Early Childhood Studies Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Early Childhood Studies. Answer: Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood Teaching Aboriginal students requires sensitivity bearing in mind the special needs of these children. A successful teaching program should relate to real life and issues surrounding the Aboriginal culture to allow the kids to comprehend and relate the lessons to their life. Relating the environment and the community is one of the activities that can be applied facilitating learning. A good example of an activity that can be used to teach children between the age of four and five is the Koori Dreaming story. The dreaming story as a teaching tool In this series of Dharawal Law Legends, there are many lessons to be learned. TheDharawals believed that children learned better and more quickly when they were encouraged to work through a problem, rather than be told the answer. For this reason, the dreaming story "The Whale and The Pelican can be used to teach children a few developmental techniques (Bodkin Bodkin-Andrews, 2001, p. 2). From the story, they can engage in activities such as introducing the children to different types, sizes, and characteristics of whales; water play activity that includes whales like swimming and prying or predation. Aboriginal concepts of dreaming are also brought out clearly in this story. From this story, the teacher can make a sketch of whales and ask the children to color it. The activity can be used to introduce different colors to the children as they keep coloring the images. In addition, the kids can learn different shapes and symbols based on the shapes they will make in the process. It a lso allows the minds of the child to be exposed to creative arts, color blending and time management. All these are important aspects of culture since things like dress codes revolve around colors and shape Also, the activity will best describe the culture of the people that includes social activities, beliefs, and practices. The approach is best considering that Aboriginal culture has been passed on through stories and as such questions and answers might not work. Instead, more practical activities should be encouraged rather than the traditional questions and answers (Pinchbeck, 2001). Research has shown that these children associate their learning with a practical activity will make them practice it even outside the class (Lutwych, 2009, P. 209). Songs and dance too can be taught efficiently using this activity too. This is facilitated by the fact that it is mentioned in the dream story how Whales and Pelican will respond to the woman singing. Helping the kids dance out these songs will form a pattern of rhythm in their brains that will eventually be part of them. Courtesy and etiquette can as well be dramatized in class with good characters being highly valued to encourage participation. EYLF Outcome of the Activity The activity has some outcomes on the early years life of the children. One of the major outcome of this activity is that the children are able to explore, manipulate and use resources in order to invent and construct (Bailey, 2002 P, 33). Using the whale and the pelican story is an example of local resource that the children can use to learn and eventually this will have outcomes that can be associated with early years. As a result, the kids will be part of the innovative process of the society by for example, allowing the kids to color or dot the images. The main reason for this is because the Aboriginals are a unique specimen of people who first view things in a macro perspective before narrowing it to micro (Medel, 2002, P.896). Aboriginal Pedagogy in Early Childhood Aboriginal people have different ways of teaching their children. These methods include story sharing, community links, deconstruct/reconstruct, non-linear, land links, symbols images, non-verbal or learning maps (8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning, n.d) . Each of this strategy plays a major role in the development of the child and in the learning process. For the purpose of this module, I shall expound more on story sharing or storytelling. The method has since time in history been used as a way of passing the traditions of a given community. Some of these narratives are mare myths while others have few facts in them or exaggerated truths (Harrison, 2008, P 108). In most cases, the teacher, or an elderly person will pass the story to the children who in turn are expected to pass them to their peers and their children in their due time. It is still one of the key pedagogy of teaching aboriginal children. The method is important because it helps the children to interact with their teachers and a strong bond is created which in turn makes inspiration possible and as a result passing of knowledge is facilitated. Another value of this method is that it helps the children to get answers to most of their questions. For example, a child will understand well the origin of the human race through an explanatory tale. It is also one of the major learning pedagogy that will invoke the learners to take actions (Craven, 2000, P 66). The invoking of feelings such as love, hatred, anger or joy is a milestone in facilitating the learning process. Another important aspect of this strategy is that it helps the pupils ask for clarifications in the area they did not understand during the storytelling process and as such understanding is enhanced. The storyteller can use language in its simplest way that young children can understand (Harbutt, 2008, P.456). The facilitator is also able to note the psychology of the pupils and how well they are following the teachings through such things as the participation in singing narrative songs or through the answering of regular questions posed during the narration. In addition to the above advantages, narratives will explain issues that have no better explanations. A good example is explaining how babies are made to a young child. The only way of bringing this clearly is by giving a narrative. Also, stories have been known as the best way of capturing the attention of learners because they are