EDF2009 · Foundational overview to early childhood education

Overview

This unit provides a foundational overview of early childhood education that will enable you to understand the role of history in explaining and defining the present for policy and high-quality practice. The unit examines the theoretical perspectives that have contributed to the history and philosophy of early childhood education, including the emergence of the nursery and kindergarten movements in local and global contexts. Investigating philosophies, sociological influences and theorists, this unit provides you with foundational knowledge for key practicalities in early childhood education and the changing social image of children and childhood over time. The historical and contemporary global conceptualising of early childhood education through theory, philosophy, governance and ethics, will support the development of your own philosophy and policies of practice.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. describe how early childhood education is governed and demonstrate familiarity with key policies, curriculum, and targeted programs and directions
2. knowledgeably discuss the roles and responsibilities of early childhood teachers in early childhood education settings and demonstrate an understanding of the professional, legal and ethical requirements
3. examine and research the global history, philosophies and theories of early childhood education and the impact they have on current early childhood education practices
4. demonstrate understanding of historical perspectives in relation to children, childhood and early childhood education pedagogy and discuss how this has influenced early childhood education in contemporary Singapore society.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: • 18 hours of scheduled learning delivered synchronously on campus and/or online via regular directed learning activities; • 6 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via synchronous and/or asynchronous directed learning activities; and • the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.