| AQF Level |
Level 8 Graduate Certificate |
| CRICOS Code |
083747C |
| Overview and Aims of the Program |
The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood offers an opportunity for students with an Australian Bachelor degree or equivalent in a discipline other than Early Childhood Education, to qualify for entry into Macquarie’s Masters programs in Early Childhood Education. As a postgraduate award graduates will be able to develop an understanding of contemporary research-based knowledge of early childhood principles and practice in selected areas. |
| Graduate Capabilities |
The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows:
Cognitive capabilities
(K) discipline specific knowledge and skills
(T) critical, analytical and integrative thinking
(P) problem solving and research capability
(I) creative and innovative
Interpersonal or social capabilities
(C) effective communication
(E) engaged and ethical local and global citizens
(A) socially and environmentally active and responsible
Personal capabilities
(J) capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
(L) commitment to continuous learning |
| Program Learning Outcomes |
By the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to:
1. Critically review and analyse a specialist body of knowledge covering contemporary developments in the early childhood discipline across the birth to eight years age range (K, T)
2. Synthesise information and explore ideas, issues and principles connected with professional decision-making in early childhood settings (K, T, P, J)
3. Engage in dialogue with colleagues, children and families, about early childhood matters in informed ways (K, C, E, J)
4. Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and theories related to approaches to working with young children and their families in diverse early childhood contexts (K, T, E). |
| Learning and Teaching Methods |
This program offers a pathway into early childhood studies for those who have completed a Bachelor degree in another discipline. Throughout the program, online learning and teaching activities incorporate a variety of methods to facilitate student engagement with the unit content. Using an online learning platform – iLearn, in each unit, a range of educational resources are used including:
• recorded lectures with video capture content
• weekly readings based on local and international research
• audio-visual resources of children’s play and inquiry
• variety of assignments
• reflective learning activities, including online discussion forums and reading journals. |
| Assessment |
Assessment in all units is designed to support an awareness and understanding of the play based nature of learning and teaching when working with children birth to eight years. Essential skills, knowledge and values that characterize working in the early childhood sector are promoted across the program using a variety of tasks and methods including:
• essays and case studies analysing issues and trends in early childhood matters
• foundational skills on research preparation including literature reviews and identification of research questions and methodologies for data collection and analysis.
• individual and group presentations involving collaborative team work and peer assessments
• online discussions, blogs, and social media engagement through individual postings and reflections to create learning communities online
• online quizzes comprising short answer and multiple choice questions to assess and monitor your understanding and progress in the units
• use of pedagogical documentation to provide insights into children’s interactions, dispositions, and behaviour for the purposes of monitoring children’s learning as a shared experience with families.
We provide formative and/or summative feedback on individual and group work. These assessment tasks have been designed to scaffold learning and support you in achieving a high standard of academic writing appropriate for a master teacher in the early childhood sector. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning |
Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. For recognition of prior informal and non-formal learning, please refer to the relevant RPL Plan, which describes the evidential requirements and approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit in this program.
For undergraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/nonschoolrpl
For postgraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/pgrpl |
| Support for Learning |
Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus.
Further information can be found at www.students.mq.edu.au/support/
Campus Wellbeing contact details:
Phone: +61 2 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
www.students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/contact_us |
| Program Standards and Quality |
The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
| Graduate Destinations and Employability |
The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood is designed to enable graduates from a background other than Early Childhood Education to obtain foundational knowledge of contemporary early childhood research and practice and thereby articulate into one of Macquarie’s Masters in Early Childhood. Graduates may also utilise this knowledge in a range of ways when working in positions involving young children and their families. |
| Assessment Regulations |
This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. |
| Accreditation |
This is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited qualification.
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