EDF5775 · Advanced play and pedagogy in early childhood settings

Overview

In this unit, you will examine the established discourse of play in early childhood education, reflecting on the post-structural approaches relating to the theories of play and pedagogy. In this context, you will critically review children’s (aged from birth to 8 years old) play and pedagogy, examining needs and patterns of play, that result in increased agency, self-regulation and self-control. Through an interrogation of the theoretical foundations in both national and international literature, this unit will extend the current discourse, using a socio-cultural lens, exploring how play is developed and used as a means of interpretation within early childhood. You will consider how you can apply this advanced understanding, using interpretive methods, to examine children’s choices and the construction of relationships. The unit will link contemporary socio-cultural theory to a consideration of how play is situated within shifting power relationships, challenging the dominant truths relating to play. This unit will support your ability to lead pedagogical practice change and develop an advanced understanding of praxis in play and pedagogy.

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

Learning outcomes

1. examine contemporary dialogue in early childhood and increase awareness regarding the established discourses relating to theories and debates relating to play
2. interrogate the literature in early childhood, utilising a critical lens, to consider how play could be utilised interpretatively within the setting
3. critically reflect on literature in local, national and international contexts, with regard to children’s play and pedagogy in order to develop an understanding of the relationship dynamics that emerge within play
4. apply an advanced understanding of play to examine children’s choices and how this contributes to their self-regulation, agency and self-control
5. evaluate and analyse children’s play and adults’ roles within play, theorising about developments that contribute to professional practice.

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: • 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study OR • 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^ ^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode 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.