Integrated Curriculum (Early Years)

This subject is not offered in 2015.

85 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will explore ways in which young school-aged children come to understand their world through the diverse dimensions of society (including race, gender, ethnicity, culture and class), in particular curriculum which explores how and why natural factors and human activities affect childrens’ lives. Teacher candidates will examine models and theories of curriculum integration which focus on enabling children to draw on their own experience to help them understand the world around them and how social and environmental change has an impact on cultural and learning environments.

On completion of this subject teacher candidates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of humanities centred pedagogies;
• Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary research and theory on integrated curriculum models and approaches;
• Demonstrate the capacity to design a model of integrated curriculum;
• Foster developmentally appropriate and socially just curriculum and model learning strategies which foster inquiry and curiosity about the world.

There will be 1 assessment task:

• An annotated integrated sequence of learning centring on Humanities Level 1 (equivalent to 2000 words) due end of semester (100%)

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

Marsh, Colin. 4th ed. (2004) Teaching Studies of Society and Environment. NSW. Prentice Hall.
Angus, Jane (ed.), Oodles of noodles : early years., Carlton, Vic. : Curriculum Corp., 1996
VCAA (2005). The Victorian Essential Learning Standards: Discipline-based Learning Strand (The Humanities). VCAA: Victorian Government

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, teacher candidates will have the knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to:

• Be skilled communicators who can effectively articulate and justify pedagogy and practice in humanities education;
• Design flexible and integrated curriculum that focuses on young children’s understanding of their world;
• Understand the significance of developing their practice on the basis of research evidence in curriculum design and implementation;
• Be independent of mind, responsible, resilient, self-regulating;
• Have a conscious personal and social values base that is reflected in their work with young children.