Undergraduate - UnitEDF4323 - Leadership and management in early childhood education

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Education
Offered	Peninsula First semester 2015 (Day) Singapore Term 2 2015 (Online)
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor Nikolai Veresov (Peninsula); Ms Robyn Babaeff (Singapore, online)

Synopsis

This unit examines the contexts for professional life as well as the identities, roles and responsibilities of a contemporary early childhood professional. It addresses the broader dimensions of being a contemporary early childhood professional including service management, professional leadership, research, advocacy, professional ethics, networking, career development and working effectively in the broader community. The notions of the 'learned professional' and the 'ethics of care', which require commitments to ethical relationships, pedagogical knowledge, critical thinking and intellectual engagement, underpin the way the unit is conceptualised. Consideration is given to topics related to human and material resources management, service development and marketing.

Outcomes

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

appreciate and respond to the complex roles and responsibilities which are integral to the life and identities of an early childhood professional
understand the importance of mandated requirements and the range of issues related to the effective management and administration of early childhood services
understand the ethical dilemmas and commitments inherent in early childhood education
have an awareness of the professional networks, resources and agencies which are available to support the work of early childhood professionals
demonstrate the skills required to work effectively in partnership with team members, parents and other professionals in the field.

Assessment

Service report (1600 words, 40%)
This is related to an area of management of an early childhood service and will replicate an activity that can reasonably be expected of a manager of an early childhood service.
Project report (2400 words, 60%)
This is related to a current issue in the early childhood field and the role of the early childhood professional as an advocate, leader within that context.

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester/term comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

24 contact hours per semester

(b.) Requirements for offshore Kaplan based students:

one intensive block comprising two week nights and weekend days, normally from Thursday to Sunday
at least four hours of online study per term

(c.) Additional requirements (all students):

independent study to make up the required minimum hours per week including readings, completion of set tasks and self-directed learning

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor Nikolai Veresov

Prohibitions

EDF4502
EDF4506