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EDCR101 Exploring Curriculum

An exploration of early childhood curriculum, with a particular focus on Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum framework.

This course provides students with an introduction to the New Zealand bi-cultural early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki (2017), through an exploration of its historical, political, social, ideological, theoretical and cultural contexts. This course helps students to understand the child in relation to the framework of the principles and strands of Te Whāriki including their developing learning dispositions and working theories.  Children’s learning dispositions of taking an interest and being involved are explored through examples of children being involved in learning about ICT (Information Communication Technology), mathematics and technology.  This introduction paper provides a foundation for future curriculum courses which will deepen students’ knowledge and understandings of the implementation of the early childhood curriculum.

Paper title Exploring Curriculum
Paper code EDCR101
Subject Education
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period(s) Semester 1 (On campus)
Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) $912.00
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.

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Limited to
BTchg
Notes
Early Childhood Education students only.
Contact

Paper Co-ordinator: meredith.kelly@otago.ac.nz (Southland campus)

Paper Co-ordinators: roberta.carvalho@otago.ac.nz and sonya.gaches@otago.ac.nz (Dunedin campus)

Teaching staff

Meredith Kelly (Southland campus)
Sonya Gaches and Roberta Carvalho (Dunedin)

Paper Structure

What is curriculum in the early years?

The context of Te Whāriki

  • Historical, theoretical, ideological, political and social
  • Bi-cultural origins and context

Te Whāriki, a bicultural framework

  • Principles, Strands and Learning Outcomes
  • Philosophy, Goals and Vision
  • Te Ao Māori and two world views

Pedagogy

  • The pedagogy of play
  • Pedagogical approaches; role of the kaiako; assessment, planning and evaluation

Children’s learning dispositions and working theories explored in the areas of

  • Mathematics
  • Technology
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Textbooks

Required Texts:

Lee, W., Carr, M., Soutar, B. & Mitchell, L. (2013). Understanding the te whāriki approach: Early years education in practice. Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

New Zealand Ministry of Education. (2017). Te whāriki: He whāriki matauranga mo ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Gunn, A. & Nuttall, J. (Ed.). (2019). Weaving te whāriki: Aotearoa New Zealand's early childhood curriculum document in theory and practice, (3rd ed). Wellington, New Zealand: NZCER.

Online te reo Māori dictionary http://www.tewhanake.maori.nz/

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will:

  1. Explore and describe what curriculum means in early childhood settings
  2. Examine the historical, cultural, ideological, political, social and theoretical context of the early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki
  3. Gain an understanding of Te Whāriki, as a bicultural curriculum framework with its underpinning aims, philosophy, principles and strands in practice
  4. Construct content and pedagogical content knowledge in relation to the learning areas of mathematics and technology that are relevant to learners in the early childhood context

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Timetable

Semester 1

Location
Dunedin
Teaching method
This paper is taught On Campus
Learning management system
Blackboard

Lecture

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Monday 11:00-11:50 9-14, 16-18, 21-22

Tutorial

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Wednesday 09:00-10:50 9-14, 16-18, 21-22

Semester 1

Location
Invercargill
Teaching method
This paper is taught On Campus
Learning management system
Blackboard

Workshop

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Tuesday 13:00-14:50 9-14, 16, 18, 21-22
Wednesday 13:00-13:50 9-14, 16-18, 21-22