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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Critical Studies in ECE 2
Module Code EC214 (ITS) / ECE1002 (Banner)
Faculty DCU Institute of Education School Language, Literacy & ECE
Module Co-ordinatorAishling Silke
Module Teachers-
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

This module is based on identifying, questioning and contesting some of the taken for granted ideas, perspectives and values that dominate the discourse within early childhood (birth – 6 years) and the broader society. The module seeks to problematise some existing and emerging issues that are relevant to the lives of young children from social, pedagogical and political perspectives. A broad range of issues, relevant and of interest to the student group will be considered and interrogated from multiple perspectives. The module is built on the premise that without examination, dominant discourses potentially silence voices, narrow thinking, shape-specific understandings and become the uncontested accepted norms or truths. This module will enable students to explore and critically examine core issues around purpose, practise and context in early childhood education and care. From a variety of disciplines anchored in social studies, the module will approach reality as socially constructed, and discuss the implications for the (re)production and transformation of social reality.

Learning Outcomes

1. Developed a critical stance in recognising and examining ‘childhood’, ‘education’ and ‘care’ as culturally, socially, politically and economically constructed.
2. Developed a critical appreciation of how social institutions contribute to the (re)production of social (in)justices through their embedded power mechanisms.
3. Integrated perspectives from a variety of social studies disciplines around early childhood education and care.
4. Engage in critical dialogue with relevant stakeholders in relation to current discourses.
5. Discuss the implications for the (re)production and transformation of social reality.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Assessment Feedback45No Description
Independent Study56No Description
Lecture24No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

This module will enable students to explore and critically examine core issues around purpose, practise and context in e

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
ParticipationBi-weekly assignments60%n/a
ParticipationEvidence of in-session work10%n/a
AssignmentIntegrative assignment30%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Barry, U.: 2008, Where are we now? New feminist perspectives on women in contemporary Ireland, Tasc at New Island Press,
  • Peter Moss,Gunilla Dahlberg,Alan R. Pence: 0, Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care, 9780415820226
  • Stefan Faas,Dagmar Kasüschke,Elena Nitecki,Mathias Urban,Helge Wasmuth: 2019, Globalization, Transformation, and Cultures in Early Childhood Education and Care, Springer Nature, 9783030271190
  • Tobin, J., Hsueh, Y., & Karasawa, M.: 2009, Preschool in three cultures revisited: China, Japan and the United States, University of Chicago Press,
  • Fikile Nxumalo & Christopher Brown: 2019, Disrupting and Countering Deficits in Early Childhood Education, Routledge, New York and London, 9781138103542
  • Gupta, A.: 2014, Diverse early childhood education policies and practices: voices and images from five countries in Asia, Routledge, New York and London, 9781138287020
Other Resources

None

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