Early Childhood Education

Course Components

Human development across the lifespan

This module introduces students to the field of human development.  Students study a range of theories, critique current literature, theories, and models on human development across the lifespan. A variety of theoretical perspectives, themes of human development, and their relevance to early childhood is explored this will be related to its application to early childhood development and teaching practice throughout the module.

Students are to study the different dimensions of human development across the lifespan, analyse the different domains of human development and debate the different perspectives on how development should be studied. They will be exposed to the various models of development, but will be encouraged to study development holistically, within its contexts and systems. They are to identify variations within age levels, and the implications of these variations for early childhood educational practice and for their own personal practice.

They are to reflect on the biological and ecological influences on human development across the lifespan and examine their own role in relation to theories, and models of human development across the lifespan.

This module is designed for people working with, or intending to work with, young children in an early childhood setting.