Early Years Learners and Learning (P00625)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : EDU-P-P00625

=This module involves looking closely at the educational experiences of young children. The aim of the module is two-fold. In the first instance, it offers opportunities to deepen knowledge of how children think and learn and how different conditions in learning environments can affect that learning. Secondly, it sets out to develop skills and strategies for gathering and evaluating information about learners, learning and group processes.

The complex social context of learning is a particular focus and poses critical questions for early education practice in pre- and post-five settings. Curriculum development in early education depends upon practitioners having up -to -date knowledge of recent thinking on early learning and its management. Reading widely and developing an awareness of the extensive research field will be important in this module. The aim is to encourage a critical and informed questioning of practice and a scrutiny of ideologies.

Developing the skills of individual and independent enquiry is integral to this module and it looks in particular at techniques of observation and of analysing observation evidence. General points are raised about action research approaches to curriculum development.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Education, (The Moray House School of Education, Schedule C)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 9 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. critically review 'taken for granted' definitions of early education philosophy in the light of issues raised by the study of the links between thinking, social context, language and learning
2. explain the implications for curriculum, learning environments, organisation and policy which a more 'socially constructed' view of learning entails
3. identify and undertake an investigation of a relevant area of particular concern in their own practice
4. design and use observation techniques to gather data for analysis of learning

Assessment Information

Assessment will take the form of a written assignment (5,000 words). This will include a critical overview of a selected area, an analysis of practice involving some first-hand enquiry (including observation) and a comprehensive discussion of the reading, the enquiry data and the implications for action. There should also be a review of the process of the investigation.