ECFS 1007 Practicum 1 (3credits)
Course Description
ECFS 1007 Practicum 1, is the first practical experience you have with young children in an early childhood setting. It is therefore designed as a) observation of practice, and b) reflection on what has been observed. The ultimate objective being to develop your ability to be reflective practitioners by reflecting on and recording practicum experiences of working with young children, their families and early years practitioners.
You will be required to record your reflections on what you have observed in your online journal using Mahara.
Throughout the Course, you will also be required to make the connections between what you observe and reflect on and what you have learned in the courses you pursued in Semester 1, Academic Year 2012-2013:
- ECFS1001 History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Development
- ECFS 1003Health, Safety and Nutrition
- ECFS 1004 Understanding Behaviours
- ECFS 1008 Child Rights and Protection Issues
Course Objectives
By the end of this Course, you will be able toobserve, reflect and record your reflections on:
- How standards of health, safety and nutrition are maintained and the extent to which they meet current legislation relating to regional early childhood standards.
- The supervision of the children in the early years setting during the following activities: circle time, activity time, fruit time, lunch time, nap time and outdoor activities.
- The influence of the physical setting, schedule, routines, and transitions on children’s unique needs and how early years practitioners respond to these needs.
- The activities related to children’s transition routines as well as how early years practitioners supervise them.
- How the history, leading philosophies and theories of early childhood education are integrated into practice in the early years setting to meet the developmental needs of the children.
- The level of awareness of early childhood development sector policies, procedures and regulations evident in the setting.
- The professional behaviours, attitudes, and ethics involved in working with young children, their parents, and staff in early childhood settings.
- The importance of valuing and respecting each person as an individual in the early childhood setting.
- The role of research in the development of the early years practitioner.
- The importance of observation and reflection in action research.
- The value and purpose of a teaching portfolio for the early years practitioner.
