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Full-Text Articles in Early Childhood Education

The Overcoming Disadvantage In Early Childhood Study: Evaluation Of The Australian Literacy And Numeracy Foundation’S Early Language And Literacy Program. Summary Report, Dan Cloney, Kellie Picker, David Jeffries, Prue Anderson Nov 2023

The Overcoming Disadvantage In Early Childhood Study: Evaluation Of The Australian Literacy And Numeracy Foundation’S Early Language And Literacy Program. Summary Report, Dan Cloney, Kellie Picker, David Jeffries, Prue Anderson

Early Childhood Education

This report provides a summary of the completed Overcoming Disadvantage in Early Childhood (ODEC) longitudinal research study. The study was designed to evaluate the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s (ALNF) Early Language and Literacy (EL&L) program by answering the research question: What is the effect of the EL&L program on the development of language and literacy skills in preschool aged children? An integral component of this study was the development of the Early Language and Literacy Developmental Index (ELLDI), a new tool to measure oral language and literacy learning. The development of the ELLDI was based on the recognised need …


Analysis Of Early Childhood Education And Learning Outcomes In The Pacific, Dan Cloney, Yung Nietschke, Jeffery Marshall Feb 2023

Analysis Of Early Childhood Education And Learning Outcomes In The Pacific, Dan Cloney, Yung Nietschke, Jeffery Marshall

Early Childhood Education

There is strong evidence supporting early childhood education (ECE) programmes as an effective way to support children to have the best start in life, especially for the most disadvantaged children. When high‐quality programmes are established – where quality is assured, and barriers to participation eliminated – large positive effects are observed that are sustained into adulthood. Indeed, substantial positive returns on public investment in ECE programmes are reported. When low‐quality programmes are taken to scale in the market, however, smaller effects or no effects are observed. This is attributed to failure to get quality right. And when quality is too …


The Overcoming Disadvantage In Early Childhood Study: Evaluation Of The Australian Literacy And Numeracy Foundation’S Early Language And Literacy Program. Final Report, Dan Cloney, Kellie Picker, David Jeffries, Prue Anderson Jan 2022

The Overcoming Disadvantage In Early Childhood Study: Evaluation Of The Australian Literacy And Numeracy Foundation’S Early Language And Literacy Program. Final Report, Dan Cloney, Kellie Picker, David Jeffries, Prue Anderson

Early Childhood Education

The Overcoming Disadvantage in Early Childhood (ODEC) study is a longitudinal evaluation of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s (ALNF) Early Language and Literacy (EL&L) program. The study was designed to answer the research question: What is the effect of the EL&L program on the development of language and literacy skills in preschool aged children? An integral component of this study was to develop a new measure of oral language and literacy - the Early Language and Literacy Developmental Index (ELLDI). The ELLDI was developed in recognition of the need for a best practice measure of oral language and literacy …


Research Snapshot: Unicef Philippines Early Childhood Education Kindergarten To Grade 4 Longitudinal Study, Rachel Parker, Jacqueline H. S. Cheng, Prue Anderson, Dan Cloney, Adeola Monty Sep 2021

Research Snapshot: Unicef Philippines Early Childhood Education Kindergarten To Grade 4 Longitudinal Study, Rachel Parker, Jacqueline H. S. Cheng, Prue Anderson, Dan Cloney, Adeola Monty

Early Childhood Education

The Philippines Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Longitudinal Study was a major research investment by UNICEF, the Philippines Department of Education, and the Australian Government. It was designed to investigate the impact of one of the most significant education reforms in Philippines history: the introduction of the Kindergarten year as part of the K-12 Basic Education System. It offers useful insights into the impact of Philippines Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) and key language transition points for students from Kindergarten to Grade 4. This longitudinal study measured not only the impact of Kindergarten, but also the contribution that preschool …


Early Childhood Development: Practitioner Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2021

Early Childhood Development: Practitioner Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

This Practitioner level module is designed to inform staff members about issues to consider when engaging with international and domestic partners on early childhood development (ECD). It covers the case for ECD, the process of policy development and how development partners can assist government partners to expand and enhance ECD. In the context of COVID-19 and at all times, ECD is a critical priority. It is recommended that staff complete the Early Childhood Development: Foundation Level module as background information to this Practitioner level module.


Early Childhood Development: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2021

Early Childhood Development: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

The purpose of this module is to provide foundation level introductory information about the importance and scope of early childhood development. It provides a foundation to engage with this topic and to apply advice from staff with operational or expert levels of knowledge in education. On successful completion you will gain the ability to apply practical knowledge of early childhood development to make valuable contributions to the field.


Assessment Of Oral Language And Early Literacy In Early Childhood Education And Care: Literature Review, Danielle Anzai, Sandra Knowles, Dan Cloney, Pam Munro-Smith, Pru Mitchell Jan 2021

Assessment Of Oral Language And Early Literacy In Early Childhood Education And Care: Literature Review, Danielle Anzai, Sandra Knowles, Dan Cloney, Pam Munro-Smith, Pru Mitchell

Early Childhood Education

This literature review is one of a series of reviews to support Victorian early childhood professionals to assess children's learning and development in relation to the five Learning and Development Outcomes in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). This review focuses on the Outcome: Children are effective communicators, and specifically on children as effective oral communicators. Focusing on the development of oral language and early literacy in the early years, this literature review sets out to provide a resource that will equip early childhood professionals with the knowledge to identify and assess children's progress in oral language …


Survey Of Teachers In Pre-Primary Education (Stepp): Lessons From The Implementation Of The Pilot Study And Field Trial Of International Survey Instruments, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Maurice Walker, Yoshie Kaga Dec 2020

Survey Of Teachers In Pre-Primary Education (Stepp): Lessons From The Implementation Of The Pilot Study And Field Trial Of International Survey Instruments, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Maurice Walker, Yoshie Kaga

Early Childhood Education

The present publication documents the achievements and lessons learned from the first phase of the Survey of Teachers in Pre-primary Education (STEPP) project, implemented by UNESCO from 2016 to 2019, with the participation of seven countries, namely, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Indonesia, Namibia, the Philippines, Togo, and Viet Nam. It is the first international survey for low-and-middle-income countries designed to collect information that is known to affect the quality of pre-primary education from pre-primary teachers and centre heads. The collected information concerns training and professional development, pedagogical and professional practices, working conditions and job satisfaction, and characteristics of pre-primary personnel …


New Long-Term Education Research Partnership, Jennie Chainey Nov 2020

New Long-Term Education Research Partnership, Jennie Chainey

Discover - Early childhood

ACER and VVOB – education for development have recently committed to a five-year partnership.


Assessment Of Children As Connected With And Contributing To Their World In Early Childhood Education And Care: Literature Review, Kate Noble, Jen Jackson, Pru Mitchell Jul 2020

Assessment Of Children As Connected With And Contributing To Their World In Early Childhood Education And Care: Literature Review, Kate Noble, Jen Jackson, Pru Mitchell

Early Childhood Education

This literature review unpacks the concept of connection and contribution from the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), which includes developing a sense of belonging to groups and communities, and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active civic participation; responding to diversity with respect; becoming aware of fairness; and becoming socially responsible and showing respect for the environment.


Assessment Of Children As Having A Strong Sense Of Identity In Early Childhood Education And Care: Literature Review, Jen Jackson, Kate Noble, Danielle Anzai, Pru Mitchell, Dan Cloney Jun 2020

Assessment Of Children As Having A Strong Sense Of Identity In Early Childhood Education And Care: Literature Review, Jen Jackson, Kate Noble, Danielle Anzai, Pru Mitchell, Dan Cloney

