University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

In this final year of the programme, students demonstrate their evolution as a professional, as leaders and advocates for inclusive practice and the professionalisation of the Early Childhood Educator. This will be supported by their ongoing engagement in: supervised and supported practice in early childhood settings; academic support and supervision, complemented by peer-based learning tutorials; and reflection on practice. Learners will take a proactive role in those supervision meetings, by leading out and coordinating same; learners will be expected to self-manage peer tutorials, identifying learning moments, learning opportunities, as they emulate the ‘community of practice’ concept. Learners professional identity formation will be evidenced through the creation of a bespoke portfolio designed to showcase achievements, skills and knowledges, particularly taking an ethical and value based position, as these have evolved over time. In this final year, the focus of in-practice skill development will be on professional engagement with institutions, agencies, and allied professionals, as learners develop their capacity for cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional working practices and skills. Finally, in this last year of study, learners will engage with work-based stakeholders in the effective operationalising of a robust research design, evidencing appropriate methods suited to collective knowledge creation, in the early childhood education and care field.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Review and evaluate key policies and procedures, routines and plans, necessary for the effective operation of an inclusive, rights promoting early childhood education and care settings
  2. Taking a leadership role, and with a particular focus of ‘working with other professionals and institutions,’ within early childhood contexts identify, plan for and implement initiatives to the benefit of all children, families and local communities, particularly focused on those who are marginalised or disaffected
  3. Demonstrate the capacity to critically reflect and self-evaluate professional practice, through ongoing engagement with a reflective journal, as part of a professional practice-based portfolio see query below
  4. Coordinate supervision and mentoring processes, within early childhood practice and placement settings, in order to achieve best practice across a range of areas; engage in critical reflection on professional development within peer-based learning tutorials
  5. Engage in structured observation and evaluation of practice, including self-evaluation of a comprehensive body of knowledges, skills and values, necessary for interagency and cross-disciplinary working
  6. Evaluate your actions in demonstrating, to greater depth, the comprehensive body of knowledge and abilities necessary for professional practice, innovative leadership and meaningful advocacy, across the early childhood arena
  7. Describe the place of ethics in the early childhood profession; analyse and self-evaluate performance across a range of areas and roles, from an ethical and value-based perspective
  8. Operationalise a robust, ethical research plan within the early childhood field; disseminate research findings through a variety of creative methods.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Reading List
  1. "Work-based research in the early years" by Callan, S. and Reed, M.
    Publisher: SAGE
The above information outlines module ECS4102: "Professional Reflective Practice IV" and is valid from 2021 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.