Additional Course Outline Information
Assessment procedures will follow the established policies of the UC College of Education Assessment Guidelines. Assessment is standards-based with final results being reported on the College Grading Scale. In this course students are assessed against defined standards that describe progressive levels of achievement. The final grade for the course is calculated by averaging the grades obtained for each assessment task and taking into account the weighting assigned to each piece of work. In order to obtain on overall passing grade students are required to obtain a C grade or above for both assessment tasks in the course. See the Assessment Guidelines for Students for further information on grades and criteria.
Grade GPA Marks
A+ 9 90 – 100
A 8 85 – 89
A- 7 80 – 84
B+ 6 75 – 79
B 5 70 – 74
B- 4 65 – 69
C+ 3 60 – 64
C 2 55 – 59
C- 1 50 – 54
D 0 40 – 49
E -1 0 – 39
FLO assignments submitted by hand, email, fax, drop-box or any other online repository after the due date, with no extension granted, are considered late.
FLO assignments submitted by post or courier which are date stamped by the Academic Services Team more than two days after the due date are considered 'late'.
Under exceptional circumstances (e.g.. illness, accident, bereavement or critical personal circumstances) individual students may be granted an extension of the due date for an assignment. There is, however, a limit to the length of time that an extension can be granted and this should be negotiated with the course coordinator in the first instance. Extensions will not normally be given for longer than one week from the due date, unless exceptional circumstances prevail. Extensions are not granted automatically to students.
Requests for extensions should be emailed to the course coordinator at least two days prior to the due date for the assignment. Relevant evidence such as a medical certificate or a letter from a counsellor may be required in order for the course coordinator to make a decision about whether or not to grant an extension. A copy of the course coordinator’s email confirming the extension (if granted) and any supporting documentation must be attached to and submitted with the assignment.
Extensions will not normally be granted because of pressure of university study, e.g. several pieces of work being due at about the same time. Students are encouraged to plan their work in a realistic manner and in advance so that they can meet their assessment deadlines.
This course will be taught through the flexible learning option FLO and will be taught in the first semester of a year long programme. Students will attend a block intensive for the course and will then be supported in their learning with both printed materials and the use of LEARN, the UC course/learning management system. The College is well equipped with expertise among the members of the Faculty in teaching methods, including the methods of flexible delivery. Students will be encouraged to ask probing questions, to read critically and broadly, and to reflect on their own practice in early childhood teaching in the light of the ideas considered in the course. There will be a strong emphasis on structured, purposeful, rigorous dialogue in the FLO discussion groups. Students will require access to the College of Education library and library services. Other University of Canterbury libraries, in the social sciences, humanities, science, engineering and commerce, are available to Education students. Library resources will be reviewed and updated regularly. Web-based resources will complement those in the libraries.
Course content will include:
• theories of child development
• professional competencies and qualities of the early childhood teacher
• professional roles and responsibilities of the early childhood teacher
• ethics in teaching
• early childhood provision in New Zealand
• quality in early childhood education
• developing teaching philosophies
• Graduating Teacher Standards
• reflective practice
Complete an Assignment Cover Sheet and attach a bar code (included in your package). Staple this to the front of your assignments.
Each assignment (including resubmitted work) must have a separate, completed Cover Sheet. All pages must be stapled together securely.
Please submit your assignments to the drop boxes provided in the Orakiapaoa College Office at the College of Education. Your marked work will be returned via the Academic Services Team.
