Languages of Children

Unit code: ECE6011 | Study level: Postgraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Footscray Nicholson
Online Self-Paced
VU Brisbane
VU Sydney
ECE6009 - Early Childhood Development Learning and Teaching
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
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Overview

This unit focuses on the many languages of children including artistic modes of expression, asking students to reconsider taken for granted responses to languages, literacies and materials.


Drawing on philosophical understandings of expression including ‘the hundred languages of children’ articulated in the Reggio Emilia approach, this unit examines meaning-making through languages and literacies including the languages of music, movement, drama, visual arts, storytelling, technology, and interactions with materials. Students will engage with Place from First Nations standpoints and with these multiple languages in order to develop an understanding of how children, including EAL learners, communicate in many different ways and how these languages can inspire rich multi-disciplinary, multi-literate and multi-modal learning experiences and channels for children to express ideas.


Underpinning this unit is the recognition that our interactions and relationships with each other and the material and immaterial world are complex social acts and that meaning-making occurs through languages and literacies experiences that hold purpose in rich, thoughtful environments and which include critical and multi-literacy experiences. Students will use a range of arts and other languages to understand themselves as early childhood teachers, and how children engage with the world through a variety of languages. Students will also reflect how to understand these languages in planning, initiating new ideas, and making decisions regarding construction of curriculum for young children.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Articulate and explore the many and varied languages of human expression through personal, social and philosophical perspectives;
  2. Contextualise language, communication and the arts as complex social acts;
  3. Apply the many languages of expression to create learning environments that support children's play exploration and communication, showing an ability to support EAL learners and First Nations perspectives;
  4. Make connections between Place-based and First Nations perspectives, Indigenous modes of expression, and languages, literacies and the Arts.

Study as a single unit

This unit can be studied on its own, without enrolling in a full degree.

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Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Creative Works
|
Grade: 30%
Play and experiment with materials and artistic languages, documenting the exploration
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 30%
Creatively communicate ideas about language development in early childhood (Group)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 40%
Plan, present and document invitations to play

Required reading

Readings will be provided via VU Collaborate.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

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