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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Children's Participation in ECE
Module Code EC307
School 77
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Sandra O'Neill
Semester 2: Sandra O'Neill
Autumn: Sandra O'Neill
Module TeachersSandra O'Neill
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Coursework Only
As above
Description

This module analyses current conceptions of the ways in which babies, toddlers and young children participate in early education and care settings. Children’s perspectives on a variety of aspects of early education and care are explored with a view to maximising their participation in shaping provision. The focus of this module is on an ethical and rights based perspective of children’s participation. Approaches to children’s participation are compared across a range of ECE curricula from an international and national perspective. The approach, from an Irish perspective, to universal provision of preschool education and care is examined.

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse the different ways in which all children can participate in early education and care settings from a rights based perspective
2. Recognise all children’s rights and agency
3. Examine models of participation
4. Evaluate national legislation, regulation and policy that supports and underpins children's participation in Irish society
5. Compare children’s participation across a range of early childhood curricula and frameworks from an ethical perspective
6. Identify effective approaches for eliciting the individual perspectives of babies, toddlers and young children, taking due account of communication and learning abilities



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24No Description
Assessment Feedback25No Description
Independent Study76No 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

1
• Children’s rights and agency

3
• Current conceptualisations of young children’s participation in early childhood education and care

4
• Models of participation

7
• Analysis of case studies relating to children’s participation in early childhood education and care

5
• Analysis and comparison of children’s participation across different curriculum models

8
• Approaches to eliciting babies, toddlers and young children’s perspectives

2
• The ethics of participatory practice and research

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentEssay plan.20%Week 7
Participationn/a10%n/a
EssayCritical analysis of children’s participation in early education and care settings.70%Sem 1 End
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Alison Clark: 2011, Listening to Young Children, 2nd, National Children's Bureau Enterprises Ltd, London, 1907969268
  • Carlina Rinaldi: 2006, In dialogue with Reggio Emilia, 1st, 15, Routledge, London, 0415345049
  • Gunilla Dahlberg and Peter Moss: 2005, Ethics and politics in early childhood education, 1st, 8, Routledge, London, 0415280427
Other Resources

None
Programme or List of Programmes
BECEBachelor of Early Childhood Education
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