There are three (3) assessment tasks in this subject. In order to meet the unit outcomes and successfully pass this unit, students must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks. Where any submitted assessment task is considered to be unsatisfactory in this regard, the highest possible final grade that can be awarded for the unit will be 45.
Assessment Task 1: Presentation / Debate
This assessment requires you to deliver a presentation on a theorist or dominant view of early childhood education covered in the subject. The aim of this assessment is for students to think critically about the different theorists / dominant views of early childhood education.
Students will work alone or in pairs / groups to present to their peers on a theorist / dominant view of early childhood covered in the subject, during the first or second on-campus session. The schedule of theorists / dominant views is outlined in the table below. The aim is to cover as many theorists / dominant views as possible. Therefore, only one student (or pair / group) can choose each theorist / view of early childhood education. Students need to post their preference in the online forum called ‘ASSIGNMENT 1 – Choice of theorist / dominant view of early childhood education FOR EXTERNAL STUDENTS. Allocation will be in a first come first choice basis.
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Theorist / dominant view of early childhood education
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First on-campus
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Confucius
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Comenius
Locke
Rousseau
Pestalozzi
Froebel
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Second on-campus
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Montessori
Dewey
Gardner
Steiner
AS Neil
Malaguzzi
Piaget
Vygotsky
Bowlby
Pikler
Bronfenbrenner
Rogoff
ECE as ‘separate’ education
ECE as ‘progressive’ education
ECE as ‘scientific’ education
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Presentations should:
- focus on the key points about the chosen theorist / dominant view of early childhood education;
- present the key points in a logical and cohesive way;
- be engaging, informative and promote debate amongst peers.
- last approximately 10 – 15 minutes.
Presentations about theorists should:
Presentations about dominant views of early childhood education should:
Students are encouraged to use a variety of media / ways of delivering their presentation. Different types of resources can be utilised. The presentations can be digital or not. They can use videos (self-created not ready made from the internet); posters; concept maps; dramatisation; puppets; music; accessories; handouts; or whatever resources students think will make their presentation more exciting and engaging. Student pairs can also demonstrate debates about the pros and cons of the theory. Pairs that are in the same week can prepare together and ‘interview each other’ or form a ‘debate panel’. The important thing is to be WELL- ORGANISED, ORIGINAL AND CREATIVE! None of us want to sit through boring presentations.
Assessment 1 Marking Criteria
- A marking rubric for this assessment will be provided in i-Learn.
- Grading for this assessment will be conducted within the tutorial by the tutor, based on the marking rubric.
- Grades will be recorded in Gradebook – but will not be released until all students have completed this assessment.
Assessment Task 2: Research essay: Dominant views of early childhood education
This essay requires students to consider the diverse ways that early childhood education has been viewed in the past and today. How have views about early childhood education developed, what has informed the ways it is viewed today, and what are the implications of those diverse views for early childhood education, children, families and society more broadly?
Students will be provided with one contemporary and one historical media story about early childhood education. Students are required to choose one additional (contemporary or historical) media story. Students must then prepare an essay that discusses similarities and differences in the ways that early childhood education is written about in these media stories.
The essay must to be submitted via Turnitin on the iLearn page.
In their reflection on these media stories, students will need to draw on the compulsory readings and at least two more academic readings. The assignment must follow APA referencing style.
Students may choose current or archival newspaper or television stories about early childhood education. Archived newspaper stories about early childhood education can be found by searching Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au/
Reflecting on the stories, students are encouraged to consider:
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What dominant views about early childhood education are evident in the stories? (e.g. Who / what was it for?)
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What do these views about early childhood education suggest about the ways children, families and / or educators are viewed? (e.g. Are they valued?)
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How are these views different / similar from the views of early childhood education that have been dominant throughout history?
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What are the implications of these views for early childhood education, children, families, educators, and society more broadly?
Essays must:
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draw on the media stories;
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demonstrate a sound understanding of the topics covered in this subject;
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refer to at least four scholarly readings. These may be the required and/or recommended readings for this subject, or other scholarly texts identified through your own searching. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!
Essays should include:
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an engaging introduction that outlines the purpose of the essay;
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a clearly written body with illustrations from your media story and in-text reference to
scholarly sources to support your discussion;
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a conclusion that provides a completion to your thinking.
It is important that the essay:
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synthesises information from the sources;
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uses paragraphs to structure the argument;
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demonstrates an ability to use in-text referencing using both / either paraphrasing and / or direct quotes; and
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provides an accurate and complete end-of- text reference list, that adheres to APA style.
Assessment Presentation and Submission Guidelines
Please follow these guidelines when you submit your essay:
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Allow a left and right-hand margin of at least 2cm in all assignments.
