Infants and Toddlers Professional Experience

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
?   Display Outline Guidelines      


Effective Term: 2025/02
Institute / School :Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Unit Title: Infants and Toddlers Professional Experience
Unit ID: ECCEL3723
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): Nil
Co-requisite(s): (EDECE1020 or EDECE3029)
Exclusion(s): (EEZED3723)
ASCED: 070101
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

This unit supports the professional experience in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) in which the Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) complete a 15-day field based early childhood placement with children under three years. The PSTs are introduced to the individual and collective understandings of the education professional. Learning is framed within the context of developing practices and knowledge associated with becoming an active and engaged professional early childhood teacher. PSTs will examine verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support the learning and engagement of young children. Effective communication strategies to work with the professional learning community and parents/carers are considered. Drawing on the relevant legislative policies, PSTs consider their ethical responsibility to young children and describe strategies that support the wellbeing and safety of young children in early childhood settings. PSTs are required to complete the activities outlined in Professional Experience Assessment Report (Form A). This will take place in collaboration with their Mentor Teacher in the early childhood setting in which the placement occurs. The PSTs will also document their professional learning in Professional Experience Pre-Service Teacher Learning Log (Form B) supported by their assigned University Mentor.

Grade Scheme: Ungraded (S, UN)
Work Experience Indicator:
Student is undertaking work experience in industry where learning and performance is not directed by the provider, but support is received from the provider. Fees (provider may charge a student contribution amount or tuition fee).
Placement Component:Yes - days
Supplementary Assessment:No
Supplementary assessment is not available to students who gain a fail in this Unit.
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Connect theoretical learning with the practice of teaching in an authentic education environment

K2.

Receive and reflect on critical and meaningful feedback

K3.

Inquire into their own and others teaching practice appropriate to the professional

K4.

Investigate a range of current communication theories for teaching

K5.

Identify verbal and non-verbal communication strategies that support the engagement of young children

K6.

List the mandatory reporting requirements associated with teaching

K7.

Explore the APST and the purpose of these in the profession to identify professional learning needs.

Skills:
S1.

Negotiate professional duties and teaching and learning tasks with the supervising mentor

S2.

Set personal goals for future learning and research

S3.

Reflect on strengths and future needs as a learner and as a teacher and utilise constructive feedback principles to improve teaching practice

S4.

Document observations and learning experiences

S5.

Examine a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to enhance teaching and learning

S6.

Explain mandatory reporting requirements associated with teaching

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Nominate, complete and document personal learning tasks that are relevant to the setting in which the internship is conducted

A2.

Reflect-on-action related to personal learning in an on-line journal

A3.

Develop an online Professional Experience resource folder that includes tasks based on the Professional Standards, as well as other learning

Unit Content:

Topics may include:
1. Professional experience placement requirements

2. 15 day field-based early childhood internship working with children under three years

3. Legislative policies that underpin ethical responsibility

4. Strategies to maintain the wellbeing and safety of young children in educational contexts

5. Verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support learning and engagement

6. Communication strategies to involve parents/carers in the educative process

7. Introduction to using a range of data to inform teaching and learning

8. Introduction to legislative requirements, ethics, codes of conduct and mandatory reporting

9. Constructive feedback principles using the transactional process model

10. APST and their role in the profession.

Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in:

•   Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication

•   Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening

•   Showing empathy for others

•   Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills

•   Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.

Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Creating a collegial environment

•   Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect

•   Inspiring and convincing others

•   Making informed decisions

•   Displaying initiative

Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Reflecting critically

•   Evaluating ideas, concepts and information

•   Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas

•   Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts

•   Forming creative solutions in problem solving.

Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information

•   Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely

•   Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media

•   Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups

•   Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities.

N/A - Not Applicable
FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts

•   Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen

•   Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses

•   Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others

•   Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.

Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, S1, S2, A1, A2

Complete Professional Experience Assessment Report (Form A) in collaboration with mentor teacher

Hurdle

S/U

2.K1, K2, K3, K7, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3

Establish, reflect and evaluate learning goals and professional learning against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in Pre Service Teaching Learning Log (Form B)

Hurdle

S/U

3.K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, A1, A2, A3

Completion of 15 day internship in an early childhood setting

Hurdle

S/U

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency