Aim: In this course student teachers will encounter and come to know and understand the diverse and complex nature of child development and learning by examining past and present theories, studies and research. There will be a focus on historical and current Māori perspectives as well as on Western and different cultural theories of child development and learning. The impact of these wide-ranging perspectives on early childhood education practices, including observation, assessment and planning for teaching and learning, will be examined both in theory and in practice. Student teachers have opportunities to link classroom learning with practicum experiences in an actual early childhood setting through: working with experienced teachers, infants, toddlers and young children and families/ whānau; child observations and assessment linked to planning; engagement in beginning professional dialogue and reflective practice; and the setting and implementation of personal professional goals.

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