ECE735 - Children's Ecological Positioning: Seeing Children in Family and Community Contexts
| Year: | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in E661 or E761 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | ECE781 |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 3-hour on-campus seminar per week in non-placement teaching weeks (approx. 8-9 weeks) |
| Scheduled learning activities - online: | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week 1 x 1-hour online discussion per week in non-placement teaching weeks (approx. 8-9 weeks) |
| In-person attendance requirements: | ^Professional Experience 20-days on-site professional experience (placement) per trimester in an Early Childhood education service. For the most up-to-date advice regarding your placement please see here. Placements for this unit are scheduled across multiple placement blocks. Students will be assigned to one of these blocks and cannot choose their preferred placement window. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are available for placement at any time within the designated placement periods, as scheduling may occur at any point within these timeframes. Please note: Placement periods may take place during or outside standard trimester teaching dates. |
Content
This unit will develop students’ knowledge of the ecological positioning of children within families, communities and society. Students will critically examine theoretical perspectives of families, contexts, partnerships, diversity and inclusion, and analyse how these can be used to develop and maintain effective partnerships, transitions and culturally responsive pedagogies that maximise children’s opportunities for learning.
Approaches to partnerships, transitions and cultural competencies will be deconstructed and critically analysed to develop students’ advanced knowledge of the role of the teacher in leading collaborative practices that respond to individual and community needs. Critical issues in working with children, families and communities will be researched and critically evaluated, such as biases, communication, values and children’s rights.
Students will incorporate critical self-reflection and synthesise and apply knowledge during a 20-day professional placement experience.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.
Commonwealth Prac Payment
From 1 July 2025, the Australian Government is intending to introduce the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to assist eligible students with costs related to mandatory placements in higher education courses for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work.
Hurdle requirements
Professional Experience
Professional Experience for Preservice Teachers enrolled in School of Education courses, the Professional Experience component is assessed primarily by the site-based teacher (Mentor) who advises the Unit Chair. Satisfactory completion of the professional experience placement is required to pass this unit.