Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood

This course will prepare you for a career as a skilled, critical and effective educator in the early childhood sector. You will learn how to work with young children with varied needs to develop their creative, intellectual, physical, personal and social capabilities and how to foster their learning in diverse ways. Professional experience placements offered throughout the course will build your knowledge of early childhood teaching and learning.

You will be qualified to teach infants and children from birth to six years of age in childcare, kindergartens and preschools. The curriculum spans birth to eight years of age and you will learn how to engage young children in meaningful learning through innovative pedagogical practice and how to effectively support children's transition to school. You will also learn how to help young children develop their creative, physical, personal, intellectual and social capabilities.

Mandatory checks and security clearances

Before participating in a professional experience placement in any educational setting, students are responsible for checking and meeting any security clearancessecurity clearances (http://monash.edu/education/current-students/professional-experience/teacher-placements/clearances/) that apply within the jurisdiction where the placement is being undertaken.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7, and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

1. demonstrate sound knowledge, skills and capabilities relevant to early childhood education
2. understand the relevance of education policies and theories to pedagogical practice
3. understand and begin to implement relevant curriculum and pedagogy for young learners in local and global contexts
4. appreciate the cultural, social, environmental and economic contexts of early childhood settings and the diversity of children and families who experience these contexts
5. critically reflect upon contemporary issues in early childhood education and research to begin to engage learners and communities for a more equitable and sustainable world
6. work independently and collaboratively as a professional beginning educator to solve complex problems in educational contexts
7. use and creatively integrate information and communication technologies to enhance learning
8. engage with relevant professions and communities to become an ethical leader and practitioner who begins to critically respond to education priorities.

The course develops through the themes of education studies and integrated curriculum and discipline studies that come together in professional studies.

A. Education studies

These studies provide the theoretical foundations of education that underpin the teaching and learning of young children in varied education settings. You will study contemporary theories of child development, focusing on the birth to six/eight years age range. You will also study sociology, psychology, diversity and inclusion, the broad principles of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, and develop an understanding of the relationship between education and society at local, national and global levels. These studies emphasise educational inquiry and will ensure that your teaching is informed by current research and practice. You will acquire the foundation to move into leadership roles as your career progresses.

B. Integrated curriculum and discipline studies

These studies develop the knowledge and skills you will need to become a skilled and effective educator who is able to draw on an ever-growing and flexible repertoire of strategies to suit particular children, educational contexts and learning outcomes. You will learn how to design, plan and implement engaging, innovative and productive learning experiences in order to meet diverse learners' needs. You will also develop your content knowledge in the subjects you will be teaching in early childhood education settings. The emphasis is on exploring young children's learning holistically in diverse contexts, through a range of pedagogical perspectives and practices.

C. Professional studies

These studies will provide you with an understanding of professional identity and leadership as well as professional experience through the completion of supervised placement in early childhood settings. Professional experience connects the theoretical components of the other themes with practical aspects of teaching and learning. You will complete the minimum number of days of professional experience required for professional registration.

This course comprises 144 points. Students admitted on the basis of an eligible prior qualification will be given credit for the level 1 units or for the level 1 and 2 units in the course, depending on the prior qualification.

The course develops through theme studies in A. Education studies, B. Integrated curriculum and discipline studies, and C. Professional studies.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-d2002.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study. NOTE: Students at Singapore should refer to the Kaplan unit rotation scheduleKaplan unit rotation schedule (http://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/366207/D2002-BEdEC-SGP.pdf) for further information.

You must satisfactorily complete supervised professional experience as indicated below. You must be available to undertake placement on a full-time basis and attend your placement at times determined by the faculty.

Units are six credit points unless otherwise stated.

Students complete:

Part A. Education studies (60 points)

• EDF1033 Education for environment and sustainability
• EDF1039 Inclusivity and partnerships in early childhood education
• EDF1303 Learning and educational inquiry 1
• EDF1304 Learning and educational inquiry 2
• EDF2030 Contemporary child development theories and practices
• EDF2033 Learning with children, their families and communities
• EDF2039 Children and childhood across time: Policies and practices
• EDF3030 Diversity in child development
• EDF3031 Local and global perspectives in education policy
• EDF3033 Change and transition in children's education

Part B. Integrated curriculum and discipline studies (60 points)

• EDF1030 English and literacy learning
• EDF1031 Creative learning in childhood through music and the arts
• EDF1032 Thinking mathematically from an early age
• EDF2032 Learning through play pedagogies
• EDF2034 Learning about patterns, shapes and numbers through play
• EDF2035 Health and physical wellbeing in the young child
• EDF3032 Children's literature, storytelling and the arts
• EDF3034 Children's literacy development
• EDF3035 Investigating our world: Science, technology and the environment
• EDF3181 Art, environment and community

Part C. Professional studies (24 points)

Students complete 50 days of supervised professional experience in early childhood settings.

• EDF1038 Introduction to the early childhood education field
• EDF1051 Early years professional experience 1A (0 points) (5 days, 3-5 year olds)
• EDF1052 Early years professional experience 1B (0 points) (5 days, 3-5 year olds)
• EDF2038 Curriculum, assessment and documentation in education
• EDF2051 Early years professional experience 2A (0 points) (10 days, 3-5 year olds)
• EDF2052 Early years professional experience 2B (0 points) (10 days, 0-5 year olds)
• EDF3038 Professionalism, ethics and interdisciplinary work in education
• EDF3039 Leadership and management in education contexts
• EDF3051 Early years professional experience 3A (0 points) (10 days, 3-6 year olds)
• EDF3052 Early years professional experience 3B (0 points) (10 days, 0-2 year olds)

Credit for prior study

Students who are admitted to the course with block credit will complete units as follows.

Students who receive block credit for 48 points will complete 96 points comprising:

• EDF2030 Contemporary child development theories and practices
• EDF2032 Learning through play pedagogies
• EDF2033 Learning with children, their families and communities
• EDF2034 Learning about patterns, shapes and numbers through play
• EDF2035 Health and physical wellbeing in the young child
• EDF2038 Curriculum, assessment and documentation in education
• EDF2039 Children and childhood across time: Policies and practices
• EDF2051 Early years professional experience 2A (0 points) (10 days, 3-5 year olds)
• EDF2052 Early years professional experience 2B (0 points) (10 days, 0-5 year olds)
• EDF3030 Diversity in child development
• EDF3031 Local and global perspectives in education policy
• EDF3032 Children's literature, storytelling and the arts
• EDF3033 Change and transition in children's education
• EDF3034 Children's literacy development
• EDF3035 Investigating our world: Science, technology and the environment
• EDF3038 Professionalism, ethics and interdisciplinary work in education
• EDF3039 Leadership and management in education contexts
• EDF3051 Early years professional experience 3A (0 points) (10 days, 3-6 year olds)
• EDF3052 Early years professional experience 3B (0 points) (10 days, 0-2 year olds)
• EDF3181 Art, environment and community

Students who receive block credit for 96 points (Singapore one-year program) will complete 48 points comprising:

• EDF3030 Diversity in child development
• EDF3032 Children's literature, storytelling and the arts
• EDF3033 Change and transition in children's education
• EDF3034 Children's literacy development
• EDF3035 Investigating our world: Science, technology and the environment
• EDF3038 Professionalism, ethics and interdisciplinary work in education
• EDF3039 Leadership and management in educations contexts
• EDF3051 Early years professional experience 3A (0 points) (10 days, 3-6 year olds)
• EDF3052 Early years professional experience 3B (0 points) (10 days, 0-2 year olds)
• EDF3181 Art, environment and community