Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)

This degree is designed to meet the Australian Government's requirements for Early Childhood Education and to qualify graduates as four-year trained Early Childhood Teachers*.

Course Aims

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) aims to provide candidates with a professional qualification exceeding the minimum requirements for recognition by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an approved Early Childhood Teacher under the National Quality Framework (NQF).

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge; demonstrate well developed cognitive, technical and communication skills; and independently apply this knowledge and these skills, across the six areas prescribed by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority; independently apply their knowledge and skills in psychology and child development including learning, development and care, language development, social and emotional development, child health, wellbeing and safety and early intervention; independently apply their knowledge and skills in teaching pedagogies including alternative pedagogies and curriculum approaches, play-based pedagogies, guiding behaviour/engaging young learners, teaching methods and strategies, children with diverse needs and backgrounds, diversity, difference and inclusivity, learners with special needs, transitions and continuity of learning including transition to school; independently apply their knowledge and skills in education and curriculum studies including Early Years Learning Framework; the Australian curriculum, numeracy, science and technology, language and literacy, English as an additional language, social and environmental education, creative arts and music, physical and health education, and curriculum planning, programming and evaluation; independently apply their knowledge and skills in community and family contexts including developing family and community partnerships, multicultural education, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, socially inclusive practice and culture, diversity and inclusion; independently apply their knowledge and skills in history and philosophy of early childhood including historical and comparative perspectives, contemporary theories and practice, and ethics and professional practice; independently apply their knowledge and skills in early childhood professional practice including leadership, management and administration, professional identity and development, advocacy and research; and demonstrate written and oral communication skills to communicate effectively and build rapport across a range of stakeholders.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge of a Discipline Graduates of this course will demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge of the discipline of Early Childhood Education. They will have demonstrated this through online activities and assessment tasks, and will have applied it through professional experience. They will be able to discuss and debate global perspectives of early childhood education and will understand and be able to articulate the place and importance of early childhood education in the Australian and global context. They will have broad and coherent knowledge of theories of child development, pedagogy and practices that are globally applicable. Communication Skills Graduates of this course will be able to communicate with young children, colleagues, families and the community in a clear and coherent manner. They will have demonstrated and practised this attribute through assessment activities and professional experience. Problem Solving Graduates of this course through their unit learning activities and assessment tasks will have developed a broad range of problem solving skills, specifically focussed on the discipline of early childhood education but broadly transferrable to other contexts. They will be able to work collaboratively with others to solve a variety of problems of different degrees of complexity, and also independently by applying their own judgement. Information Literacy Graduates of this course will be able to recognise relevant information and use appropriate media, tools and methodologies to locate, access, and use information. They will be able to critically evaluate sources of information, its value and validity, and use it to analyse, generate and transmit solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems. They will also be familiar with e-learning technologies including Learning Management Systems and electronic media as a means of communication and have developed skills in their use. Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility Graduates will understand and practise the high standards of ethical behaviour associated with the discipline of early childhood education. They will demonstrate an understanding of social factors affecting educational outcomes and an understanding that their personal beliefs and actions impinge on others. Lifelong Learning Graduates of this course will have developed intellectual capacity and critical thinking skills. They will have demonstrated a capacity for self-directed learning. These skills are all transferrable to life-long learning. Independence and Collaboration Graduates will have developed the skills to work collaboratively with others to solve complex problems. Graduates will be aware that personal accountability is imperative as it affects the collaborative outcome.