Early Childhood Education

This review focuses on the Outcome: Children have a strong sense of identity. Its purpose is to equip early childhood professionals with the knowledge to identify and assess children’s progress towards this Outcome in all early childhood settings. Central to the child’s development of a sense of identity is their personal identity. This includes awareness of self, summed up in the statement: ‘I know who I am’, and includes the constructs of self-expression and self-awareness. A strong sense of identity requires that a child also appreciates who they are, summed up in the statement: ‘I value who I am’. The …


Science In The Early Years. Paper 1: Early Years Science And Integration, Christine Rosicka, Gayl O'Connor Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years. Paper 1: Early Years Science And Integration, Christine Rosicka, Gayl O'Connor

Early Childhood Education

This is the first paper in the Science in the early years series that reviews current research into science learning and monitoring in the early years. The aim of this series is to provide early years educators with an insight into current research; highlight how research findings relate to children’s science learning; look at the current understandings about early years science monitoring; and provide examples of how early years educators can incorporate this research into their practices. This series defines ‘early years’ as the two years prior to school and the first three years of primary school, which in Australia …


Science In The Early Years. Paper 2: Science Inquiry Skills, Gayl O'Connor, Christine Rosicka Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years. Paper 2: Science Inquiry Skills, Gayl O'Connor, Christine Rosicka

Early Childhood Education

This is the second paper in the Science in the early years series that reviews current research into science learning and monitoring in the early years. The aim of this series is to provide early years educators with an insight into current research; highlight how research findings relate to children’s science learning; look at the current understandings about early years science monitoring; and provide examples of how early years educators can incorporate this research into their practices. This series defines ‘early years’ as the two years prior to school and the first three years of primary school, which in Australia …


Science In The Early Years. Paper 3: Monitoring Children's Learning, Christine Rosicka, Gayl O'Connor Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years. Paper 3: Monitoring Children's Learning, Christine Rosicka, Gayl O'Connor

Early Childhood Education

This third paper in the Science in the Early Years series continues to review current research into science learning and monitoring in the early years. The aim of this series is to provide early years educators with an insight into current research; highlight how research findings relate to children’s science learning; look at the current understandings about monitoring early years science learning; and provide examples of how early years educators can incorporate this research into their practices. This series defines ‘early years’ as the two years prior to school and the first three years of primary school, which in Australia …


Science In The Early Years. Paper 4: Educator Facilitation, Gayl O'Connor, Christine Rosicka Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years. Paper 4: Educator Facilitation, Gayl O'Connor, Christine Rosicka

Early Childhood Education

This fourth paper in the Science in the Early Years series concludes the review of current research into science learning and monitoring in the early years. The aim of this series is to provide early years educators with an insight into current research; highlight how research findings relate to children’s science learning; look at the current understandings about early years science; and provide examples of how early years educators can incorporate this research into their practices. This series defines ‘early years’ as the two years prior to school and the first three years of primary school, which in Australia generally …


Science In The Early Years: Monitoring Science Understandings: Checklists For Ac Foundation – Year 2, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Monitoring Science Understandings: Checklists For Ac Foundation – Year 2, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

This resource consists of templates of checklists for teachers of Years F to 2. They are tailored to the Australian Curriculum (AC) F–2 learning outcomes and they are to help record evidence of children’s science learning and to monitor this across time. The checklists have been populated with the AC strands (Science Understanding, Science Inquiry Skills, and Science as a Human Endeavour) and outcomes identified for the four teacher resources accompanying Paper 1: Early years science and integration: Plant treasure hunt, Floating and sinking; Paper 2: Science inquiry skills: Light and shadows, Exploring mixtures.


Science In The Early Years: Monitoring Science Understandings. Checklists For Eylf Outcomes, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Monitoring Science Understandings. Checklists For Eylf Outcomes, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

This resource consists of templates of checklists for early years educators, tailored to Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) learning outcomes. They are to help record evidence of children’s science learning and to monitor this across time. The checklists have been populated with the EYLF outcomes identified for the four educator resources accompanying Paper 1: Early years science and integration: Plant treasure hunt; Floating and sinking; and Paper 2: Science inquiry skills: Light and shadows, Exploring mixtures.


