ECE120 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Kerryn Archdall |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in E330, E333 or E334 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week NIKERI (CBD): 3 x 6-hour on-campus intensive (workshops/seminars) per trimester 1 x 1-hour online seminars per week for 8-weeks |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) | |
Content
In this unit, students will explore early childhood education in the Australian context, with a focus on history, philosophies and educational theories. Students will analyse key documents for the Australian early childhood education context, including legislation, regulations, the National Quality Framework, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics and Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct. Students will explore the role of early childhood teachers, teacher identity and professionalism, and begin to develop their own Professional Experience Portfolio and personal teaching philosophy.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Critically evaluate various information sources and use these to describe and discuss the historical development of early childhood education, philosophies and theories and the influence of these on current early childhood education and care | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Explain the role of the early childhood teacher with consideration of key early childhood education and care legislation, regulations, policies, guiding documents and terminology. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Reflect on an emerging professional teacher identity and teaching philosophy in the context of educational theories and philosophies. | GLO2: Communication GLO6: Self-management |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Annotated Bibliography and Written Repsonse | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 2: Professiona Experience Portfolio | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ECE120 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
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.