Change and Social Justice in Early Childhood

This unit of study provides an opportunity for pre-service teachers to commence the final stage of their preparation to enter the teacher profession by orienting themselves to the practices of the activist reflective practitioner. With a focus on the changing nature of education, children’s services, schools and teaching, they will systematically explore how teachers can express commitment to social justice in education.

In order to demonstrate that they are able to act individually and collaboratively as reflective practitioners pre-service teachers will ask how do I take responsibility for student/children’s learning? What areas of competence do I need to work on if I am to become an activist reflective practitioner? They will recognise how children’s services, schools and teachers can encourage students to be engaged with and to work for the improvement of their own communities. They will generate sustainable and effective approaches to the documentation of professional practice. They will investigate the professional knowledge, practice and engagement from the standpoint of education for a socially just society. They will also develop a personal educational philosophy that will inform their practice as they enter the profession.