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Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 21/03/2022 15:24:34

Title of Module: Communication and Literacy in the Early Years

Code: EDUC08041 SCQF Level: 8
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)
Credit Points: 20 ECTS: 10
(European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:School of Education & Social Sciences
Module Co-ordinator:Robert  McGill

Summary of Module

This module develops students’ knowledge of skills, techniques and practices to develop children’s communication and literacy.  Knowledge of concepts and defining features relating to communication, i.e. body language, paralanguage, cultural differences, non-verbal communication (children and adults), and factors influencing effective communication will be explored. Students will develop an awareness and understanding of communication through the expressive arts: The Hundred Languages of Children.

Work based practice and workshops will examine resources and children’s work in the expressive arts (drama, dance, music, visual arts.) to develop a range of professional skills, techniques and practices for the support of communication in the Early Years.

They will be introduced to a defined range of core linguistic terminology and be able to share and increase their own specialist metalinguistic knowledge. Students will also engage in professional work based enquiry to critically analyse and evaluate the nature of effective talking and listening. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the development of reading and writing and consider current issues relating to both aspects.   Students will develop an understanding of a defined ranged of core theories and the range of methods related to common work based practice will also be explored - early representation, symbolism, emergent writing, play and literacy learning.

Students will develop awareness and understanding of bilingual learners communication and language needs and supported to adapt routine practices within current guidelines such as 'Learning in 2+ Languages' (2020) The use of social and cultural events for literacy learning will also be explored.


Module Delivery Method
Face-To-FaceBlendedFully OnlineHybridCHybridOWork-based Learning
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.

Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations

Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.

HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus

HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus

Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.


Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:Ayr:Dumfries:Lanarkshire:London:Distance/Online Learning:Other:

 

 

 

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Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1

 

Term 2check markTerm 3

 

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Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Critically evaluate communication skills and apply them to practice in early childhood settings.

L2. Examine practice in relation to the use of a range of skills and techniques used to develop own and children’s communication.

L3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concept of multiple languages and understand practice to support literacy in more than one language.

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) SCQF Level 8.

Understanding of a limited range of core theories, principles and concepts related to communication and literacy.

Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding SCQF Level 8.

Carry out routine lines of enquiry, development and investigation into professional level problems and issues related to language acquisition and development with young children.

Generic Cognitive skills SCQF Level 8.

Use and critically evaluate a range of approaches to evidence based solutions.

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills SCQF Level 8.

Convey complex information to a range of audiences and for a range of purposes.

Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others SCQF Level 8.

Exercise autonomy and initiative in some activities at a professional level.

Pre-requisites: Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
Module Code:
Module Title:
Other:
Co-requisitesModule Code:
Module Title:

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

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Learning and Teaching
Use of VLE, Interactive Whiteboards, on-line tutor/student led discussions, individual and group tasks. Workshops and student-led seminars, group-work, role-play, presentations, problem based learning, will be used to develop student learning. Formative and summative assessments will be used including such instruments as presentations and work based learning.

Student handbooks, and other detailed material made available to students, will give more specific information on the particular learning and teaching methodologies, and combinations of these methodologies, to be used for timetabled student sessions. This will clarify for students both their expectations for timetabled sessions, and their expectations for the overall balance of learning and teaching methodologies to be used during the module.
Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below:
Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery36
Work Based Learning/Placement 100
Independent Study64
200 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

Brock, A. and Rankin, C. (2008) Communication, Language and Literacy from Birth to Five. London: Sage.

Browne, A., (2009) Developing Language and Literacy 3-8. London, Sage.

Corbett, P., Strong, J. (2016) Talk for Writing in the Early years: How to teach Story and Rhyme, involving Families 2-15. UK, Routledge.

Whitehead, M.R. (2010) Language and Literacy in the Early Years 0-7 fourth edition. London. Sage.

Wells, G., (2009) The Meaning Makers: Learning to Talk and Talking to Learn, Bristol, Multilingual Matters

(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

Where a module has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:
In line with the Academic Engagement and Attendance Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on Moodle, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement and Attendance Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement and attendance procedure
For the purposes of this module, academic engagement equates to the following:
All fulltime students (part-time and distant learning students should check with their programme leader for any queries) are required to attend all scheduled classes and participate with all delivered elements of the module as part of their engagement with their programme of study. Consideration will be given to students who have protection under the appropriate equality law. Please refer to UWS Regulations, Chapter 1, 1.64 – 1.67, available at the following link: http://www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/rights-and-regulations/regulatory-framework/

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Supplemental Information

Programme BoardEducation
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) No
Subject PanelChildhood Studies/Practice
ModeratorN Allan
External ExaminerI Birnie
Accreditation Details
Version Number

2.02

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Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
The Summative Assessment for this module will consist of the following:

Reflective Diary. Students record their understanding of how language and literacy is developed, including key communication skills and strategies to support effective talking and listening, emerging reading and writing skills and multi-lingual learners. Students will log evidence of literacy practices in the workplace which support communication in Early Years, informed by 2 learning stories, and linked to theory. (3000 words)
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Dissertation/ Project report/ Thesischeck markcheck markcheck mark1000
Combined Total For All Components100% 0 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

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Note(s):
  1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
  2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
    This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity
Aligned with the overall commitment to equality and diversity stated in the Programme Specifications, the module supports equality of opportunity for students from all backgrounds and with different learning needs. Using VLE, learning materials will be presented electronically in formats that allow flexible access and manipulation of content (part-time and distant learning students should check with their programme leader for any queries). The module complies with University regulations and guidance on inclusive learning and teaching practice. Specialist assistive equipment, support provision and adjustment to assessment practice will be made in accordance with UWS policy and regulations. The University’s Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Policy can be accessed at the following link: http://www.uws.ac.uk/equality/

Our partners are fully committed to the principles and practice of inclusiveness and our modules are designed to be accessible to all. Where this module is delivered overseas, local equivalent support for students and appropriate legislation applies.

UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

2014 University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity.

Charity number SC002520.