Task- Topic 1: Historical childhood influences   Think about one or two issues that influence children’s lives today and how this has changed over  the last 20-50 years. With reference to the unit content, compare and critique how

Assessment 1: Portfolio of short responses to unit content

Due Date 

Monday 18th November (WEEK 4) @ 11:59pm AEDT

Length 

1500 words excluding references

Weighting 

50%

Academic  

Integrity and  

GenAI – see  

below

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, are permitted  for this preparation of Assessment Task, within university guidelines. If you  use GenAI tools, you must use these ethically and acknowledge their use. To  find out how to reference GenAI in your work consult the APA 7th referencing  style for your unit via SCU Library referencing guides.

Submission 

1 word document saved as a PDF or Word document  

Submit to Turnitin in the assessment 1 folder on Blackboard No resubmissions of assignments are permitted in this unit Complete the unit cover sheet and add any copies of special  consideration approval

Unit Learning  

Outcomes (ULO)

You will demonstrate the following Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO) on the  successful completion of this task: 

ULO 1: Compare and critique historical and contemporary  constructions of childhood and families, including those pertaining to  First Nations perspectives and experiences. 

ULO 2: Identify how children develop identity and how teachers  develop a sense of belonging, being, and becoming.

Rationale 

Working with and supporting children and families within the context of their community is a vital  consideration for teachers as this reflects the lives and learning of children. Knowing children,  families and communities therefore presents opportunities and challenges and being able to  identify, compare and critique the diversity of issues that children and families experience in  contemporary communities in Australia is a vital skill. 

Assessment Description  

The aim of this assessment is for pre-service teachers to demonstrate their knowledge and  understanding regarding the historical and diverse issues facing children and families in  contemporary communities. This assessment aligns with the unit learning modules 1-3 and requires  you to reflect upon key issues presented in the unit content and complete three (3) x 500-word  responses to the following topics.  

Topic 1: Historical childhood influences  

Think about one or two issues that influence children’s lives today and how this has changed over  the last 20-50 years. With reference to the unit content, compare and critique how contemporary life  may enhance or hinder outcomes for children and families compared to how life influenced them in  the past. Pay attention to the ideas about how contemporary childhoods are constructed in an 

Australian or Global context. Frame your answer using the levels in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological  Model including an understanding of the concept of proximal processes.  

Topic 2: First Nations childhoods 

Culturally responsive educators are knowledgeable of each child and family’s context including how  to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in the curriculum. Make relevant links to  the Early Years Learning Framework (AGDE, 2022) in your discussions. 

• Discuss the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being able to see  themselves, their identities and cultures reflected in their learning environment.  

• Identify why creating an intercultural space is important for all children and families? 

Topic 3: Gender equity scenario 

You are employed as the teacher in an early childhood education setting where a new family has  recently enrolled their four-year-old son Jacob. You have planned a cooking experience with the  children when Jacob states, “cooking is the girl’s job, boys should not cook!” Discuss the following  points with reference to the unit content: 

  • What specific language and strategies would you use to address the children’s being,  belonging and becoming in this situation? 
  • Give examples of how you can teach gender equity as part of an anti-bias curriculum that  has been outlined in the unit content, with children aged 3-5 years-of-age? 
  • How could you communicate the principles of an anti-bias curriculum and gender equity  with families?  

Assessment Instructions 

Formatting and style 

APA 7 formatting is required for this task.  

• Include a cover page that contains:  

o The title of the task in bold 

o Your name (as author) and Student ID 

o Your faculty (Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University) 

o The unit code and name (TCHR2002 Children, Families, and Communities)  

o Your unit assessor’s name (Tracy Young) 

o The due date 

• Include clear headings for the topics you are responding to 

• Indent the first line of each new paragraph. 

• Use a 12-point Arial font.  

• Use a 1.5- or double-line space for your writing and your reference list  

Referencing 

• APA 7 Referencing style is required to be used for this task. Please refer to the APA 7th Referencing Guide for this task 

• Create a reference list on a new page at the end of task with a minimum of ten references,  although you may use more 

• At a minimum, your sources for this task will include the unit required text, unit readings,  EYLF (AGDE, 2022) and broader literature.  

