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Module Specifications

Archived Version 2022 - 2023

Module Title
Module Code
School

Online Module Resources

NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Description

This module is underpinned by the four themes of Aistear, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2009): Well-being; Identity and Belonging; Communicating and Exploring and Thinking. Play and playful contexts that support children’s learning and development is explored in this module. Students are introduced to practices and pedagogies that provide supports for the promotion of well-being, communication, transitions and children’s voice in early childhood. The module explores a range of formative assessment processes as identified in Aistear (NCCA, 2009).

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify how play and playful contexts can support young children’s learning and development.
2. Describe the importance of young children’s rights, agency and voice in all learning experiences.
3. Explore how young children use different contexts and resources for communicating and making meaning.
4. Explain the roles and responsibilities of educators in early childhood settings.
5. Discuss the impact of transitions on young children’s lives.
6. Define assessment as it applies to early learning and to pedagogy for children aged 0-6.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Workshop22Presentation of content in workshop format. Active participation and engagement in workshops. Exploration of resources to support content.
Independent Study44Engage with a variety of literature and resources to prepare for workshop.
Independent Study20Independent study for assignment
Assignment Completion39Completion of assignment
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

Indicative Content
• Aistear: Themes (NCCA, 2009): Well-being; Identity and Belonging; Communicating and Exploring and Thinking; • Aistear: Guidelines for Good Practice (NCCA, 2009): Building partnerships between parents and practitioners; Learning and developing through interactions; Learning and developing through play and Supporting learning and development through assessment; • The role of play in early learning and development; • Playful approaches to learning and development in the early years; • Children’s rights, agency and voice in early childhood; • Multi-modal communication and meaning making; • The role of transitions in early childhood; • The role of relationships and contexts to support the promotion of young children’s well-being; • Key issues in formative assessment in early childhood education.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement
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
Unavailable
Indicative Reading List

  • Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education: 2006, Síolta. The national quality framework for early childhood education., Dublin, Dublin,
  • Carr, M.: 2000, Seeking children’s perspectives about their learning. In A. Smith, N. Taylor, M. Gollop (Eds.), Children’s voices: Research, policy and practice (pp. 37-54)., Pearson Education., New Zealand,
  • Carr, M. & Lee, W.: 2012, Learning stories: Constructing learner identities in early education, Sage, London,
  • Drummond, M. J.: 2012, Assessing children’s learning. (ebook Cregan Library), Classic, Routledge, Abington, UK:,
  • French, G.: 2007, Children’s early learning and development: A research paper., National Council for Curriculum and Assessment., Dublin,
  • Harcourt, D., Perry, B. & Waller, T.: 2011, Researching young children’s perspectives: debating the ethics and dilemmas of educational research with children., Routledge,
  • Kernan, M.: 2007, Play as a context for learning and development: A research paper, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment., Dublin,
  • Moyles, J.: 20, The excellence of play (available as an ebook), 3rd, Open University Press,
  • National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. (NCCA): 2009, Aistear: The Early Childhood curriculum framework, NCCA, Dublin,
  • National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. (NCCA): 2022, Literature Review to Support the Updating of Aistear: The Early Childhood curriculum framework., NCCA, Dublin,
  • O’ Kane, M.: 2016, Transition from preschool to primary school. Research report:19., NCCA, Dublin,
  • Wood, E.: 2013, Play, learning and the early childhood curriculum, Sage, London,
Other Resources

None
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