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Please type all assignments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.
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Your essay must be submitted through Turnitin in .doc or .pdf format
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It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all assessments are successfully submitted through Turnitin.
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Students may use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing if this option is made available in the unit.
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Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of each assessment to Turnitin at least one week prior to the due date to obtain an Originality Report.
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The Originality Report provides students with a similarity index that may indicate if plagiarism has occurred. Students will be able to make amendments to their drafts prior to their final submission on the due date.
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Generally, one Originality Report is generated every 24 hours up to the due date.
Please note:
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Students should regularly save a copy of all assignments before submission,
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Students are responsible for checking that their submission has been successful and has been submitted by the due date and time.
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Faculty assignment cover sheets are NOT required.
Assessment 2 Marking Criteria
The marking criteria used to assess essays are outlined in a marking rubric (see i-Learn). Students are strongly advised to ensure that they understand each of the criteria. If, after reading the marking criteria, students require further explanation, please post a discussion on i-Learn or send a dialogue to the unit convenor.
Assessment 3: Open Book Exam
Students will reply to four out of a possible eight essay questions related to content from Weeks 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 lectures and the associated required readings.
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Please note: students may take up to 10 pages of notes with them into the exam.
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Notes should be on paper no larger than A4. Notes can be handwritten or word processed, or a combination of both, and you can use both sides. There are no specifications for margins or font size.
This type of exam demands critical thinking and synthesising skills (not memorization). This can be achieved via weekly engagement with the readings / lectures and tutorial activities - working systematically throughout the session and not just before the exams.
Students are required to be available throughout the duration of the exam period http://www.m q.edu.au/policy/docs/examination/procedure.html If you are unavailable on the day of the exam and it's not due to unavoidable circumstances such as hospitalisation, then you will be marked as absent from the exam and you will fail the unit. The exam cannot be completed before the date listed in the University exam timetable. Students who live outside of the Sydney Metropolitan Area who are registered for a regional exam centre will be able to complete the exam at their exam centre.
Assignment extensions and late penalties
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In general, there should be no need for extensions except through illness or misadventure that would be categorised as serious and unavoidable disruption according to the University definition of same, see: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my- study-program/special-consideration
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Applications for extensions must be made via AskMQ according to the Special Consideration policy. Extensions can only be granted if they meet the Special Considerations policy and are submitted via https://ask.mq.edu.au/. This will ensure consistency in the consideration of such requests is maintained.
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Late submissions without extension will receive a penalty of 5% reduction of the total possible mark for each day late (including weekends and public holidays). You are reminded that submitting even 1 day late could be the difference between passing and failing a unit. Late penalties are applied by unit convenors or their delegates after tasks are assessed.
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No assessable work will be accepted after the return/release of marked work on the same topic. If a student is still permitted to submit on the basis of unavoidable disruption, an alternative topic may be set.
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Students should keep an electronic file of all assessments. Claims regarding "lost" assessments cannot be made if the file cannot be produced. It is also advisable to keep an electronic file of all drafts and the final submission on a USB untouched/unopened after submission. This can be used to demonstrate easily that the assessment has not been amended after the submission date.
Requesting a re-assessment of an assignment
If you have evidence that your task has been incorrectly assessed against the grade descriptors you can request a re-mark. To request a re-mark you need to contact the unit convenor within 7 days of the date of return of the assignment and provide a detailed assessment of your script against the task criteria. Evidence from your assignment must be provided to support your judgements.
Note: Failed assessments cannot be re-marked as they are all double-marked as a part of the moderation process.
Please note: The outcome of a re-mark may be a higher/lower or unchanged grade. Grades are standards referenced and effort is NOT a criterion.
University policy on grading
Criteria for awarding grades for assessment tasks
Assignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading Policy. The following descriptive criteria are included for your information.
Descriptive Criteria for awarding grades in the unit
In order to meet the unit outcomes and successfully pass this unit, students must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks. Where any submitted assessment task is considered to be unsatisfactory in this regard, the highest possible final grade that can be awarded for the unit will be 45.
Students will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the policy: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment-in-effect-from-session-2-2016
The following generic grade descriptors provide university-wide standards for awarding final grades.
Grade
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Descriptor
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HD
(High Distinction)
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Provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the discipline.
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D
(Distinction)
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Provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
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Cr
(Credit)
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Provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
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P
(Pass).
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Provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes
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F
(Fail)
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Does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.
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Note: If you fail a unit with a professional experience component, the fail grade will be on your transcript irrespective of the timing of the placement.
Withdrawing from this unit
If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice via https://ask.mq.edu.au before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact on your progression through the degree.
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.