Exploring possibilities for inquiry

Assessment Type
Written
Task Description
In this assessment task, you are required to complete the following:

1.     You are to examine relevant literature and policy texts to provide a synthesis of the importance of STEM and the importance of teaching it as an integrated suite of disciplines in real-world contexts and ensure alignment with the principles and practices informing early childhood (AGDE, 2022, pp. 14 – 26). 1000 words

2.     Select one of the scenarios presented on the Moodle site. You are asked to use the selected scenario as a platform to develop the following:

·       Identify the problem or focus for inquiry that the children may investigate and proffer potential questions that may be included in this investigation – think though what the children may ask in relation to the larger problem/inquiry. As young children are curious and want to find out about their world, what might the children be interested in?

·       Outline a web of possibilities that this scenario could afford 

The previous components asked you to consider possibilities that could be investigated. In the next section, you need to outline the implications for you as a teacher:

·       How will you support the children in their investigation/project/inquiry enabling them to develop and test theories? 

·       What investigative process will you draw on? How will you support children to represent and communicate their ideas/hypotheses? Consider the range of media that support both exploration and representation (clay, drawing, paint, digital technologies and so on) 

·       Consider how you will scaffold the concepts that appear central to the investigation. What language/concepts are the focus of this investigation? Are there resources that you can draw on (books, digital texts, images etc)

·       Consider also the implications for the environment. Remember, the environment is the “third teacher”. 

·       The final section of this task asks you to make links to the curriculum texts The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (AGDE, 2022) and the General Capability (Critical and Creative Thinking) and to explain how your proposed investigation/inquiry integrates across the STEM disciplines.

Assessment Due Date: 16th August 2025

Weighting

50%

Assessment Criteria

·       Synthesise contemporary research pertaining to STEM explicating the importance of teaching it as an integrated suite of disciplines (Assignment 1)

·       Generate possibilities for a STEM focussed inquiry that enables young children to represent and communicate their emerging theories and identify links to the relevant curriculum framework (Assignment 1)

·       Communicate an analysis of the pedagogical implications with consideration given to supporting children to explore and represent their ideas (Assignment 1)

Referencing Style
·       American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

Assessment Type
Written
Task Description
Sustainability has been identified as a principle in the Early Years Learning Framework. “Sustainability spans environmental, social, and economic dimensions which are intertwined. Environmental sustainability focuses on caring for our natural world and protecting, preserving and improving the environment. Social sustainability is about inclusion and living peacefully, fairly and respectfully together in resilient local and global communities. Economic sustainability refers to practices that support economic development without negatively impacting the other dimensions” (AGDE,2022, p. 17). 

This task has 2 components. The components are outlined below:

1.     You are to select 4 articles pertaining to sustainability in early childhood (these will be available on the Moodle site). For each article you are to provide a synthesis of the literature and identify implications for your practice in early childhood. Consider also if reading the article raised any questions for you in relation to sustainability and why it is important for early childhood educators and children to have active roles to play in creating and promoting sustainable communities. You need to articulate the questions that the articles have raised in relation to your practice.

2.     The second component will be conducted during your placement. This component requires that you complete the following:

·       Observe the everyday practices that occur within the setting that demonstrate that sustainability is a focus at the service. Remember, sustainability spans environmental, social, and economic dimension which are intertwined. While you may see greater focus on environmental sustainability, you need to identify how the other dimensions of sustainability (social and economic) are also addressed. For each practice occurring within the setting, you are to make explicit links to the Early Years Learning Framework (AGDE, 2022) and to NQS.

·       Children are interested in their world and can engage with “concepts of sustainability” (AGDE, 2022, p. 18). As part of this section of the task, you are to Identify a topic of interest that links to sustainability and develop a small project related to this interest. You will submit a ‘floor book’ (or similar), that documents the thinking of the children. It needs to record their voices, and drawings or collected images.  The FloorBook will be accompanied by the following reflection. You are required to reflect on:

·       your understandings about the importance of listening to children

·       the way you supported children during the project

·       the way in which the arts enabled children to represent their views/understandings about the project.

Assessment Due Date: September 19th September 2025

Weighting
50%

·       Examine the literature to generate strategies to facilitate child participation in building a sustainable, democratic, equitable and just society and to reflect on provocations presented in the literature (Assignment 2)

·       Analyse observations of practice to explicate pedagogies that promote a focus on sustainability (Assignment 2)

·       Implement and document a sustainability focussed project with children which documents their voices and representations and your reflections on the importance of listening to children (Assignment 2)