Field-based Practicum subjects provide the opportunity for the student to apply, in a practical context, the theories and principles studied on campus. The experiences are graduated through the course, moving from observation and recording activities, with individual children and small groups, to situations in which students undertake substantial periods of responsibility for the direction and supervision of the program. Associated with each subject is a set of competencies that provide the basis for assessment of students' performances, and progression through the sequence of subjects.
Practicum subjects are assessed on a pass/fail basis, except for Practicum: Advanced.
In all there are 36 competencies to be satisfactorily achieved over the three years of each Diploma: 10 in the first year,15 in the second and 11 in the third. The competencies for each year are set out under the four headings: Communication/Interaction with Children, Communication with Adults, Program Design Skills, Level of Program Responsibility. The Practicum Handbook 1992, which is distributed to all students enrolled in practicum subjects, provides full details of the competencies.
Distribution of Practicum in Years 1 to 3 of the Diploma of Teaching and Diploma of Social Science courses.
Diploma of Teaching Days
Year 1 Focus
0-5 Community Services 5
Kindergarten 15
Day Care 10
Total 30
Year 2 Focus
0-12 Kindergarten 25
School 10
Total 35
Year 3 Focus
Children with special needs 15 Specialisation: Kindergarten 20
Total 35
Diploma of Social Science Year 1 Focus
0-5 Community Services 5
Kindergarten 10
Day Care 15
Total 30
Year 2 Focus
0-12 Day Care 15
Out of School/Holiday Program 20
Total 35
Year 3 Focus
Children with Special Needs 15 Specialisation: one of - Day Care (Admin.), Residential, Family Day Care,
After School, Holiday Programs, Children in Hospital, Other Care
Settings 20
Total 35
TOTAL number of days for each course: 100 466-442 PRACTICUM: ADVANCED Credit points: 16.7
Staff: Glenda McNaughton.
Prerequisites: Education and Care C, and either Practicum C2 - Teaching or Practicum C2 - Care.
Contact: At least 6 weeks (or equivalent part-time) of placement in either a specific early childhood care/education program or the relevant section of a government department or local council is required.
(To be advised.)
Content: In consultation with the supervising staff member and the relevant field expert, the student will be expected, within an appropriate supervision model, to identify an area of skill development and, through negotiation with the supervisor, to plan a program likely to develop such skill. The student must then implement the program and evaluate it in conjunction with the supervisor. Note: Variable points may be available in this subject.
Assessment: A program log book, including the student's report evaluating the program and the professional development that resulted from it. For
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a 16.7 point value, the log book should be 30 pages, including an evaluation of approximately 2400 words.
Smaller point values will require proportionately less pages and words. Results will be graded.
466-159 PRACTICUM A: CARE Credit points: 16.7
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Contact 30 days: 5 days visiting a range of community services, 15 days in day care centres, 10 days in a pre- school program. (Two semesters.)
Content Experiences across the 0 to five year age range, in a variety of settings.
Assessment See statement under Practicum.
466-160 PRACTICUM A: TEACHING Credit points: 16.7
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Contact 30 days: 5 days visiting a range of community services, 15 days in kindergarten, 10 days in day care or programs for 0 to three year olds. ( Two semesters.) Content Experiences across the age range 0 to five years, in a variety of settings.
Assessment See statement under Practicum.
466-241 PRACTICUM B: CARE Credit points: 19.4
Staff: Glenda McNaughton.
Prerequisite: Practicum A: Care.
Contact 35 days, with an additional six hours of contact in first aid. (Two semesters.)
Content Part 1 35 days of practicum in a variety of settings for children 0-12 years; 15 days in day care centres and 20 days in out-of-school or holiday programs to be taken in at least two different programs. Part 2 Six hours of workshop contact and examination sessions concerning the principles and practices of first aid.
Assessment Part I See statement under Practicum.
Part 2 Participation in practical tasks; 100 per cent attendance. Students must pass both sections.
466-240 PRACTICUM B: TEACHING Credit points: 19.4
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Prerequisite: Practicum A: Teaching.
Contact 35 days: 25 days in pre-school, 10 days in primary school. An additional 6 hours of contact time in first aid. (Two semesters.)
Content: Part 1 35 days of practicum including experiences across the age range 0 to eight years in a variety of settings. Part 2 Workshop contact and
examination sessions concerning the principles and practices of first aid.
Assessment: Part I See statement under Practicum Subjects. Part 2 Participation in practical tasks; 100 percent attendance. Students must pass both sections.