Science In The Early Years: Plant Treasure Hunt. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Plant Treasure Hunt. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

This educator resource describes an activity which encourages children to explore ideas about plants in an outdoor environment. They build on their understanding of what a plant is by drawing one and then go outdoors to find examples of plants (a ‘treasure hunt’). This activity allows children to learn about different examples of plants other than flowers, or plants that are grown in a pot. Children often discount other examples of plants such as trees, grass and vegetables. The activity is linked to the Australian Curriculum (Foundation to Year 2) and provides teacher notes about the scientific classification of plants.


Science In The Early Years: Light And Shadows. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Light And Shadows. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

This educational resource for early years teachers describes an activity best suited to children in Foundation to Year 2 (F–2) as it addresses the Year 1 Science Understandings outcome as well as addressing Science Inquiry Skills outcomes for F–2. It is also suitable for preschoolers to help overcome common misconceptions about shadow formation. F–2 students should be encouraged to explain why shadows are formed as well as describe them. Preschoolers should be given the opportunity to describe and explain shadows too. This resource provides an explanation of how shadows are formed and guidelines about how to teach these scientific concepts.


Science In The Early Years: Floating And Sinking. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Floating And Sinking. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

This teaching resource for early years educators explores the scientific concepts behind floating and sinking. It describes an activity for small groups of children and explains how it links to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Australian Curriculum (Foundation to Year 2).


Science In The Early Years: Exploring Mixtures. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Exploring Mixtures. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

This activity is suitable for preschoolers to investigate the behaviour of two common household products (oil and water). The emphasis is on supporting children to develop their inquiry skills to describe what they observe when trying to mix these liquids. Preschoolers should be given the opportunity to communicate (describe and explain) their observations. The activity can be extended to Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students who should be encouraged to predict what will happen, communicate (explain) why some of the liquids used do not mix, as well as to describe the changes they observe when mixing materials. All children …


Science In The Early Years: Concept Cartoons As Monitoring Tools. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research Jun 2020

Science In The Early Years: Concept Cartoons As Monitoring Tools. Educator Resource, Australian Council For Educational Research

Early Childhood Education

Cartoons can be used as a way of monitoring children’s developing understanding of concepts (‘concept cartoons’). Cartoons provide a simple narrative in which two or more characters provide commentary or opinions about a phenomenon. The cartoon format is likely to be familiar to children, so is a non-threatening format to present and elicit their thoughts on the opinions provided by the characters. There are four concept cartoons in this resource. Each concept cartoon provides a monitoring tool for finding out how children’s understanding about science concepts is developing. Each cartoon is customised to one of the activities in the educator …


Learning Through Play Experience Tool: Guidelines For General Use Of The Learning Through Play Experience Tool, Lisa Van Beeck Jun 2020

Learning Through Play Experience Tool: Guidelines For General Use Of The Learning Through Play Experience Tool, Lisa Van Beeck

Monitoring Learning

The aim of the Learning through Play (LtP) Experience Tool is to see a play experience through the eyes of a child and use this to understand the texture of the child’s experience. The LtP Experience Tool is not designed to rate or evaluate the child. It is an observational tool used to collect data on a child’s play experience by empathising with a child and how they respond to the play experience. These guidelines provide an overview of the purpose of the LtP Experience Tool and how to use it to understand a child’s play experience. The guidelines are …


Learning Through Play Experience Tool: Contextual Data Tools, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) May 2020

Learning Through Play Experience Tool: Contextual Data Tools, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Monitoring Learning

The Learning through Play (LtP) Experience Tool was developed for use at LEGO House to observe and measure the quality of children’s play experiences. The LtP Experience Tool includes a set of Contextual Data Tools. The primary purpose of the Contextual Data Tools: "is to put the LtP Experience Tool into ‘context’, by emphasising that we are not assessing the individual child assuming that there is something wrong with the child’s performance or behaviour. But that we are measuring the child to understand whether anything should be changed in the context/environment/facilitation around the child". The Contextual Data Tools …


