EUB201 Early Childhood Mathematics Education 1

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This introductory early childhood mathematics unit will develop your understanding of content knowledge and the teaching practices associated with Number and Algebra, including play-based pedagogies. The unit raises awareness of the importance of mathematical learning in early childhood, and considers ways to engage young children in meaningful mathematical learning in prior-to-school and primary school settings. Both the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework will be utilised.

This unit builds a foundation for the proceeding EUB302 Early Childhood Mathematics Education 2 unit.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Interpret the concepts, substance and structure of mathematics curricula for both prior to school and primary school contexts.
2. Explain pedagogical approaches drawing on academic and professional literature.
3. Select a range of resources, including ICTs, that engage and support diverse learners in both prior to school and primary school contexts.
4. Plan creative learning experiences aligned to curriculum drawing on numeracy teaching and assessment strategies.
5. Communicate with carers/parents about mathematical concepts and approaches to teaching and assessment.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:

• Workshops (online and/or face-to-face)
• Online self-directed learning
• Personal research and readings
• Collaborative activities with peers, and
• Engagement with mathematics.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will gain feedback in this unit through participation in weekly workshops with academics and peers. You will receive written feedback on your summative assessment from teaching staff. Opportunities for formative feedback on the development of your communication tool will be available at points throughout the unit. Feedback to you is provided through opportunities for reflection, discussion and peer-feedback in workshops and in online activities.

Assessment

Overview

You will complete two pieces of assessment:

1. Communication Tool - This will draw on your understanding of the importance of mathematics and numeracy in the early years. You will develop the skills required to plan engaging learning experiences, and to communicate about these experiences with parents.
2. Timed Online Exam - This will enable you to connect all that you have learned in the unit including numeracy, Number and Algebra topics, teaching and assessment strategies.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Communication tool

You will create a digital communication tool for parents/carers to inform them about the important role early childhood mathematics plays in young children's lives. The tool will focus on a specific topic in early years mathematics (in Number or Algebra) and will include a video that demonstrates a learning activity, and a range of resources (including ICTs).

Alongside this tool you will produce a lesson plan on your specific topic that applies literacy and numeracy strategies in accordance with literature, research, policy and curriculum.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Timed Online Exam

You will apply pedagogical content knowledge of early childhood mathematics education to respond to open-ended questions related to teaching and assessing Number and Algebra.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

MacDonald, A. (2018). Mathematics in Early Childhood Education. Oxford.

Reys, R., Lindquist, M., Lambdin, D., Smith, N., Rogers, A., Bragg, L., Cooke, A., Fanshawe, M., Gronow, M. (2022). Helping children learn mathematics. (4th Australian edition). Wiley.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1 Professional Knowledge: Know students and how they learn

1. Understand how students learn
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam

2 Professional Knowledge: Know the content and how to teach it

1. Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
2. Content selection and organisation
   Relates to: Communication tool
3. Curriculum, assessment and reporting
   Relates to: Communication tool
4. Literacy and numeracy strategies
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam

3 Professional Practice: Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning

1. Establish challenging learning goals
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
2. Plan, structure and sequence learning programs
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
3. Use teaching strategies
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
4. Select and use resources
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
5. Engage parents/carers in the educative process
   Relates to: Communication tool

4 Professional Practice: Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments

1. Support student participation
   Relates to: Communication tool, Timed Online Exam

5 Professional Practice: Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning

1. Assess student learning
   Relates to: Timed Online Exam
2. Interpret student data
   Relates to: Timed Online Exam

7 Professional Engagement: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community

1. Engage with the parents/carers
   Relates to: Communication tool

Course Learning Outcomes

ED39 Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)

1. Knowledgeable: Apply professional knowledge to learning areas, learning and learners.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
2. Scholarly: Consider the ways in which educational theory and research inform and impact teaching practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, Communication tool
3. Inclusive: Plan for culturally secure, supportive, caring, inclusive and positive learning environments.
   Relates to: ULO3, Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
4. Innovative: Create innovative future-focused learning.
   Relates to: ULO4, Communication tool, Timed Online Exam
5. Communicative: Engage and communicate effectively and professionally.
   Relates to: ULO5, Communication tool