Early Childhood Teachers as Professionals (12005.2)

This unit focuses on what it means to be a professional teacher and how to develop the requisite skills, knowledge and practices. This includes teachers' capacity to identify their own learning needs, work individually and collegially to meet those needs, and to demonstrate respect and professionalism in their interactions with the broader early childhood education community. Equally important is managing one's health and well-being through good work/life balance.

This unit includes a 20-day professional experience placement in an early learning centre approved by the local regulatory authority. Students will have the choice of the age group they would like to work with. Successful completion of the professional experience placement is required to pass this unit.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Explore the ethics and legal compliance of teaching practice and commit to obligations to both;
2. Identify and pursue their own professional learning needs, locating and utilising sources of development in the wider education community;
3. Devise strategies and access resources for promoting teacher well-being and balancing work/life responsibilities in productive ways;
4. Observe, assess, and plan, and implement and evaluate teaching and learning cycles;
5. Reflect on self as a developing professional, and how reflective practice supports personal and professional growth; and
6. Communicate respectfully and maintain inclusive relationships with a variety of diverse and intersecting stakeholders.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways

Prerequisites

11997 Partnerships in Early Childhood Education AND 12001 Behaviour in Early Childhood AND 9869 Designing Learning for Diversity and Inclusion

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.