International Early Learning And Child Well-Being Study, Australian Council For Educational Research May 2020

International Early Learning And Child Well-Being Study, Australian Council For Educational Research

Assessment GEMS

The International Early Learning and Child Well-Being Study (IELS) assesses children at age 5, measuring key learning and development outcomes. The overall purpose of IELS is to help countries to better support the development and overall well-being of young children through improved early learning experiences. It achieves this by: providing robust empirical data on children’s early learning; identifying factors that enable and inhibit children’s early learning; and informing early childhood education centres and schools about skill levels of five year old children, as well as related contextual factors, which could be used to make more informed decisions about curriculums and …


Quality-Focused Interventions In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz Nov 2019

Quality-Focused Interventions In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

Quality-focused early childhood education and care (ECEC) interventions are aimed at improving the quality of an existing intervention, service or program. These studies are of particular interest in the current global ECEC context as the emphasis on early childhood services shifts from access and participation to quality. Quality encompasses many aspects of an ECEC program, including structural dimensions and process dimensions. Structural dimensions cover infrastructure and resources, training for personnel and adult-child ratios. Process dimensions cover adult-child interactions, and opportunities for play and exploration. The 20 quality-focused interventions in ECEC identified for this review (of a total of 109 studies; …


Integrated Interventions In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz Nov 2019

Integrated Interventions In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

Integrated interventions combine multiple services or supports across different agencies in health, social welfare, employment services and education. Such interventions are typically larger in scale than those in other categories (e.g. parent- or child focused ECEC interventions), requiring collaboration or coordination of multiple service providers within the community. Integrated interventions are regarded as the most effective way to address young children’s learning and development and break inter-generational cycles of poverty. Four integrated interventions in ECEC were identified for this review (of a total of 109 studies) which required studies to examine links to children’s development outcomes, resulting in available evidence …


Learning Practice Guide, Jen Jackson, Kate Noble, Jeanne Marie Iorio, Dan Cloney, Pru Mitchell Oct 2019

Learning Practice Guide, Jen Jackson, Kate Noble, Jeanne Marie Iorio, Dan Cloney, Pru Mitchell

Early Childhood Education

The first section of this Learning Practice Guide reminds early childhood professionals of the theory and pedagogy that underpins day-to-day practice, and helps them find ways to recognise children’s confidence and involvement in learning as a key component of their professional practice. The second section describes eight scenarios to prompt professional reflection, and illustrate ways in which early childhood professionals can improve their practice in relation to the VEYLDF Learning and Development Outcome: Children are confident and involved learners.


Measurement Of Young Children's Learning For Program Evaluation, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz Sep 2019

Measurement Of Young Children's Learning For Program Evaluation, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

The global commitment to early learning has been expressed in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals Agenda (SDG) (United Nations, 2016) and access to support for early learning is considered a human right for all children, whether provided by the family, community, or institutional programs (UNESCO, 2013). Inadequate cognitive stimulation has been identified as one of the key psychosocial risk factors associated with poor child development – a factor that is modifiable, with the right interventions (Walker et al., 2007). Thus, insights into how early learning supports may be delivered effectively in various contexts are essential. To explore the …


Improving Young Children's Learning In Economically Developing Countries: What Works, Why, And Where? Scoping Review, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz Aug 2019

Improving Young Children's Learning In Economically Developing Countries: What Works, Why, And Where? Scoping Review, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

This scoping review responds to the increasing interest in improving early childhood education and care (ECEC) in economically developing countries. It examines available research in relation to the question: What effective interventions have been implemented recently in economically developing countries to improve children’s learning in the years before school? As much of the research underpinning ECEC interventions has focused on economically developed countries, it is timely to review available research about the effectiveness of interventions in the economically developing world. The ECEC interventions were categorised as Income supplementation (n=8); Parent-focused interventions (n=37); Child-focused education and nurturing care (n=35); Integrated interventions …