Master of
Teaching (Early Childhood)

This subject examines the guiding principles, ethical considerations, regulatory considerations, and the National Quality Framework (NQF) that inform and guide early childhood teacher’s professional identity and practice. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• UN Declarations and Conventions
• Duty of care obligations and Australian Early Childhood Code of Ethics
• Approved Early Years Learning Framework (Vision, Principles, Practices, Learning Outcomes)
• Australian Professional Teaching Standards
• Regulatory considerations in early childhood settings (Laws, regulations, WHS and Child Protection)
• Children’s safety, health, nutrition, wellness and wellbeing in early childhood contexts.

Subject Code: EPRO501
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Report (20%), Essay (40%), Multimodal Text (40%)

This subject provides students with the in-depth knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective early childhood teacher through engagement in play, teaching and the planning cycle. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Play in the early years
• Early childhood pedagogy
• Teaching strategies in the early years
• Stages of the EYLF Planning cycle
• Observation, assessment and evaluation in the early years.
• Planning and implementing playful learning environments and experiences for infants, toddlers and preschoolers

Subject Code: ETCH502
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Multimedia Presentation (30%),Practitioner Inquiry Project (40%), Report (30%)

This subject explores and synthesises the relationship between creativity and curriculum in early childhood educational settings.  Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Creativity in the early years
• Play, development, thinking and creativity
• Teaching creativity
• Facilitation creativity across visual arts, media arts, drama, dramatic play, puppetry, music, movement, dance, language and literacy, science, engineering, technologies, mathematics and numeracy, humanities, social science, STEM, STEAM, STREAM and STEMIE.

Subject Code: ETCH503
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Essay (30%), Creative work (30%), Digital Portfolio (40%)

This subject explores and synthesises the contemporary theories, approaches, models, and frameworks for learning, teaching, and responding appropriately to infants and toddlers in early childhood education and care settings.  Students will gain valuable insights into:

• High-quality infant and toddler care
• Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
• Continuity of learning and transitions
• Infant and toddler wellbeing
• Genetics, growth and brain development
• Physical and movement development, dispositions, theories, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Cognitive development, dispositions, theories, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Social development, dispositions, theories, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Emotional development, dispositions, theories, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Language development, dispositions, theories, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Care routines, health and safety provision
• Nursery environments
• Indoor and outdoor play environments

Subject Code: ETCH504
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Quizzes (30%), Digital Portfolio (40%), Case Study Analysis (30%)

This subject explores and synthesises the contemporary approaches, models, and frameworks for teaching, educating, and responding appropriately to young children aged 3 to 5 years in early childhood education and care settings.  Students will gain valuable insights into:

• High-quality preschooler education and care
• Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
• Continuity of learning and transitions
• Preschooler wellbeing
• Physical development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Social development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Emotional development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Language development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• English as an additional language (EAL) development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Cognitive development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Critical and creative thinking skill development, dispositions, learning (planning cycle, curriculum design, play, pedagogical approaches and teaching practices) and wellbeing
• Personal care routines, health and safety provision
• Indoor and outdoor play environments
• Transitioning to school

Subject Code: ETCH505
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Quizzes (30%), Inquiry-Based Project (40%), Case Study Analysis (30%)

This subject investigates the multifaceted nature of relationships between early childhood educators, children, families, and communities, with a particular focus on how these interactions impact young children’s development and wellbeing. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Australian family and community sociology
• Family structures
• Young children in their contexts
• Contemporary child contexts (cultural diversity, identity, gender, mental health and wellbeing, developmental disabilities and advanced development)
• Contemporary family contexts (economic, cultural diversity, social, health and wellbeing)
• Contemporary community contexts (climate change, natural disasters, sustainable world, pandemics, digital world)
• Contemporary influences on children within their family and community contexts (Australian First Nations, immigration, health, trauma, family violence)
• Child protection requirements
• Government initiatives

Subject Code: EPRO506
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Multimodal Text (40%), Podcast (30%), Report (30%)

