EDEC6002: Play, Pedagogy, and Practice Assessment 1 – Advocacy Presentation Plan

Australian National University of Education (ANUE)

Faculty of Education

Assessment 1: Briefing Document

Unit Code: EDEC6002 Unit Name: Play, Pedagogy, and Practice Semester: Semester 1, 2025 Assessment Title: Assessment 1: Advocacy Presentation Plan Weighting: 40% Due Date: Friday, 18 April 2025, 11:59 PM AEST

## 1. Rationale and Task Description

Play is the foundational context for learning and development in early childhood, as enshrined in the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF V2.0). However, educators often need to articulate the why behind their play-based pedagogies to families and the wider community, who may hold more traditional views of learning.

This assessment requires you to step into the professional role of an Early Childhood Teacher. Your centre has decided to enhance its commitment to a play-based curriculum, and some families have expressed concerns, worrying that their children won’t be “learning enough” to be “ready for school.”

Your task is to create a detailed plan for a digital presentation (e.g., a PowerPoint or Prezi) that you would deliver at a family information evening. The goal of this presentation is to advocate for the importance of play, explain its profound connection to learning and development, and reassure families of its educational validity.

This task assesses your ability to:

• Analyse and synthesise key theories of play and pedagogy.
• Articulate a personal, evidence-based philosophy of play-based learning.
• Communicate complex educational concepts to a non-academic audience.
• Link pedagogical practices to the EYLF and relevant developmental domains.

## 2. Task Instructions

You are required to submit a Presentation Plan using the template provided on the following page. You are not submitting the actual presentation slides. Your plan must outline the content for a 10-12 slide presentation.

Your presentation plan must cover the following key areas:

1. Introduction: Acknowledge family concerns and state the presentation’s purpose. Define play in an early childhood context.
2. The Power of Play: Explain how play supports children’s holistic development. You must dedicate separate slides to:
   • Cognitive Development (problem-solving, language, numeracy).
   • Social and Emotional Development (empathy, regulation, cooperation).
   • Physical Development (gross and fine motor skills).
3. Your Personal Philosophy: Articulate your professional philosophy on play and learning, supported by academic literature.
4. The Educator’s Role: Describe the intentional role of the educator in a play-based environment (e.g., observer, facilitator, co-player, documenter).
5. Creating the Environment: Outline the key elements (physical, social, temporal) of an effective play-based learning environment.
6. Addressing Challenges: Acknowledge potential challenges in implementing a play-based curriculum and propose professional solutions.
7. Conclusion: Summarise the key messages and provide a powerful concluding statement that reinforces the value of play.
8. Reference List: A complete reference list in APA 7th style.

## 3. Submission Requirements

• Format: You must use the provided EDEC6002 Assessment 1 Template (Word Document).
• Length: The presentation plan should be for 10-12 slides. The key points for each slide should not exceed 200 words.
• Referencing: You must support your points with scholarly evidence. A minimum of eight (8) academic sources are required, one of which must be the EYLF V2.0. All sources must be cited in-text and listed at the end of the document using APA 7th Edition referencing style.
• Submission: Submit a single Word or PDF document via the Moodle submission portal.
• Generative AI: You must complete the Gen AI Acknowledgement on the cover sheet. Using Gen AI for brainstorming is permitted, but the final written work must be your own. Over-reliance on AI will be treated as a breach of academic integrity.

## 4. Marking Criteria and Standards

Your work will be assessed on the quality of your response against the following criteria:

EDEC6002 Assessment 1: Presentation Plan Template

Unit Code: EDEC6002 Unit Name: Play, Pedagogy, and Practice Assessment 1: Advocacy Presentation Plan

Submission Details

Gen AI Acknowledgement Please select one of the following options:

• ☐ I have not used Gen AI to complete this assignment.
• ☐ I have used Gen AI to complete this assignment. Please provide details of use below.

Presentation Plan You may adjust the table as needed. Maximum 12 slides.

Reference List (Please list all references in APA 7th Edition format below)