Details for EXP120 Professional Experience 1 – 20 days (age focus 3 to 5 years)

This first professional experience will focus on understanding of the early childhood profession through developing collaboration and networking skills within a host organisation of 20 days with an age focus of 3–5 year-olds.  Students will observe and engage in daily practices and routines with the support of a supervising teacher including interacting with documenting observations of, and planning and implementing learning experiences for infants and toddlers. This professional experience provides opportunities for students to demonstrate and implement theoretical knowledge gained in other subjects within a workplace environment. Students will build on the development of personal and professional attributes, and effective interactions with children. Students will critically reflect on their role in documenting and assessing children’s learning and sharing understandings of children whilst employing a range of tools to ensure a collaborative approach to foster a child–centred approach and partnerships with families and community.  

Quick Stats

• Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
• Course code: EXP120
• Credit points: 10

Subject Coordinator

Prerequisite

Nil

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Be able to demonstrate engagement with the following criteria from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
   Build Professional Knowledge in knowing children and how they learn and knowing the content and how to teach it.
   Demonstrate Professional Practice
   Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
   Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
   Assess, provide feedback and report on children’s learning
   Engage in professional learning and professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community 
2. Demonstrate links between theory, the current approved learning framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (EYLFV2.0) and planning for children aged birth to 35 months. 
3. Systematically document and critically analyse the pedagogies and practices of teaching and learning, including ways to positively guide children’s behaviour
4.  Identify and reflect upon appropriate practice for planning and implementing suitable learning experiences and creating a supportive learning environment for infants and toddlers 
5. Interact and build professional relationships with young children  
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the professional practitioner through collaborating with colleagues and parents/carers and abiding by policies and procedures governing the early childhood sector.  

Subject Content

1. Introduction to Professional Experience and Child Protection Law and Policy 
2. See the current Professional Experience Manual for details about this PEX 1 experience and responsibilities 
3. Development of a Personal Philosophy as a Professional Teacher 
4. Development of Professional Experience Goals 
5. Understanding of service contexts for children birth to 5 years 
6.  Roles and Responsibilities of participants and stakeholders, including management and leadership responsibilities. 
7. Planning and Programming in Early Education and Care services for children birth to 5 years
   The Assessment and Planning Cycle  
8. Observations of Children 
9. Documentation of Children’s Learning 
10. Inclusive learning environments 
11. Guiding Children’s Behaviour 
12. Health and Safety 
13. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities and Practice as a colleague, member of a team and the wider community including parents/carers and other stakeholders 
14. Becoming a Reflexive Practitioner 
15. Reflection on PEX 1 

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Face to face on site (extensive) 
• ​​E-learning (online/asynchronous) 
• ​​E-learning (online/synchronous) 

Please check the timetable to see when this subject will next be offered at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

• Hurdle Task 1: Meet Compliance requirements (Satisfactory requirement) 
• Hurdle Task 2: Pre-professional experience quiz -Child Protection (Satisfactory requirement)
• Assessment 1: PEX Portfolio: Performance Evaluation (based on all required documents) including self-reflections
• Assessment 2: Performance Assessment 

Prescribed Text

ACECQA (2022) Belonging, Being and Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia V2.0 EYLF-2022-V2.0. https://www.acecqa.gov.au/acecqa-approved-learning-frameworks-version-2.0-communications-toolkit 

ACECQA Guide to the National Quality Framework Guide to the NQF. ACECQA  

https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/about/guide 

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. (nsw.gov.au)  

https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/wcm/connect/9ba4a706-221f-413c-843b-d5f390c2109f/australian-professional-standardsteachers.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=