Task You have been given the task of designing a short early childhood program (three learning experiences) that adopt a socially just/anti-bias approach to teaching. You need to choose one area from those addressed this session: gender, sexuality, linguistic diversity, ethnicity or Aboriginality. You are not required to implement the program for this assessment. Pay close attention to issues of pedagogy and be thoughtful about the ways you incorporate the notion of socially just/anti-bias teaching in each learning activity that you build in throughout the short program. It is important to demonstrate how you will encourage children to be critical thinkers around your topic. The short program [and thus, your assessment] needs to include these 5 tasks: 1) A rationale as to why this topic important for your centre to address (or one you have visited/had a practical experience with – if you are not currently employed in an EC setting). The rationale should include connections to your readings (300 words). 2) A brief critical discussion of how diversity and difference are evident in your service’s philosophy (or one you have visited/had a practical experience with – if you are not currently employed in an EC setting) OR your own teaching philosophy. You must not use direct quotes, but discuss the philosophies in your own words (300 words). 3) Create 3 learning experiences where you begin to disrupt dominant discourses by encouraging children to think critically about your topic (650 -750 words total). Describe each activity Use annotations to demonstrate how each activity addresses the outcomes/elements of EYLF and/or NQS in regard to diversity and difference. Please see an example of the format for the learning experiences in the Resources folder on the subject’s Interact2 site. A minimum of 8 annotations in total must be made across the 3 learning activities (200-300 words per learning experience – annotations are not included in this word count). Write a combined justification for the three experiences, explaining how they encourage children to be critical thinkers and demonstrate a socially just/anti-bias approach to teaching. The justification must include connections to your readings (250 words). 4) Do an audit in your room for resources that might be encouraging dominant discourses around your chosen topic (eg if your topic is sexuality, you might note resources that represent social norms like heterosexual parents, gender roles, etc.). Make a list of these resources. Then explain how they could be utilised differently to challenge the dominant discourses they convey, or what kinds of resources could be included to show diversity around your topic (300 words). 5) Write a personal reflection considering your cultural plunge, the main ideas that have been presented in the subject materials and what, if any, influence they will have on your classroom practice. Include a discussion on why it is important we critically reflect on our knowledge/ assumptions /bias/beliefs to become socially just teachers (500 words). The entire assessment should use no less than 6 references (from your readings and extra readings if possible). For the purposes of confidentiality, please do not use a service’s real name when discussing the service philosophy. A pseudonym (a name that you make up for the service) may be used if you wish. Rationale This assessment is designed to allow you to imagine how issues we are reading about and discussing in this subject impact upon the work of teachers. To that end, you are asked to think deeply about one of the topics we have addressed in the session, and to frame a short program for your centre. This should be designed so it creates opportunities for reflection and learning for the children in your service, and to advocate the celebration of diversity and difference. In completing this assessment task, you will work towards meeting the following learning outcomes: critically analyse scenarios, recognising issues related to social justice and suggest changes in order to address the issues in positive ways. recognise the power and place of early childhood education in the struggle for social justice and act to provoke thought in others develop strategies, pedagogies and curricula for a more inclusive and just practice in early childhood contexts and the broader community. Marking criteria Your assessment will be graded under the following criteria: Criterion A) (30%) The program is thoughtful and realistic in its articulation and includes i) a rationale clearly supporting the choice of topic ii) a clear discussion of service and personal teaching philosophies iii) three learning activities relating to a chosen topic, that are described, annotated and justified iv) a thoughtful audit of the centre resources with reference to a chosen topic v) a personal reflection Criterion B) (40%) The activities within the program demonstrate: i) 3 learning experiences which include relevant and appropriate activities to explore the topic ii) a well articulated justification of the teaching practices used in each learning experience that draws upon concepts from subject readings and additional literature Criterion C) (10%) The professional reflection includes: i) a well articulated discussion that reflects on your plunge experience and the key ideas raised in the modules in light of adopting a socially just approach to teaching Criterion D) (20%) Tertiary level of writing and referencing