This subject explores the multifaceted aspects of young children’s behaviour to understand how to support and guide their development within the learning environment. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Principles of early childhood education and behaviour
• Educational and behavioural goals of early childhood programs
• Principles and strategies of behaviour guidance
• Theoretical perspectives
• The brain, development, influences and behaviour
• Needs, emotions, self-regulation, emotional and social difficulties, atypical development and their influence on behaviour
• Influence on behaviour
• Attachment and listening to children
• Designing and providing child-centred curriculum
• Persistent challenging behaviours
• Collaborating with families

Subject Code: ETCH507
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Formative Topic Tasks (20%), Multimedia Presentation (20%), Case Study Analysis (30%), Inclusive Curriculum Design (30%)

This subject develops proficiency in recognising, applying and critically assessing the theoretical, curriculum and pedagogic influences that underpin contemporary Australian early childhood teaching and professional practice. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Theoretical perspectives, theory, theories and theorists
• Curriculum and pedagogy of the Early Years Learning Framework
• Curriculum ideologies and models
• Curriculum approaches, pedagogies and young children’s learning
• Developmental, socio-cultural, socio-behaviourist, humanist, critical, constructivist, post-structuralist, post-modernist, cultural-historical, activity, CHAT, Bioecological, Theory of Mind, Theory of Biology, Theory of Physics, and Executive Functions theoretical perspectives, pedagogy and learning
• Making theory visible in early childhood practice
• Australian National Professional Standards for Teachers

Subject Code: EPRO508
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Report (20%), Publication (20%), Literacy Teaching Resource (30%), Case Studies (30%)

This subject explores the multifaceted concept of exceptionality, inclusion, and behaviour guidance within the context of early childhood education in Australia. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Contemporary perspectives on inclusion, exceptionality and inclusive practices
• Declarations, legislation and policy in early years inclusion
• Inclusive early childhood settings and team approaches
• Supporting young children experiencing diagnosed disability, sensory processing, modulation, disorders, mental health and chronic health conditions, effects of trauma, or behaviours that challenge.
• Promoting young children’s belonging, attachment, co-regulation and self-regulation, emotions and emotional intelligence
• Designing inclusive curriculum through literacy, numeracy, creative arts, science, technology and engineering, and STEM

Subject Code: EPRO509
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Essay (30%), Literacy Curriculum Resource (40%), Inclusive Education Plan (30%)

This subject explores the multifaceted aspects of language, and literacy development in early childhood, emphasising their fundamental significance in shaping young children’s overall development, learning, play, and inquiry-based experiences. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• The importance of early language, literacy, multiliteracies and multimodality learning
• Theoretical perspectives of language emergence
• Language and literacy development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers
• Play, language and literacy
• Language diversity and differences
• Oral language development and interacting with others
• Engaging with texts
• Language of self-expression
• Symbols and patterns
• Emergent writing and reading
• Environments and curriculum provision

Subject Code: ETCH510
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO508
Assessments: Essay (20%), Report (20%), Multimodal Text (30%), Curriculum Design Project (30%)

This subject examines the processes involved in the development of mathematics and numeracy skills during early childhood, focusing on birth to 5 years. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Mathematics and numeracy education
• Theoretical perspectives of mathematics and numeracy
• Mathematics and numeracy development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers
• Play, mathematics and numeracy
• Mathematics and numeracy diversity and differences
• Mathematical concepts and skills (Patterns, space and geometry, measurement, number and algebra, data, statistics, probability)
• Teaching pedagogies and strategies for mathematic and numeracy learning
• Environments and curriculum provision

Subject Code: ETCH511
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO508
Assessments: Essay (20%), Presentation (30%), Multimodal Text (30%), Report (20%)

This subject enables students to synthesise and consolidate prior learning of the early childhood profession and early years contexts over a total of 60 days supervised professional experience with young children aged birth to 5 years. This subject includes:

• 20 days with 0-3 years old’s, consisting of a minimum of 10 days with under 2-year-old’s
• 20 days with 3–5-year-old’s
• 20 days with an aged group selected by the student