• Broader literature may include textbooks, peer reviewed articles, and other authoritative  sources.

 

• If you have used an AI tool or technology in the process of completing your assessment (for  example, brainstorming, understanding concepts, generating examples, summarizing  

readings), an acknowledgement of how you have used AI tools or technologies is required. You  can create this acknowledgement by adding a declaration at the end of your reference list. For  example: I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT to brainstorm concepts ——- for this  

assessment as a starting point for initial research before writing my assessment. 

Assessment Submission 

• Submitted using the submission point in the Turnitin folder in the Assessments Tasks and  Submission section on the Blackboard TCHR2002 site.  

• Label your final submission with your surname and initials and the assessment task’s name,  e.g. SmithJ_PortfolioTask1.doc 

• You are strongly advised to undertake your own SIMILARITY CHECK via Turnitin, PRIOR to  the due date, to identify and resolve any academic integrity issues prior to submitting – see  SCU Academic Integrity and Turnitin. You can submit up to three times and receive the  similarity match report immediately – after three attempts, you will need to wait 24 hours.  

• It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted the correct file and the final  version of your assessment for marking before the due date/time.  

• Turnitin does not generate an automatic email receipt. If you have successfully uploaded  your assessment, a green bar will appear at the top of the screen that says: Submission  uploaded successfully: Download digital receipt. Use the hyperlink to download your digital  receipt and store this with your assignment file.  

• If you have any difficulty submitting your assignment, log a job with Technology Services by  email so you have evidence of your attempted submission. To avoid any last-minute  

problems, make sure you submit well before 11:59pm on the due date.  

Academic Integrity 

Southern Cross University academic integrity means behaving with the values of honesty, fairness,  trustworthiness, courage, responsibility, and respect in relation to academic work. The Southern  Cross University Academic Integrity Framework aims to develop a holistic, systematic, and consistent  approach to addressing academic integrity across the entire University. For more information see  the information in Blackboard, the recorded assessment overview and refer to SCU Academic Integrity Framework. 

Generative A1 

For the assessments in this unit students are permitted to use Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to:  

• clarify concepts, theories, ideas, etc., discussed in class  

• generate preliminary ideas for writing 

• edit a working draft of the assessment 

• read and summarize research and supporting evidence for the assessment 

Students are not permitted to use Generative AI to:  

• generate definitions or writing used in their final submission.  

• produce arguments or refine thinking on their final submission 

 

Any of these actions will constitute and be treated as a breach of academic integrity. 

Do not post confidential, private, personal, or otherwise sensitive information into these tools. If you  use these tools, you must be aware of their limitations, biases, and propensity for fabrication. Your use of AI tools must adhere to the SCU Academic Integrity Framework, including upholding honesty,  ethics, professionalism, and academic integrity 

Special Consideration 

Students wishing to request special consideration to extend the due date of an assessment must  submit a Request for Special Consideration form via their My Enrolment page as early as possible  and prior to the original due date for that assessment task, along with any accompanying  documents, such as medical certificates. Please refer to the Special Consideration section of the SCU Policy 

Late Submissions & Penalties 

Except when special consideration is awarded, late submission of assessment tasks incurs a late  penalty in accordance with the SCU Late Submission & Penalties Policy Penalties will be incurred after the assessment submission due date/time. 

• A penalty of 5% of the available marks will be deducted from the actual mark 

• A further penalty of 5% of the available mark will be deducted from the actual mark on  each subsequent calendar day until the mark reaches zero. 

Grades & Feedback 

Grades and feedback will be posted to the ‘Grades and Feedback’ section on the Blackboard unit site using the following rubric for the marking criteria and grading standards. Please allow 7 -10 days for  grades to be posted. 

 

Assessment Rubric

Marking Criteria  and & allocation 

High  

Distinction  + (100%)

High Distinction  (85-99%)

Distinction 

(75-84%)

Credit  

(65-74%)

Pass 

(50-64%)

Marginal Fail  

(35-49%)

Fail 

(0-49%)

Absent  

fail  

(0%)

Criteria 1 

Historical  

influences and  

changes to  

childhoods in  

relation to  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological Model 

/15 marks 

Achieves all  the criteria  for a high  

distinction  

to an  

exemplary  

standard  

with  

outstanding  integration  of the unit  

content  

and  

references.

