Students

ECED602 – Early Childhood Development

2015 – S1 Day

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Helen Little
Contact via 98509875
X5B357
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MTeach(Birth to Five Years) or GradCertEChild
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit examines major theories and current issues in child development and the application of developmental theory to educational practice. It provides students with an understanding of how theory and cultural assumptions influence practice and how to recognise the implications of theory and research for teaching. The initial part of the unit is concerned with theories of development and the middle to latter sections deal with domains of development and areas of specific interest in child development for the early childhood years.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

General Assessment Information

All assignments in this unit are submitted online through the unit website. 

When preparing your assignments, it is essential that you note that:

  • Assignment marks will be deducted if you submit your assignment late (refer to the ‘late assignments’ section below for more details);
  • Unless there are exceptional circumstances, no assignment will be accepted after the date that the assignment has been returned to other students. 
  • All failing assignments will be double marked when the failure is due to unsatisfactory content.  Failures that are the result of deductions for lateness or loss of marks for referencing, presentation, or plagiarism may not be double-marked;

Late Assignments:

A deduction of 1 mark per day will be made for each day or part day that an assignment is late, weekends counting as two days. 

Extensions:

In extenuating circumstances, students may apply to the unit coordinator for an extension to the assignment due date. Reasons for the extension need to be documented in accordance with the Disruptions to Study policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html 

It is expected that you will commence working on your learning activities at the beginning of semester.  If you have had a brief illness or adverse event, the unit coordinator will request that you submit all work completed prior to the interruption in your study.  If it appears that you have not completed a substantial component of the work, it is unlikely that your extension will be granted.  Demonstration of work completed should be done by sending an email to the unit convenor with a word file of completed work attached or the content of your document pasted into the email.

The Disruption to Studies Notification must be completed by the student and submitted online through www.ask.mq.edu.au. Refer to the Disruptions to Studies procedures: http://studentadmin.mq.edu.au/disruption%20to%20studies.html

Note that:

  • Students MUST notify the unit coordinator prior to submitting their request through ask.mq.edu.au.
  • Extension will only be granted on receipt of the completed form submitted through Tracker, plus documentation.
  • Emails are not appropriate means of extension requests.
  • It is essential that you plan ahead and organise your study time effectively. Poor time management is not grounds for an extension
  • In the case of computer malfunctions, a draft of your assignment may be requested. Please ensure that you print out a draft regularly, so that it is available for submission on request. ( As Learning Activities are completed as discussion forum posts you are advised to draft your responses in a word document first so that you have another copy should you experience computer malfunctions or technical issues with accessing iLearn   
  • Extensions are usually not granted on the due date.

 

University Disruption to Studies Policy

The University recognises that students may experience disruptions that adversely affect their academic performance in assessment activities.  Support Services are provided by the University to assist students through their studies.  Whilst advice and recommendations may be made to a student, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to access these services as appropriate.

The Disruption to Studies Policy applies only to serious and unavoidable disruptions that arise after a study period has commenced.  The full Disruption to Studies Policy can be found at http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

 

Serious and Unavoidable Disruption: The University classifies a disruption as serious and unavoidable if it:

  • could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student; and
  • was beyond the student's control; and
  • caused substantial disruption to the student's capacity for effective study and/or completion of required work; and
  • occurred during an event critical study period and was at least three (3) consecutive days duration, and / or
  • prevented completion of a final examination.

 

Work Awarded a Fail

All assessments awarded a fail will be double marked, or double checked in the case of multiple choice items. There are no resubmissions in this unit.

 

Eligibility for a Passing Grade

In order to receive a passing grade in this unit, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Receive an adequate total mark for the unit (i.e. your combined marks for the two quizzes, the learning activities and PeerWise tasks). 
  • Have made a serious attempt at passing all six pieces of work in order to pass the unit. 
  • In order to receive a grade of Pass, your total mark must be at least 50/100.

Note: If you miss one piece of work, you will fail the unit.  It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assignments or have missed a quiz.  If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to make contact with the unit coordinator to determine whether it is possible to complete the unit in 2015.

The final grade a student receives signifies their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes for the unit. The number assigned to a grade (Standard Numerical Grade or SNG) reflects the extent to which student attainment matches the grade descriptors.

Your raw mark for the unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Results may be scaled to ensure there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results. The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw score mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Learning Activity 1 5% 26 February
Learning Activity 2 10% 12 March
PeerWise Task 1 5% 27 March
Quiz 1 30% 30 March
Learning Activity 3 15% 21 May
PeerWise Task 2 5% 29 May
Quiz 2 30% 1 June

Learning Activity 1

Due: 26 February
Weighting: 5%

Describe your current view on how children develop and discuss some of the influences that have contributed to “your theory” (professional or cultural background, family of origin, travel etc.) Post 500 words to the website

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.

Learning Activity 2

Due: 12 March
Weighting: 10%

 

Select two theories to focus on and read the key readings concerning these. Outline your understandings of these theories. What are the key aspects of their explanation of human development? Describe whether the theories are consistent with your observations of development.

Post 800 words to the website


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.

PeerWise Task 1

Due: 27 March
Weighting: 5%

 

Students in ECED602 will use PeerWise to create, share and evaluate multiple choice quiz questions. Peerwise is designed to help students consolidate course content and prepare for the two Quiz assessment tasks.

PeerWise Task 1: Upload minimum of 1 multiple choice question per lecture topic for Lectures 1 to 12. Evaluation of 10 questions written by other students.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Quiz 1

Due: 30 March
Weighting: 30%

 

36 multiple choice questions (18 marks), 12 Short Answer (24 marks)

Multiple choice from lectures, Short answer from lectures and readings.

