EDPROFST 717 : Learning and Teaching in the First Years

Education and Social Work

2023 Semester Two (1235) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Critically examines learning and teaching with infants and toddlers in educational settings. How does the context of care impact on contemporary educational views of learning and teaching? How do teachers construct infants and toddlers as learners? What does this mean for their practice? How does international theory and research inform the practice of teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Course Overview

This course takes an advanced look at what it means to support infants and toddlers in a range of settings, critiques conditions for teachers and other adults working with very young children and families, and explores associated complexities and possibilities.  

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Master of Education

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically examine learning and teaching with infants and toddlers in educational settings. (Capability 2.1 and 2.2)
  2. Articulate and critique the notion of the context of care and how it impacts on contemporary educational views of learning and teaching. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2 and 4.1)
  3. Identify, articulate and apply diverse images of infants and toddlers in relation to educational practice. (Capability 1.2, 2.3, 3.3 and 4.1)
  4. Critically evaluate local and international theory and research that informs the practice of teachers of infants and toddlers in Aotearoa/New Zealand (Capability 1.2, 2.3, 3.3, 4.1 and 5.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Community engagement and reflective statement 20% Individual Coursework
Literature critique 40% Individual Coursework
Report and presentation 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Community engagement and reflective statement
Literature critique
Report and presentation

To achieve an overall pass on this course, students must complete all components of the Assignment Tasks and achieve at least 50% for the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can also reasonably expect to commit approximately 240-260 hours to independent learning. This may include reading (and more reading), note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, engaging in collaborative group work, problem-solving, undertaking practical tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

The course is delivered using a blended approach including online engagement and three conventional face-to-face campus sessions.

Online engagement, and attendance at the three on campus sessions is expected to complete components of the course.

The on campus sessions are scheduled from 4.30pm-7.30pm on

- Monday 17 July (start of course),

- Monday 14 Aug, and

- Monday 16 Oct 2023.

The course may include live online events.

Study material will be released progressively throughout the course.

This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.


Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The 2023 course will involve a new teaching team member and modifications to the assignments based on previous student feedback.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.