Subject Code: PLAC951
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH501, ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO506, ETCH507, EPRO508, EPRO509
Co-Requisites: ETCH510, ETCH511
Assessments: Professional Experience Portfolios (50%), External Skills Reports (50%)

This subject explores the opportunities and challenges in teaching and promoting the foundations of science, engineering, design and digital technologies within the context of early childhood education. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Science, engineering and technologies curriculum provision in the early years
• Engineering processing and thinking skills: critical, creative, curious and persistent thinkers, flexible, reflective and collaborative thinkers
• Science: Earth, space, biological, chemical and physical
• Design technology in early childhood
• Digital technologies and digital citizenship
• Computational thinking and digital play
• Children as consumers and creators of knowledge across the curriculum

Subject Code: ETCH512
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO508
Assessments: E-Magazine Publication (30%),Multimedia Presentation (20%), Project Investigation (20%), Curriculum Resource (30%)

This subject aims to develop students’ in-depth knowledge, skills and understanding of teaching young children through visual art, media art, music, movement, dance, and drama. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Creative arts in early childhood contexts
• Pedagogical principles and practices
• Learning in visual arts, media arts and music
• Teaching through visual arts, media arts, music, movement, dance and drama
• Creative arts integrated across the curriculum

Subject Code: ETCH513
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO508
Assessments: Inquiry-based Investigation (20%), Major Artwork (30%), Multimedia Presentation (30%), Critical analysis (20%)

This subject enables students to synthesise and consolidate prior learning of the early childhood profession and early years contexts over a total of 60 days supervised professional experience with young children aged birth to 5 years. This subject includes:

• 20 days with 0-3 years old’s, consisting of a minimum of 10 days with under 2-year-old’s
• 20 days with 3–5-year-old’s
• 20 days with an aged group selected by the student

Subject Code: PLAC951
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH501, ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO506, ETCH507, EPRO508, EPRO509, ETCH510, ETCH511, PLAC951
Co-Requisites: ETCH512, ETCH513
Assessments: Professional Experience Portfolios (50%), External Skills Reports (50%)

This subject provides students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to engage in practitioner-inquiry-research within early childhood education and care contexts. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Research in early childhood education
• Educational leadership, inquiry and research
• Designing research
• Literature reviews and analysing data
• Proposals, ethics, tools, approaches and data collection
• Reports and presentations

Subject Code: EPIR514
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: EPRO508, ETCH10, ETCH11, ETCH12, ETCH13
Assessments: Research Proposal (30%), Practitioner Inquiry Research Project Report (60%), Research Presentation (10%)

This subject provides students with a comprehensive foundation in leadership and service management within early childhood contexts. Students will gain valuable insights into:

• Defining leadership, theories, models and styles, qualities, skills and dispositions
• Educational leadership, educational leaders, roles and responsibilities
• Defining management, roles, responsibilities, practices, principles, skills and knowledge
• Management structures and types of services
• Quality service provision
• Leading and managing compliance, financial obligations, marketing and promotions, workplace health and safety, recruitment and performance, team effectiveness and professional development, change, relationships and engagement

Subject Code: ELDR515
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisites: EPIR514, ELDR515
Assessments: Practitioner Inquiry (40%), Presentation (20%), Situational Analysis (10%)

This subject enables students to synthesise and consolidate prior learning of the early childhood profession and early years contexts over a total of 60 days supervised professional experience with young children aged birth to 5 years. This subject includes:

• 20 days with 0-3 years old’s, consisting of a minimum of 10 days with under 2-year-old’s
• 20 days with 3–5-year-old’s
• 20 days with an aged group selected by the student

Subject Code: PLAC951
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: ETCH501, ETCH502, ETCH503, ETCH504, ETCH505, EPRO506, ETCH507, ETCH508, ETCH509, ETCH510, ETCH511, PLAC911, ETCH512, ETCH513, PLAC951
Co-Requisites: EPIR514, ELDR515, PLAC951
Assessments: Professional Experience Portfolios (50%), External Skills Reports (50%)