466-375 PRACTICUM C(1) - CARE Credit points: 11.1
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Prerequisite: Practicum B: Care.
Contact: 20 days. (Two semesters.)
Content: 20 days in a child care setting. Underspecial circumstances students may negotiate alternative practicum placements.
Assessment: See statement under Practicum.
466-374 PRACTICUM C(1) - TEACHING Credit points: 11.1
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Prerequisite: Practicum B: Teaching.
Contact: 20 days. (Two semesters.) Content: 20 days in a pre-school setting.
Assessment: See statement under Practicum.
466-373 PRACTICUM C(2) - CARE Credit points: 8.3
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Prerequisite: Practicum B: Care.
Contact: 15 days. (Two semesters.)
Content: 15 days of field experience in a variety of care and recreation settings (mainstream or specialist in orientation) that provide for children with special needs or additional needs.
Assessment: See statement under Practicum.
466-372 PRACTICUM C(2) - TEACHING Credit points: 8.3
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Prerequisite: Practicum B: Teaching.
Contact: 15 days. (Two semesters.)
Content:15 days of field experience in an educational setting (mainstream or specialist in its orientation) that provides for children with special needs or additional needs.
Assessment: See statement under Practicum.
466-161 PRACTICUM STUDIES: ART Credit points: 4.2
Staff: Robert Brown.
58 The University of Melbourne Prospectus and Handbook 1992 — Volume Four Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (First or
second semester.)
Content: Drawing, painting, printmaking and collage from their beginnings as records of rhythmic movement to the development of their expressive uses. The use of clay as a basic creative material for different age groups. Experiencing art materials directly in order to understand their true value for the young child.
Assessment: An Art Resource File of at least 25 pages, including five practical tasks completed in class; class notes and examples of completed practical tasks; notes from further relevant reading; examples of children's a rt works. The File should include notes on drawing, painting, collage, construction, printmaking,ceramics and their role and importance to the developmental program of the child. Minimum 80 per cent attendance; participation in workshop activities. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
Prescribed text: Jenkins P Art For the Fun of It Prentice Hall New York 1980.
466-171 PRACTICUM STUDIES: BASIC CARE Credit points: 1.4
Staff: Margaret Edwards.
Contact: Four 2-hour workshop sessions. (First or second semester.)
Content: The skills involved in the daily and on- going care of infants and children including feeding, washing, bathing, toiletting, changing, dressing and calming in preparation for rest and sleep. Application of skills to ensure individual and cultural needs of children are considered. Care of, and techniques for maintaining a basic standard of hygiene.
Assessment: Informal exercises completed satisfactorily in class; basic care skills and knowledge assessed as part of the practicum competencies for Year 1, with particular reference to Competency No.
6. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-298 PRACTICUM STUDIES: CHILD HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Credit points: 6.9
Staff: Ruth Coulson, Christine Ure.
Contact: 86 hours. A 1-hour lecture each week for two semesters, and a 2-hour workshop each week for one semester. (Two semesters.)
Content: Issues in the health care of young children in group settings. Basic concepts of nutrition and food preparation for young children of different age groups. Experiences that encourage children to develop a positive attitude to health, nutrition and safety.
Assessment: A 1-hour examination on health; a 1- hour examination on nutrition; resource file.
Minimum 80 per cent attendance at workshops.
Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-169 PRACTICUM STUDIES: DRAMA Credit points: 4.2
Staff: Carole O'Neill.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (First or second semester.)
Content: An introduction to a broad range of exercises and activities designed to create an awareness of the value of drama for children and an ability to design and implement drama programs appropriate to the needs of children. Workshops will encourage students to develop their own resources, and to examine what children learn by being involved in structured drama activities.
Assessment: Participation in, and contribution to, at least 80 per cent of activities and class workshops;
presentation of a written journal (at least 20 pages/
1000 words) of activities for practical work with children. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-165 PRACTICUM STUDIES: ENGLISH Credit points: 4.2
Staff: Margaret Aitken.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (First or second semester.)
Content: An introduction to the selection, evaluation and presentation of children's literature.
Assessment: A piece of work (at least 20 pages/1000 words) such as a resource file of books suitable for use with children. Minimum 80 per cent attendance.
Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-162 PRACTICUM STUDIES:
EXPLORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT Credit points: 8.3
Staff: Ruth Coulson.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (Two semesters.)
Content: Ways in which children can be encouraged to explore their environments, including physical, living, and cultural aspects.
Assessment: A resource file (at least 60 pages/1000 words) of activities and ideas relevant for practical work with children. Minimum 80percent attendance.
Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-244 PRACTICUM STUDIES:
MATHEMATICS Credit points: 4.2 Staff: Margaret Clyde.
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Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (Firstsemester.)
Content: An enhancement of positive attitudes by the students towards mathematical learning in general; exploration of basic concepts leading to an understanding of number, logic, spatial relationships and measurement by young children; analysis of some relevant theories of development in order to examine strategies used by young children in the acquisition of mathematical concepts.
Assessment•. One of: log book, resource file, written project, or teaching/learning aids. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-168 PRACTICUM STUDIES: MOVEMENT Credit points: 4.2
Staff: Phyllis Lloyd.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (First or second semester.)
Content: The study of Body Awareness: kinesthetic sensitivity; body activities; movement principles of form - the design which movement creates in space and dynamics - the relationship between movement elements of force, time and fluency; organisation of movement material into effective frameworks suitable for varying age levels.
Assessment: Resource file (at least 10 pages) of activities and notes relevant to practical work with children (60 per cent); a 20-minute workshop presentation or equivalent seminar paper (40 per cent). Minimum 80 per cent attendance. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-167 PRACTICUM STUDIES: MUSIC Credit points: 4.2
Staff: Patricia Broberg, Charles Edwards.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. (First or second semester.)
Content: Practical experience in the elements of music. involving development of vocal, instrumental and listening skills; use of solfa and simplified notation, percussion instruments; repertoire of songs, chants, rhymes, games and other activities suitable for children 0 to eight years; children's musical development, program planning.
Assessment: A resource file (at least 20 pages/1(X)0 words) of activities and items relevant for practical work with children. Minimum 80 per cent attendance.
Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
Prescribed texts: Hoermann D and Bridges D Catch a Song Holmes McDougall Australia and Ed.
Supplies Brookvale NSW 1985. Hoermann D and Bridges D A Developmental Music Program: Stage One - Teachers Manual Dominie Australia 1984.
466-242 PRACTICUM STUDIES: SCIENCE Credit points: 4.2
Staff: Ruth Coulson.
Contact: A 1-hour lecture and a 2-hour workshop each week. (First or second semester.)
Content: Study of the diversity of living things, using local forms as examples; the care and use of living things in the kindergarten; everyday phenomena including air, water, heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, and appropriate technical applications;
approaches for teaching science relevant to the experiences of young children; gender inclusiveness.
Assessment: A resource file of ideas and information relevant for practical work in science with children.
Minimum 80 per cent attendance. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-163 PRACTICUM STUDIES: SOCIAL STUDIES
Credit points: 4.2 Staff: Avril Mitchell.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week for half of the semester. (First or second semester.)
Content:The contribution made by the social sciences to an understanding of the young child's social environment. The teacher's role in planning a social studies program for young children.
Assessment: A resource file (at least 20 pages/1000 words) of activities for use in practical settings with children. Minimum 80 per cent attendance.
Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
466-164 PRACTICUM STUDIES: SPORTS AND GAMES
Credit points: 4.2 Staff: Phyllis Lloyd.
Contact: A 2-hour workshop each week. Excursions may be planned in lieu of lecture/workshop time.
(First or second semester.)
Content: Basic skills and techniques used in a variety of sports; practical experiences in games activities which require little or no equipment for both indoor and outdoor settings; traditional games such as skipping, hopscotch; suitable venues for excursions, e.g., swimming, canoeing, with emphasis on safety requirements.
Assessment: A resource file (at least 10 pages) of activities and items relevant to working with children (60 per cent); a 20-minute seminar paper (40 per cent). Minimum 80 per cent attendance. Assessment is on a Pass/Fail basis.
60 The University of Melbourne Prospectus and Handbook 1992 — Volume Four 466-446 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT D
Credit points: 16.7 Staff: Margaret Clyde.
Prerequisite: Education and Care C.
Contact: A 2-hour lecture/seminar each week. (First semester.)
Content: An in-depth examination of the early childhood professional as curriculum designer, decision-maker and advocate. The context in which early childhood professionals operate; the political, social and economic forces which impact upon the early childhood field, and the place of current professional issues in children's services.
Assessment: An essay or essays equivalent to 3000 words (80 per cent); practical tasks (20 per cent).
Results will be graded.
Prescribed text: Goffin S G and Lombardi J Speaking Out: Early Childhood Advocacy NAEYC Washington DC 1988.
466-137 READING STUDY 1 Credit points: minimum of 2.8 Staff: Brian Jacka.
Contact: To be negotiated with lecturer. (First or second semester.)
