Module EDUS1581: DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN THE VERY EARLY YEARS

Department: Education [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

EDUS1581: DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN THE VERY EARLY YEARS

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce some fundamental ideas associated with the all-round development of children in the pre-school years.
• To acquire a knowledge of the normal social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of young children from birth to age five.
• To consider how to apply this understanding in the context of young children's thinking and learning in preparation for formal schooling.

Content

• The module will explore approaches to the study of children's development and learning in the very early years (birth to compulsory school age in England).
• A range of discrete themes will run through as blocks:
• Block 1: Children and Childhood
• Block 2: Physical Development
• Block 3: Social Development
• Block 4: Learning in Early Childhood
• Block 5: Pre-school Provision
• Block 6: Preparing for Primary School
• Block 7: Practical Placement.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key ideas related to young children's all-round development, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of factors that influence this development, demonstrate an ability to analyse and interpret relevant contexts in relation to young children's all-round development, reflect critically upon how these developmental processes affect young children's pre-school experiences in a variety of contexts, show knowledge and understanding of how aspects of educational theory relate to the learning of pre-school age children.
• show a developing knowledge and understanding that can be applied to planning for teaching, and show a developing and understanding of how this can be applied to working with children in the very early years.

• think critically and independently;
• analyse, synthesise and evaluate primary and/or secondary data;
• critically analyse literature on a variety of contemporary education issues;
• construct and sustain a reasoned argument.

• communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively in a variety of ways;
• work effectively, both independently and as part of a team, on given tasks and activities;
• use Information and Communications Technology in a variety of ways;
• manage time and work to deadlines.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The course will be delivered through weekly block lectures.
• There will also be fortnightly seminar sessions where students will present their critical reflections on appropriate readings and research and experiences in relevant pre-school contexts.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assignment (1500 words in total).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University