Course Title: Approaches to Child Development in Early Childhood

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Approaches to Child Development in Early Childhood

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Anne Houghton

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7804

Course Coordinator Email: anne.houghton@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 220.04.16


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will focus on child development from birth to eight years. You will investigate a range of perspectives concerning the development of children within educational and social contexts. You will be introduced to a number of theoretical traditions, approaches and practical positions for understanding the complexity of influences on children’s development. You will attain a variety of observational techniques and skills that involve development, learning dispositions, the whole child, the child in social context and the individual child within the group.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

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

  • discuss the importance of early childhood development from birth to eight years
  • use a range of techniques to observe and record children’s development and learning
  • apply knowledge and skills in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to support learning and development for children from birth to eight years
  • analyse the impact on growth of life experience, genetic inheritance, family, childrearing practices and cultural and social influences.


You will be assessed on your development of the following program learning outcomes in this course:

  • Apply initiative and judgment in planning, problem solving, decision making to enhance your practice and continuing professional development
  • Demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and innovation when identifying and solving problems in diverse educational settings.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities both face to face and online such as lectures, tutorials, group and class discussion, group activities and individual research.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.
 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program capabilities.

Assessment may include reports, projects and presentations, individually and in groups. Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning. You will be able to develop your work in relation to your own specific areas of interest in your professional practice.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

A Student charter http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/studentcharter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment