
6. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex early childhood problems.
7. Use digital technologies and literacies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources.
8. Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values.

Professional Recognition

Course

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

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);
• Undergraduate Certificate;
• 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.

Applicants who have completed secondary education, bachelor degree or master degree studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA are not required to provide an IELTS Academic test.  Minimum English standard requirements may 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:
Applicants who have completed their secondary education in South Africa in English, or have an undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University are deemed to have satisfied 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.

Cross Campus Attendance

ECU South West students can undertake a number of units on campus, however in order to complete the course students should be prepared to complete the remaining units online, or at ECU’s Joondalup or Mount Lawley Campuses.

Course Coordinator

Mrs Amelia Keziah RUSCOE

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 480 credit points which consists of 24 core units and a supplementary program. The supplementary program options are: - an Internship plus one (1) unit from any of the listed specialisations; or - a School-based program plus one (1) unit from any of the listed specialisations; or - ECS4330 and ECS4261 plus a listed specialisation; or - ECS4330 and ECS4261 plus any 3 units from any of the specialisations (note - If students select this option no specialisation will be recorded on the academic transcript). Early Childhood Specialisations are: - Arts - Catholic Studies - Creativity in Early Childhood - Diversity in Early Childhood - Special Education

All nationally accredited Initial Teacher Education courses require students to undertake the LANTITE tests, as set by ACER, and meet the Standard in personal literacy and personal numeracy to be eligible to graduate. The Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia requires all students who enrol in an Initial Teacher Education course (undergraduate and graduate) from 1st January 2017 to have successfully met the set Standard, as set by ACER, for personal numeracy and literacy to be eligible to graduate, and therefore, be eligible for registration as a teacher. Students will be able to resit each component of the test two additional times if not successful on the first attempt (three opportunities in total). Students will be required to re-register and pay to sit the test each subsequent time. On successful completion of the test students will be given advanced standing for the above two units LIT1200 and NUM1200.

Year 4 - Semester 2

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

^ Core Option
# 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 the School Progression Panel.

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course