Module: Issues in Professional Learning & Practice

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Issues in Professional Learning & Practice
Module Code	ECE1023 (ITS: EC109)
Faculty	Language, Literacy & ECE	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module focuses on issues in professional learning and practice in Year 1, the foundational year and is relevant to students' emerging professional identities and taking an enquiry stance to practice. Students will develop an ethical dimension to their practice through critically reflecting on personal and professional values. These values relate to practising in ways which are child-centred, socially-oriented, inclusive, rights-based, democratic and cross-disciplinary. The student is prepared for placement in an early childhood care and education setting. In order to learn to plan creatively and well for this experience, students will learn about settings in ECE in Ireland, their role and the roles of others within these settings. Students will be introduced to planning and reflecting for early learning, professional e-portfolio building, and integrating theory with practice.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline a range of personal values in relation to early childhood and examine core values that are evident in ECEC policy and practice in Ireland.
2. Engage in critical reflection on all children’s learning through enquiry-centred communities of practice.
3. Outline the importance of building collaborative and responsive relationships with all babies, toddlers, young children and staff.
4. Describe the practicalities and context of working as a professional in an early childhood setting with babies, toddlers and young children, cognisant of legislative and good practice requirements.
5. Highlight the importance of observing and planning for early experiences appropriate to the context of learning and development.
6. Initiate the process of compiling a professional e-portfolio

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Assessment Feedback	25	No Description
Independent Study	76	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10341	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Marlene Mccormack	Module Teacher	Geraldine French

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Portfolio	The e-portfolio will comprise of students’ reflections and learning on a range of topics that link with the learning outcomes of the module.	100%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Ioanna Palaiologou: 2019, Child Observation: A guide for students of early childhood, 4th, Sage Publications, London, 978-1-52564-4
T., Louis, S. and McCall, G.: 2014, Observing Young Children, Sage, London, 978-1-4462-85
Fawcett, M. and Watson, D.: 2016, Learning through child observation, 3rd, Jessica Kingsley, London,
Ioanna Palaiologou: 2012, Ethical Practice in Early Childhood, 1st, Sage Publications, London, 978-0-85702-8
Alice Paige-Smith, Anna Craft: 2008, Developing Reflective Practice in the Early Years, 2nd, 11, Open University Press, 224, 0335242359
Professor Cathy Nutbrown, Mrs Jools Page: 2013, Working with Babies and Children, 2nd, 7, Sage Publications Ltd, London, 224, 1412946743
French, G.: 2008, Supporting quality: Guidelines for professional practice in early childhood services, 3rd, Barnardos, Dublin,
Maire Mhic Mhathuna (Editor), Mark Taylor (Editor): 2012, Early Childhood Education & Care, 1st, 30, Gill & Macmillan Ltd, Dublin, 334, 071715324X

Articles:

Urban,M., Robson, S. and Scacchi, V: 2017, Review of Occupational Role Profiles in Ireland in Early Childhood Education and Care, https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/Final-Review-of-Occupational-Role-Profiles-in-Early-Childhood-Education-and-Care.pdf, 36873
2011: CoRe. Competence requirements in early childhood education and care: Research documents commissioned by the European commission, DG Education and Culture., University of East London and Ghent, http://www.academia.edu/967922/Competence_Requirements_in_Early_Childhood_Education_and_Care_CORE_-_final_report, 36866, 1
). Code of Professional Responsibilities and Code of Ethics for Early Years Educators: http://www.limerickchildcare.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Code-of-Professional-Responsibilities-and-Code-of-Ethics-for-Early-Years-Educators.pdf, 36867, 1, The Council of the European Union
2011/C 175/03: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52011XG0615(04), 36850, 1, Dept. Of Justice, 2002, Model Framework for education training and professional development in the early childhood care and education sector
http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Early-Years/Model-Framework-for-Education-Training-and-Professional-Development-in-the-Early-Childhood-Care-and-Education-Sector.pdf: 36868, 1, Tusla, 2018, Quality and Regulatory Framework: Full Day Care Service and Part-Time Day Care Service,
36851: 1, 2006, Code of ethics. Australia: Early Childhood Australia,
1: Children’s Rights Alliance, 2010, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, http://www.childrensrights.ie/sites/default/files/UNCRCEnglish.pdf
International Journal of Early Years Education: 2014, Early childhood practicum students' professional growth in the USA: Areas of confidence and concern, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2014.911644, 36853
0: Code of Ethics, 36854, 2
Children’s early learning and development: Research paper, commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum & Assessment, http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Early_Childhood_and_Primary_Education/Early_Childhood_Education/How_Aistear_was_developed/Research_Papers/Childrens_learning_and_dev.pdf, 36855, 2, Barnardos
http://www.barnardos.ie/assets/files/publications/free/Once_in_a_lifetime.pdf:

Other Resources

Website: Ballyfermot Language Enrichment Programme for ideas for language games with children three to six visit, http://www.thelanguagegarden.ie
Website: Children’s Right’s Alliance, for communications on children’s rights, contact Communications, communications@childrensrights.ie see also http://www.childrensrights.ie/
Website: Early Childhood Ireland for general information visit, http://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/
Website: Information on resources for Montessori (Irish) Montessori Alliance, info@montessorialliance.ie
Website: National Adult Literacy Association for ideas to help children from birth to learn, visit Help my kid learn., http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/
Website: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for podcasts, videos, and information supporting early learning in relation to Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework' visit, http://www.ncca.ie
Website: Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, http://www.siolta.ie
Website: American daily news items on ECE; to receive ExchangeEveryDay write to exchangeeveryday@ccie.com,
Website: American monthly newsletter (Extensions) is available from HighScope Foundation. Become a member for free at http://www.highscope.org,
Website: European e-News Bulletin called Euro Child Bjoern Becker bjoern.becker@eurochild.org,