Content: This study is normally undertaken by students who enter with credit for a previously- completed child care qualification and are required to undertake part(s) of a subject, rather than the subject as a whole. The content will usually be taken with students undertaking the full subject.
Assessment: The assessment requirements will be determined depending on the nature of the content.
Results will be graded.
466-440 READING STUDY 2 Credit points: 16.7
Staff: Brian Jacka.
Contact: To be negotiated with the lecturer. (First or second semester.)
Content: The nature of the study will vary. Some examples are: a literature review of an issue relevant to the student's professional work; preparation of an article suitable for publication in a journal on an issue of professional relevance; an essay which explores an issue of professional concern; preparation and presentation of a set of tutorials/seminars to students in the BEd course.
Assessment: The nature of the assessment depends on the type of study undertaken; however, where word length is relevant, a minimum 3000-word requirement will apply. Results will be graded.
466-347 SCIENCE ELECTIVE PRACTICUM STUDY
Credit points: 8.3 Staff: Ruth Coulson.
Prerequisite: Practicum Studies: Science.
Contact A 2-hour tutorial/workshop each week and a 4- hour afternoon excursion. (Fust or second semester.) Content: Activities and factors in the study of science in the environment, with particular emphasis on using locally-available examples and on native flora and fauna. Key focus on activities to foster and enhance sensitivity to the environment with the aim to provide children with a sound basis for the future development of ecological awareness.
Assessment: A resource book of at least 80 pages (50 percent); an assignment of approximately 1500 words (50 per cent). Students must satisfactorily complete each item of assessment. Minimum 80 per cent attendance. Results will be graded.
466-316 SEX AND GENDER ROLE DEVELOPMENT 1
Credit points: 16.7 Staff: Shireen Lateef.
Prerequisites: Minimum credit of 133 points, including Human Development B.
Contact: Internal mode: a 2-hour lecture/seminar each week. External mode (attendance on campus not required) provides one 2-hour lecture/tutorial session on campus for those who wish to attend.
(Second semester.)
Content: The sex and gender role development of the young child from a biological, psychological and sociological perspective. The biological basis of sex role behaviour, psychological processes of sex role development and social factors related to a child's sex role development.
Assessment: Three field studies of approximately 750 words each, one for each disciplinary perspective presented during the course (15 per cent each); a 2500-word essay (50 per cent). Students must satisfactorily complete each item of assessment.
Results will be graded.
466-348 SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVE PRACTICUM STUDY
This subject is not offered in 1992.
466-308 SPECIAL NEEDS AND INTEGRATION
Credit points: 16.7
Staff: Day Program: Robyn Fergusson, Evening Program: Sue Tinworth.
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Prerequisites: Minimum credit of 133 points, including Education and Care B and Human Development B.
Contact A 2-hour lecture/workshop each week.
(Second semester.)
Content A critical examination of the concepts and attitudes inherent in the segregation versus mainstreaming philosophies. The trends in current philosophy, policy and practice of early intervention and integration. Strategies to enable participants to implement individualised programs within an integrated group.
Assessment: A case study involving the development of the profile of a child with special needs in a care or education setting (approximately 4500 words).
Results will be graded.
466-351 SPORTS AND GAMES ELECTIVE PRACTICUM STUDY
Credit points: 83 Staff: Phyllis Lloyd.
Contact A 2-hour workshop each week, and at least two 4-hour excursions. (First semester.)
Content: Activities suitable for a variety of environments, e.g., beach, swimming pool, camp site; introduction of activities suitable for the older age groups such as camping, canoeing, orienteering;
organisation of excursions, tournaments, round robins, etc; the role of umpire, referee, coach in relation to more formal games such as cricket, tennis, football, and hockey.
Assessment Seminar presentation (20 per cent);
excursion arrangement(40 per cent); final presentation (40 per cent). Students must satisfactorily complete each item of assessment.
Minimum 80 per cent attendance. Results will be graded.
466-318 WOMEN'S STUDIES Credit points: 16.7
Staff: Glenda MacNaughton.
Prerequisites: Minimum credit of 133 points in the course.
Contact A 2-hour lecture/tutorial each week. (Second semester.)
Content:The social construction of gender; ideals of 'femininity' and 'masculinity' in Australian society;
the transformation of women's position and role; the sexual division of labour in the Australian family; the ideology of motherhood; the relationship between the expectations and roles of women and child care funding; whether child care is a public or private issue.
Assessment A 3000-word essay. Minimum 80 per cent attendance. Results will be graded.