interesting and facilitate interaction. The genres that have been there over time have remained r elevant in expounding the complex issues. Aboriginal Community Resourcing in Early Childhood Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have different forms of organizations. These organizations are formed to meet specific purposed and their importance to these indigenous people is immeasurable. Some of the major groups include Aboriginal Community Controlled Organization (ACCO), The Redfern Foundation, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization (VACCHO) and National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization (NACCHO) among much other more. In this module, I am going to discuss more on the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organization (ACCO). ACCO is an independent non-profit making organization that is incorporated as an Aboriginal Organization which is based in the said community. It is governed by the Aboriginal Board which is elected by the local members of the community where it is based. Decisions are made by the members of the board (Alkman May 2003, P.7). The body is formed to uphold the rights of the member to self-determination. It was also meant to empower and services that will empower the community. Like most of these organizations, ACCO is basically limited to the Aboriginal and Islander Strait Communities which are in most cases discriminated against based on their skin color and their origin. The body is charged with the responsibility of promoting fairness by way of advocating for the rights of the members. Since it is a non-profit making institution, it is able to concentrate more on the objective of its formation. Over the history of the ab (original organizations, ACCO has remained a key player in adv ocating for human rights and social well-being of the concerned people. Its purpose is outstanding and very key in promoting a fair society. These organizations can be utilized to a larger extent in the early childhood development. As children are growing up and developing in the society they get to know their environment and in many cases, they question the existence or non-existence of certain things. A child born in the indigenous communities of Aboriginal and Islander Strait will question the differences they have with the rest of the society. They will thus question the unfair treatment, the difference in skin color or why they are discriminated upon. The role of these organizations will thus come in by explaining these disparities (Burridge, 2012, P. 34). They will educate the children on their origin and use the resources available to enhance oneness and unity among the various members of the society. If a child is introduced to the theme of integration and cohesion, they will grow appreciating the importance of each other and the reasons why they need to stay together. Another importance of these organizations in child development is by helping the children realize their role in creating a peaceful environment in the society. Professional Reflection Aboriginal education is holistic, in that it includes many factors from the classroom, pedagogy, policy, and community. In this last part of the essay, I will focus on the role of early childhood education in the achievement of the general goals of the aboriginal education system. Early childhood forms the basic foundation of any education system. This is the case too for the aboriginal community. It is the strength of the education introduced to a child that will determine his or her higher levels. For this reason, the issue should be taken into account with much gravity as required. In addition to basing the academic journeys of a child, ECD plays a major role in determining the social characteristics of a child. How he or she will interact with the environment is to a greater extent determined by the basic education introduced to the pupil. Understandability of the environment and the society too is determined by the strength of the early childhood education one is exposed to. Despite the many challenges that the aboriginal communities face, the quality of the education given to their children can cause an end to these challenges. If the children will have a good education, they will learn to appreciate themselves and others and be part of the solution to their many challenges. Having the right perspective to the various dynamics that are taking place to all the Aboriginal and Islander Strait people all over the world will help to eradicate the issues surrounding the community. Empowering the community too through the community-based organizations is also vital in achieving a fully integrated aboriginal people. The major aim of any education system all over the world is to produce individuals who are self-reliant, creative and innovative in facing the ever-changing challenges of the society. The aboriginal childhood development is important in shaping this objective (Maria, 2006, P.309). In addition to the other benefits that come with quality education, f or these indigenous communities they will feel a sense of equality with other communities. Further, through quality education, the people will be empowered to move out of their societies to face new environment thereby making them unlimited in a given locality. References Burridge, N. (2012). A history Overview of Aboriginal Education System. New York: rHill Publishers. Bodkin. F. Bodkin-Andrews. G. (2001). D'harawal Dreaming Stories: the whale and the pelican 2 guwarra and goolayyari: Retrieved from https://dharawalstories.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/guwarra1-4mb1.pdf Craven, R. (2000). Teaching Aboriginal Studies. Education Times, 11-19. Harbutt, K. (2008). The Power and the Passion. Education Times, 56-88. Harrison, N. (2008). Teaching and Learning in Indigenous Education. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Maria, L. (2006). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian university press. May, S. . (2012). Indigenous Education. Comprehensive Education, 139-146. 8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning. (n.d): Retrieved fromhttps://8ways.wikispaces.com