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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Drama & Socio-Dramatic Play in ECE
Module Code ECE1026 (ITS: EC203)
Faculty DCU Institute of Education School Language, Literacy & ECE
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Description

This module builds on Play and Learning 1 and enables students to further develop their understanding of the processes of play and learning for babies, toddlers and young children with an emphasis on socio-dramatic play. Students consider the benefits for babies, toddlers and young children of engaging in a range of play experiences, both self-sustained and supported. Students explore ECE curriculum models which integrate play and develop their ability to design and support play experiences. They extend their knowledge of their role in play interactions and gain experience and knowledge of how to sustain and support play in a variety of contexts and with different children. Students’ developing understanding of play is supported in the module by consistent work on documenting, observing and assessing play as well as learning how to support children who find it hard to play. The key role of language in developing social play is also examined.

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop a Pedagogy of Play
2. Analyse strategies for supporting children’s socio-dramatic play.
3. Critique the quality of play interactions
4. Demonstrate the ability to document children’s play
5. Apply observation and assessment strategies in relation to children’s play.
6. Choose appropriate methods for helping children with play difficulties.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture12No Description
Workshop12No Description
Assessment Feedback60No Description
Independent Study41No Description
Total Workload: 125
Section Breakdown
CRN20241Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework100%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsN
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorMarlene MccormackModule Teacher
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
EssayDrawing on theory and practice explore children's socio-dramatic play and consider the role of the adult in supporting this type of play.50%Sem 2 End
Poster presentation Working in groups, students will develop and present a poster which identifies and anlyses socio-dramatic play in action.40%n/a
ParticipationStudents will complete weekly tasks that relate to session readings or class discussion.10%n/a
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

1
Children’s participation in different forms of play: What are the benefits? How to increase participation for all children?

2
Play, children’s creative thinking and creative expression

3
An integrated approach to play; Play as the basis of the curriculum in ECE settings

4
Extending children’s play through sensitive adult interventions

5
Play as a methodology to support all children’s learning and development: Aistear Guidelines on Play

6
Play and technology: Different levels of integration

7
Observation, assessment and documentation of children’s play

8
Play , playfulness and the development of learning dispositions 2

9
Developing a play pedagogy

10
Play Interactions..the role of language

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Janet Moyles: 2005, The Excellence of Play, 3rd, Open University Press, 360, 0335240941
  • Wood, E.: 2013, Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum, 3rd, Sage Publications, 208,
  • Woods, A.: 2013, Child-initiated play and learning, planning for possibilities in the early years, 1st, David Fulton Publishers, 144,
  • edited by David Whitebread: 2003, Teaching and learning in the early years, 1st, 18, RoutledgeFalmer, London, 384, 0415280486
  • Fumoto, H., Robson, S., Greenfield, S., & Hargreaves, D.: 2012, Young children’s creative thinking, 1st, 11, Sage, London, 184, 0857027328
  • Janet Moyles and Sian Adams; with Jill Evans... [et al.]: 2001, StEPS, 1st, Open University Press, Buckingham, 108, 0335207170
  • Plowman, L., Stephen, C. and McPake, J.: 2010, Growing up with technology – young children learning in a digital world., 1st, 9, Routledge, UK, 192, 0415468922
  • Broadhead, P.: 2004, Early years play and learning: Developing social skills and cooperation, Routledge Falmer, London,


Articles:
  • NCCA: 2009, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Early_Childhood_and_Primary_Education/Early_Childhood_Education/Assessment/An_Leanbh_Og_journal_article_on_assessment_in_Aistear.pdf, 525651
  • 2006: Developing an understanding of young children’s learning through play: the place of observation, interaction and reflection, in British Educational Research Journal, 32(2), 191-207, 17, 525652, 2
  • Using a programmable toy at preschool age. Why and how?: Paper presented at SIMPAR 2008: International Conference on Simulation Modelling and Programming for Autonomous Robots, 112-121. Venice, Italy, 10, 525653, 2, Rinaldi, C.
  • In C. Edwards, L.Gandini, & G. Forman. (Eds.), The hundred languages of children: The reggio emilia approach-advanced reflections (2nd ed., pp. 113-pp.126). Greenwich: Ablex Publications.: 14, 525654, 2, Rogers, S., & Evans, J., 2006
  • 13:
Other Resources

  • 1: Report, Department of Educational Studies University of Oxford, 2002, Researching effective pedagogy in the early years,
  • 422356: 1, Report, London: Institute of Education, 2003, The effective provision of pre-school education project: Findings from the pre-school period,
  • http://www.cecde.ie/english/pdf/Vision%20into%20Practice/Taggart.pdf:

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