Materiality in Early Childhood: Visual and Creative Arts

In this unit of study pre-service teachers explore art materials as a way to reconsider taken-for-granted responses to materials and ideas in early childhood. Using materials as a mode of inquiry, pre-service teachers will investigate what materials do and how materials are joint participants in early childhood pedagogies. Through critical and reflective material inquiry that includes engaging with place from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander standpoints, pre-service teachers will examine their own attitudes towards visual and creative arts; develop an understanding of, and skills in, a range of early childhood visual and creative arts and technology experiences; and employ these understandings, attitudes and skills to suit the socio-material, socio-cultural and aesthetic needs of the young child.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Review visual and creative arts theories in relation to the needs and sociocultural perspectives of young children.
2. Reflect on their own artistic influences and attitudes and the impact these can have on the implementation of effective visual and creative arts teaching programs.
3. Contextualize engagement with place from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander standpoints.
4. Critically inquire about the role of the arts and culture in education and the community.
5. Devise and employ specific teaching strategies that incorporate philosophical inquiry and employ information technologies and concrete materials within co-operative group work in visual and creative arts.