EDF2039 - Children and childhood across time: Policies and practices - 2017

This unit examines critically how childhood has been theorised over time, and investigates how different concepts of childhood have shaped children's lives and educational opportunities. Students engage with a range of educational philosophical perspectives that have contributed to understandings of childhood across time and place. Students also develop an understanding of the complex socio-economic, cultural and political contexts that have shaped childhoods locally and globally and they investigate how concepts generate possibilities and challenges for young children's learning in the present and future. Particular emphasis is given to the implications for students' work as emerging leaders in their professional field.

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

1. understand the changing concepts of childhood over time and place
2. begin to critically analyse how educational philosophies have shaped ideas of childhood
3. demonstrate critical thinking to develop new understandings of how young children's lives are historically embedded in socio-economic, cultural and political contexts
4. critically reflect on implications for early years' educational leadership.

Individual task: review of concepts of childhood (2000 words equivalent, 50%)

Group presentation with written narrative analysis: childhood over time and place (2000 words equivalent, 50%)

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • 2 hours per week
2. Requirements for on-campus block City-based students:
   • one intensive weekend block
   • at least 4 hours of active online engagement in Moodle activities per term
3. Requirements for offshore Kaplan-based students:
   • one intensive block (usually from Thursday to Sunday)
   • at least 4 hours of online study per term
4. Additional requirements (all students):
   • independent study to make up the minimum required hours per week

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Jane Bone

Early years education

Early years and primary education