Undergraduate - UnitEDF1308 - Early literacy

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Synopsis

This unit focuses on the range of ways young children encounter and use literacy from exploring their diverse everyday worlds. It introduces conceptual frameworks for understanding and critiquing the processes of how children learn about literate representations and communication from infancy through to the early years of school Students will explore the importance of translating home and community learning into various institutional settings. The teaching of literacy will be examined from a number of current theoretical perspectives, and students will be assisted to develop appropriate pedagogical practices that support children's learning.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of key curriculum principles relating to literacy for young children
• understand a number of interpretations of what constitutes literacy
• recognise how key literate concepts are practiced in early learning settings such as homes, communities, child care, preschools and the early years of school
• appreciate that literacy learning occur in multiple contexts and in multiple ways, and
• identify and employ a range of pedagogical tools to support children's learning in literacy.

Fieldwork

Course 1514: 10 days Gippsland and Peninsula; Double degrees, courses 1541, 3725, 3717, 3711, 2070, 3712, 4208: 10 days; Course 1515: 5 days Peninsula

Assessment

Assessment Task 1: Critique (2000 words or equivalent, 50%); and Assessment Task 2: Successful completion of placement and allied documentation (2000 words or equivalent, 50%)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Jennifer Rennie

Contact hours

3 contact hours per week, 9 hours private study including readings, completion of set tasks and self-directed learning.

Prohibitions

EDF1307