Reference no: EM133766507

Play and Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education

Assessment Brief

Assignment Rationale

As an Early Childhood Teacher, a critical part of your role is to create learning environments that are inclusive of diverse perspectives, responsive to children's interests and needs, and provide play experiences that support the learning, development, and wellbeing of all, no matter their circumstances. Your decisions and actions should be underpinned by relevant early childhood research, theory, and policy documents. This assessment task offers an opportunity for informed decision-making.

This assignment aligns with the following Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs)

LO1: identify and analyse the role of play in learning and examine the challenges pertaining to play and pedagogies.
LO2: discuss the diversity of approaches to pedagogies utilised in early childhood education and care, and how they position children, teachers, and parents/carers.
LO3: analyse the relationships between philosophy, theory, and pedagogy to the learning environment for all young children (birth - 5 years).
LO4: critically reflect on personal philosophy to play and pedagogies for learning and teaching as an early childhood professional.

Task Description
This task requires students to reflect on key issues presented in Modules 1-6 and design a learning space, a play-based learning experience and a play-based resource, for children aged 0-5 years. Each design will be supported by a written statement. A template will be provided.

Instructions
Part A: Play Space Design
You are asked to design an entire indoor or outdoor play space for an age group of your choice (0-1 year, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, or 3-5 years) or one corner of the outdoor or indoor space. Consider elements such as the layout and available resources, how they are used, and their purposes. You may use any computer program to create the design, or it can be hand-drawn. Your design must be inserted into the template provided on the Blackboard site and clearly labelled. Provide a 250-word written statement explaining how your personal philosophy on play-based pedagogy has informed your design for this particular age group.

Part B: Learning Experience Plan
Using the provided learning experience plan template, plan a small group play-based learning experience for your chosen age group (0-1 year, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, or 3-5 years) that will take place in your designed play space. Ensure your learning experience includes objectives based on the Early Years Learning Framework Learning Outcomes. Then, write a 250-word statement explaining the theoretical perspectives that underpin your learning experience.

Part C: Play-Based Resource Design
Desing a resource that engages the chosen age group of children (0-1 year, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, or 3-5 years) in play-based learning. The resource should encourage learning through play and can take various forms, such as a toy, game, activity kit, or interactive digital resource. It can be something you create yourself or build on an existing resource (Please ensure you appropriately acknowledge, reference, and cite the resource you drew upon). Then, write a 250-word statement explaining the resource's intended use and how it supports children's learning, development, and wellbeing.
Your task must be supported and informed by:
• A range of theoretical perspectives presented in Module 2
• Academic sources (readings, journal articles, book chapters, etc.)
• Professional sources and ECEC policies (Early Years Learning Framework, National Quality Standard, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Code of Ethics, Developmental Milestones, etc.)
Formatting
• APA 7 formatting is required for this task.
• Assessment 2 Template already includes the Southern Cross University cover page, but it is your responsibility to indicate if and how you have used GenAI in the assessment and provide a copy/screenshot of special consideration approval
• For the written statements, please use an easy-to-read font (e.g. Arial 12, Times New Roman 12) and a 1.5-space

Referencing
APA 7 Referencing style is required to be used for this task. Please refer to the APA 7th edition.