Early Childhood Leadership and Practice

Abstract

Leaders have a powerful influence on the quality of early childhood education (ECE) programs, yet many challenges exist for leadership development within ECE. Challenges include inadequate preparation for positional leadership roles, few opportunities for professional development for emerging leaders, and an absence of workforce planning for cultivating leaders within the early childhood education profession. This subject addresses those challenges by contextualising early childhood leadership and practice, locating early childhood leadership within the history of leadership theory and philosophy, and exploring the emergence and practices of leading within early childhood education. Students will apply a body of knowledge to their role and practices as emerging or positional leaders within early childhood education.

Syllabus

Social, political and economic history of early childhood education Current social, political and economic context of and for early childhood educationContext for leading and leadership in ECEInfluence of leadership on ECE sites, the profession, and the sectorPurpose and philosophical position of leading and leadership Challenges and opportunities for the emergence … For more content click the Read More button below. Existing opportunities in the emergence and cultivation of leading and leadership in ECEExisting challenges for the emergence and cultivation of leading and leadership in ECEDisrupting challengesEnabling leadership emergence and building agency for leading Theory and practice Leadership theory and the unique nature of ECE leadership theory in practiceTheoretical developments and application of theory in practiceDeveloping original thinking and personal stance on leading and leadershipCreating dynamic presentations and asserting perspectives

Social, political and economic history of early childhood education

Current social, political and economic context of and for early childhood education
Context for leading and leadership in ECE
Influence of leadership on ECE sites, the profession, and the sector
Purpose and philosophical position of leading and leadership

Challenges and opportunities for the emergence and cultivation of leading and leadership

Existing opportunities in the emergence and cultivation of leading and leadership in ECE
Existing challenges for the emergence and cultivation of leading and leadership in ECE
Disrupting challenges
Enabling leadership emergence and building agency for leading

Theory and practice

Leadership theory and the unique nature of ECE leadership theory in practice
Theoretical developments and application of theory in practice
Developing original thinking and personal stance on leading and leadership
Creating dynamic presentations and asserting perspectives

Assessment items

1. EPortfolio-Analysis and Reflection Using the Dialogic Method

2. Theoretical Inquiry and Standpoint on Leadership Identity

Assumed knowledge

Assumed knowledge is gained through an undergraduate education degree, specifically early childhood education.

Enrolment restrictions

Only available to students in the Master of Education.

Learning resources

Additional resources required by students

Resources for the development of E-Portfolios Pebblepad https://www.csu.edu.au/division/learning-teaching/learning-technology/resource-creation/e-portfolio-pebble-pad The following are considered foundational to any subject in early childhood education: Early Childhood Australia. (2016). Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics Early Childhood Australia. Unicef. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention

Resources for the development of E-Portfolios

Pebblepad https://www.csu.edu.au/division/learning-teaching/learning-technology/resource-creation/e-portfolio-pebble-pad

The following are considered foundational to any subject in early childhood education:

Early Childhood Australia. (2016). Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics Early Childhood Australia.

Unicef. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention

Handbook