Course Title: Building Partnerships with Parents, Carers and Community

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Building Partnerships with Parents, Carers and Community

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Coordinator: Julie Carmel

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7804

Course Coordinator Email: Julie.carmel@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses 

Successful completion of TCHE2658 Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education AND 

TCHE2625 Literacy Test for Initial Teacher Education AND 

TCHE2634 Professional Experience: Developing and Caring for Early Learners 

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course. 

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage. 

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course. 

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage. 

Course Description

This course focuses on the importance of early childhood educators collaborating, communicating and planning in partnership with parents and community to achieve best practice for children in early childhood education and care contexts.  You will explore the importance of building mutual and reciprocal relationships with parents and community in supporting children in their learning outcomes. You will examine parent programs, policy and practice for partnerships with families and communities and incorporate culturally appropriate practices. You will also develop strategies to build partnership with families and community that ensure comprehensive, holistic and continuous approaches to early years education and care of young children.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:  

PLO3 Support students to develop the skills needed to become collaborative, problem-solving, creative learners with agency, and innovative and engaged members of society. 

PLO4 Adopt and apply sustainable, ethical, and collaborative pedagogical approaches to transform education in local and global social contexts. 

PLO7 Engage with school communities and professional networks and communicate with diverse stakeholders in a range of contexts.

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

		Graduate APST
1.	Examine the importance and implications of building strong, reciprocal partnerships with families and the wider community	7.1, 7.3
2.	Articulate practical strategies that support and build collaborative relationships with families and community	6.1, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3
3.	Engage with diverse learners and families in a range of educational contexts in order to develop skills and knowledge for flexible and adaptable participation in professional communities of practice.	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1 7.3
4.	Work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness, ethical and reflective practice to support best possible learning outcomes for all children.	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3
5.	Create opportunities for shared learning, networking and interactions between parents/carers/child/ teacher and other community members to establish trust and reciprocity.	4.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as workshops, tutorials, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Students are expected to undertake pre class activities such as readings, reflective tasks to assist with understanding of course content. Teaching and learning may be face to face, online, or a combination of both. 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. In addition to RMIT resources students may be required to purchase textbooks for this course. Students will be provided with current additional reading lists and website to assist in their understanding of the course content.  

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes (CLO) and on your development against the program learning outcomes. The assessment is also mapped against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST).  

Assessment Tasks 

	Title	Weighting	CLOs	APSTs
AT 1	Case study: Engaging diverse learners	25%	1, 3	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1 7.3
AT 2	Written Report:  Developing ethical and responsible relationships with families	30%	2, 4	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3
AT 3	Parent and community E-Resource  (Group presentation)	45%	1, 4, 5	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3

 

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 Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.