Open Book (notes, lecture overheads and textbooks)


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Learning Activity 3

Due: 21 May
Weighting: 15%

 

View the video ‘Zero to Hero’. Students are required to imagine that are the teacher of one of these children. Based on the observations of the child from this video as well as what you have learnt about your target child from the other two episodes you have watched during this unit – in 900 words identify at least 2 specific areas of development that need nurturing or intervention. How would you go about fostering future development? Support your arguments with research where appropriate.

900 words posted to unit website & reflection


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

PeerWise Task 2

Due: 29 May
Weighting: 5%

 

 

PeerWise Task 2: Upload minimum of 1 multiple choice question per lecture topic for Lectures 13 to 24. Evaluation of 10 questions written by other students.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Quiz 2

Due: 1 June
Weighting: 30%

 

36 multiple choice questions (18 marks), 12 Short Answer (24 marks)

Multiple choice from lectures, Short answer from lectures and readings.

Open Book (notes, lecture overheads and textbooks)


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Delivery and Resources

Required Texts: 

Crain, W. (2010). Theories of child development: Concepts and applications (6th ed.). London: Pearson.

White, F. Hayes, B. & Livesey, D. (2013). Developmental Psychology: From infancy to adulthood (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education. 

 

Learning and Teaching Methods: 

The main method of delivery of unit content is via weekly tasks in iLearn. The lectures are not presented during class time, but are available from the ECED602 web site under each weekly section.  You must make time to listen to the lectures and take notes.  The lecture schedule in this unit guide provides dates for lectures to be completed to ensure you are prepared for your class.  You must complete 3 lectures before attending your first class and, on average, complete 3 lectures in each of the weeks that classes are held.

  • Ensure that you are listening to your lectures regularly and completing the associated readings.  The material in this unit is complex and cannot be rushed.  Set yourself weekly times to ensure that you complete your lectures each week.  

This series of recorded lectures, along with accompanying lecture notes and textbook readings, are the core study material.  Seminars, tasks and assessments have been developed specifically to facilitate understanding of the lectures and readings.  See the lecture schedule for more details.

Unit Schedule

 

 

 

Complete before

Lecture

Lecturer

Reading

                                                                  Key Theories 

23 Feb

1. Cognitive Theories

Dr Shirley Wyver

Crain, Ch. 6 & 10

23 Feb

2. Learning/Behaviourism

Dr Helen Little

Crain, Ch. 8 & 9

23 Feb

3. Maturation/Ethology

Dr Frances Gibson

Crain, Ch. 2 & 3

2 March

4. Ecological Systems

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett

White et al. pp.16-17

2 March

5. Psychoanalysis

Dr Frances Gibson

Crain, Ch. 11 & 12

2 March

6. Research Methods

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett

White et al. pp. 22-31

                                                                    Foundations of Development

9 March

7. Individual Differences and Genetic Contributions

Dr Frances Gibson

White et al. pp. 31-45 

9 March

8. Prenatal Development

Dr Frances Gibson

White et al. pp. 45-54

16 March

9. Perception 1

Dr Shirley Wyver

White et al. pp.82-108

16 March

10. Perception 2

Dr Shirley Wyver

White et al. pp.82-108

23 March

11. Physical Development

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett White et al. pp. 59-77  
23 March

12. Motor Development

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett White et al. pp. 57-77
                                                                     Domains of Development
20 April

13. Cognition 1

Dr Shirley Wyver White et al. Ch 5 & 6
20 April

14. Cognition 2

Dr Shirley Wyver White et al. Ch 5 & 6
27 April

15. Language Development

Dr Shirley Wyver White et al. Ch. 7
27 April

16. Joint Attention

Dr Shirley Wyver White et al. p. 166
27 April

17. Theory of Mind

Dr Shirley Wyver White et al. pp. 166-170
4 May

18. Gender

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett White et al. pp. 272-278
4 May

19. Temperament

Dr Frances Gibson White et al. pp.304-305
11 May

20. Attachment

Dr Frances Gibson White et al. pp.262-268
11 May

21. Parenting

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewet White et al. pp. 283-285
18 May

22. Social Development

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett See unit website
18 May

23. Peer relationships

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett See unit website
18 May

24. Bullying

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett See unit website

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Learning Activity 1
  • Learning Activity 3

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.

Assessment task

  • Learning Activity 3

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • PeerWise Task 1
  • PeerWise Task 2

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Assessment tasks

  • Learning Activity 2
  • PeerWise Task 1
  • Quiz 1
  • Learning Activity 3
  • PeerWise Task 2
  • Quiz 2

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire an understanding of the many and varying influences important to the development of a child.
  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Assessment tasks

  • Learning Activity 1
  • Learning Activity 2
  • PeerWise Task 1
  • Quiz 1
  • Learning Activity 3
  • PeerWise Task 2
  • Quiz 2

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop an appreciation of the whole child through exploring the links between different dimensions of child growth and development.
  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Assessment tasks

  • Learning Activity 2
  • PeerWise Task 1
  • Quiz 1
  • Learning Activity 3
  • PeerWise Task 2
  • Quiz 2

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate autonomy and adaptability as a teacher of young children through a thorough knowledge of child development theories and links with practical applications.
  • Analyse critically links between theory, research and practice to explore the biological underpinnings of development including individual differences.

Assessment tasks

  • Learning Activity 1
  • Learning Activity 2
  • PeerWise Task 1
  • Quiz 1
  • Learning Activity 3
  • PeerWise Task 2
  • Quiz 2

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural, historical and contextual influences on child.