James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

ED1481:03

Childhood and Adolescence

Townsville, Cairns, External HECS Band 1

26 hours lectures, 13 hours tutorials. Semester 2. External delivery in Semester 2 for RATEP students.

Staff: Assoc. Professor T Bond (Townsville campus); Dr J Taylor (Cairns campus).

This subject explores children’s growth and development from birth to adulthood in terms of a set of four fundamental models. It takes as its initial reference model the most commonly used approach based on established empiricist principles. The subject goes on to examine a further three alternative but complementary models derived from the clinical tradition, from rationalist principles and from psychodynamic theories. The implications of these models will be explored with reference to a selection of critical educational issues. The subject is designed to focus on the preparation of a child or adolescent case study.

Learning Objectives:

  1. critically examine four theoretical models of childhood and adolescence;
  2. develop oral and written skills for the interpretation and evaluation of each model and its associated theory;
  3. apply and defend at least two models in studying a child or adolescent;
  4. report the study of a child or adolescent based on one or more models studied throughout the subject;
  5. derive pedagogical implications from at least two of the models and their associated theories;
  6. critically defend the pedagogical implications derived from at least two of the models and their associated theories.

Assessment by tutorial participation (15%); case study (the equivalent of 25 hours field work) (40%); end-of-semester examination (45%).