ERIC Number: ED406033
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1996
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Identifying Dilemmas for Early Childhood Educators.
Dockett, Sue; Tegel, Kim
This paper outlines situation-based learning as used within the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) program at the University of Western Sydney, Australia, and the processes of reflection and evaluation that accompany it, and discusses how issues identified by educators are incorporated as subjects into packages for students' study and investigation. The program's approach involves structuring the curriculum around teaching situations that need to be explained or managed and which, therefore, act as a stimulus for learning. Students propose ways to manage or resolve relevant issues, suggest courses of action, and reflect upon their own thinking and learning. One way in which data have been collected about the situations or dilemmas commonly confronting educators has been to meet with early childhood educators with a range of experience and who work in a variety of settings. From these meetings, several issues have been identified. Dilemmas related to working with children include dealing with tantrums, child biting, gender stereotyped play, and rough-and-tumble play. Issues related to working with families include communicating with parents of non-English speaking backgrounds, staff-parent conflict, and explaining accidents to parents. Dilemmas related to working with other staff include personality clashes, coping with stress, and staff turnover. Issues related to management and administration include fundraising, staff organization, parents not paying fees, and dealing with salespeople. Dilemmas like these are then used as the basis for packages of study to be undertaken by early childhood students. (Contains seven references.) (KDFB)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A