School: Education

This unit 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.

Please note that there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2023 Units. All assessment changes will be published by 20th February 2023. All students are reminded to check the handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Becoming an Early Childhood Educator
  • Unit Code

    ECS1240
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Dimity Jane FRANKS

Description

The focus of this unit is on inquiry into the role of early childhood educators and their professional work across a range of early childhood settings. It includes a professional experience component of one day per week for seven weeks in a junior primary school setting. The unit explores the multi-faceted role of the contemporary early childhood educator focusing on quality programs, advocacy and working with families and communities. Key elements of current pedagogical practices in early childhood are investigated. Students are given the opportunity to connect new understandings to practice and develop the knowledge, understandings and competencies of a beginning educator, under the guidance of experienced professionals. Designated unit: This professional experience unit is deemed to be 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.

Non Standard Timetable 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 placement. There is limited scope for ECU to negotiate any deviations from these requirements.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ECS1110, EDL1240, EDP1110, ERC1110

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Begin to use the Plan, Teach and Assess cycle.
  2. Describe the features of a range of early childhood educational environments and pedagogical practices.
  3. Develop an awareness of contemporary curriculum documents for the early childhood sector in Australia and Western Australia.
  4. Engage in professional learning and meet the requirements of the Professional Practice.
  5. Identify and analyse the characteristics and qualities of an effective early childhood educator.
  6. Identify and analyse the role of the early childhood educator in a range of settings.

Unit Content

  1. Qualities and characteristics of effective early childhood educators.
  2. The role of the early childhood educator including advocacy and working with families and communities.
  3. Historical and contemporary perspectives of early childhood education.
  4. Legislation, National Frameworks and Standards, contemporary curriculum documents and The Code of Ethics.
  5. Early childhood learning environments and pedagogical practices for teaching and learning.
  6. The planning cycle.
  7. Reflection as a professional experience and learning process.
  8. Workplace integrated learning.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 112 x 1 hour lecture12 x 1 hour lecture12 x 1 hour lecture
Semester 112 x 2 hour tutorial12 x 2 hour tutorial12 x 2 hour tutorial

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

The teaching and learning processes in this unit model participatory and co-operative learning strategies used by effective learners. Pre-Service Teachers are expected to participate in all lectures, workshops, tutorials and/or online teaching and learning processes. During the professional experience, it is imperative that Pre-Service Teachers demonstrate professionalism and respect for industry partners at all times. Pre-Service Teachers must abide by the professional standards set out in the ECU Code of Conduct and comply with the applicable University policies and rules. 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 Professional Experience. The host School/Centre has absolute discretion to terminate the Pre-Service Teacher's 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 experience placement may result in a Fail grade for this unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment50%
ExaminationExamination40%
Practicum ^Professional Experience10%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment50%
ExaminationExamination40%
Practicum ^Professional Experience10%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

ECS1240|2|1

School: Education

This unit 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.

  • Unit Title

    Becoming an Early Childhood Educator
  • Unit Code

    ECS1240
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Dimity Jane FRANKS

Description

The focus of this unit is on inquiry into the role of early childhood educators and their professional work across a range of early childhood settings. It includes a professional experience component of one day per week for seven weeks in a junior primary school setting. The unit explores the multi-faceted role of the contemporary early childhood educator focusing on quality programs, advocacy and working with families and communities. Key elements of current pedagogical practices in early childhood are investigated. Students are given the opportunity to connect new understandings to practice and develop the knowledge, understandings and competencies of a beginning educator, under the guidance of experienced professionals. Designated unit: This professional experience unit is deemed to be 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.

Non Standard Timetable 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 placement. There is limited scope for ECU to negotiate any deviations from these requirements.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ECS1110, EDL1240, EDP1110, ERC1110

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Begin to use the Plan, Teach and Assess cycle.
  2. Describe the features of a range of early childhood educational environments and pedagogical practices.
  3. Develop an awareness of contemporary curriculum documents for the early childhood sector in Australia and Western Australia.
  4. Engage in professional learning and meet the requirements of the Professional Practice.
  5. Identify and analyse the characteristics and qualities of an effective early childhood educator.
  6. Identify and analyse the role of the early childhood educator in a range of settings.

Unit Content

  1. Qualities and characteristics of effective early childhood educators.
  2. The role of the early childhood educator including advocacy and working with families and communities.
  3. Historical and contemporary perspectives of early childhood education.
  4. Legislation, National Frameworks and Standards, contemporary curriculum documents and The Code of Ethics.
  5. Early childhood learning environments and pedagogical practices for teaching and learning.
  6. The planning cycle.
  7. Reflection as a professional experience and learning process.
  8. Workplace integrated learning.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 112 x 1 hour lecture12 x 1 hour lecture12 x 1 hour lecture
Semester 112 x 2 hour tutorial12 x 2 hour tutorial12 x 2 hour tutorial

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

The teaching and learning processes in this unit model participatory and co-operative learning strategies used by effective learners. Pre-Service Teachers are expected to participate in all lectures, workshops, tutorials and/or online teaching and learning processes. During the professional experience, it is imperative that Pre-Service Teachers demonstrate professionalism and respect for industry partners at all times. Pre-Service Teachers must abide by the professional standards set out in the ECU Code of Conduct and comply with the applicable University policies and rules. 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 Professional Experience. The host School/Centre has absolute discretion to terminate the Pre-Service Teacher's 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 experience placement may result in a Fail grade for this unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment50%
ExaminationExamination40%
Practicum ^Professional Experience10%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssignment50%
ExaminationExamination40%
Practicum ^Professional Experience10%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

ECS1240|2|2