Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood (881)

The Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education program focuses upon developing early childhood teachers as critically reflective teachers and managers who can work with children across the age range 0-8 years in a variety of early childhood settings. Course content covers: Foundations of Education (psychology, history, sociology, and philosophy of early childhood education); Curriculum Studies (e.g. Mathematics, Science, Language, Creative Arts, in early childhood education); Managing Early Childhood Learning Environments; and Child Development and Care. Field work is an ongoing component throughout the course, and students are expected to conduct independent and collaborative inquiry in the field as part of their learning and assessment tasks.

Approaches to course delivery emphasise students' autonomy and critical reflection in their learning. Students are involved in problem-solving and field and library research, which is conducted in teams, and follows from input provided by lecturing staff. A teamwork approach is also used to promote students' interpersonal skills, which is seen to be an identifiable requirement for early childhood practitioners. A three-stage framework that provides a scaffolding which is systematically released over the three years of the course, further aims to develop skills in self-directing team work.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education are required to undertake a teaching practicum in each year. Practicum experiences include 5-8 year-olds in K-2 classrooms; 3-5 year olds in preschool and long day care settings; and a six week extended teaching practicum.

Appropriate arrangements are made to cater for the needs of students not proceeding through the program at the normal rate, as defined in the schedule below. Such students will need to consult with the Early Childhood Education Course Director, at enrolment.