Comprehensive  

comparison and  critique of changes and influences in  contemporary  

society using  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological Model  to frame the  

response. The  

concept of  

proximal processes  is seamlessly  

woven through the  discussion with  

reference to  

readings and the  unit content.

Clear and concise discussion,  

critical thinking  and examples of  the ways in  

which  

contemporary  

life may enhance  or hinder  

proximal  

processes and  

outcomes  

compared to the  past, using  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological Model  to frame the  

answer.

Discussion of  

some of the ways  in which  

contemporary  

life may enhance  or hinder  

proximal  

processes and  

outcomes  

compared to the  past, using  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological Model  to frame the  

answer.

Discusses the  

ways in which  

contemporary life  may enhance or  hinder children  

wellbeing  

outcomes  

compared to the  past, with limited  insights from  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological Model and concepts. 

Limited  

discussion that  may not clearly  reflect the unit  content or  

respond  

effectively to the  criteria in  

relation to  

History, changing  childhoods or  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological  

Model.

Inadequate or  

irrelevant  

discussion of the  ways in which  

contemporary  

life may enhance  or hinder  

proximal  

processes and  

outcomes  

compared to the  past, and/or has  not used  

Bronfenbrenner’s  Ecological Model  to frame the  

answer.

Not  

attempted

Criteria 2 

Discusses the  

importance of  integrating First  Nations  

childhoods and  cultural identity  in relation to the  Early Years  

Learning  

Framework v.2.0 /15

Achieves all  the criteria  for a high  

distinction  

to an  

exemplary  

standard,  

with  

outstanding  integration  of the unit  

materials.

Comprehensive  

discussion outlines  the importance of  strong Indigenous  childhood identity  

and intercultural  learning spaces.  

with clear links to  the Early Years  

Learning  

Framework woven  through the  

writing.

Clear discussion  that addresses  

the key points,  with links to the  Early Years  

Learning  

Framework. 

Discussion  

addresses the  

criteria, with  

some links to the  Early Years  

Learning  

Framework. A  

stronger link to  diverse 

perspectives for  all children could  be addressed. 

Satisfactory  

discussion of key  points that is  

limited by deeper  connections to  

the Early Years  

Learning  

Framework and  unit content.

Limited  

discussion of  

Indigenous  

childhood and  

responses to the  questions with  

few or no links to  the Early Years  

Learning  

Framework and  unit content 

Inadequate or  

irrelevant  

discussion of  

strategies for  

supporting  

Indigenous  

childhoods, with  no links to the  

unit learning  

materials. 

Not  

attempted

 

Criteria 3 

Promoting  

gender equity  

and social justice  in the early  

childhood setting with reference to  the unit anti-bias  curriculum  

content,  

language,  

strategies and  

examples. 

/15

Achieves all  the criteria  for a high  

distinction  

to an  

exemplary  

standard,  

with  

outstanding  integration  of the unit  

materials 

and a deep  knowledge  of the  

topic.

Comprehensive  

discussion of  

language and  

strategies that  

could be used to  address the  

scenario. Example  of teaching and  

learning strategies  are effective for  

working towards  anti bias  

curriculum and  

equity in the early  childhood setting for children and  

families. 

Clear discussion  of language and  actions that  

could be used to  address the  

scenario. Some  teaching  

strategies and  

examples  

address anti bias  curriculum and  gender equity in  the early  

childhood setting with very minor limitations or  

errors.

Discussion  

addresses the  

language and  

actions that  

could be used to  handle the  

scenario for  

teaching gender  equity to young  children, and  

some strategies  for working  

towards adopting  an anti-bias  

curriculum in the  early childhood  setting. Some  

limitations or  

errors are  

evident.

Discusses the  

ways language  

and actions could  be used to  

address the  

scenario with  

limited strategies  for teaching  

gender equity and  an anti-bias  

curriculum.  

Minimal links to  learning materials  and use of  

references may be  evident.

Limited 

discussion of  

language and  

actions that  

could be used in  the scenario.  

Limited  

strategies are  

included with  

some major 

limitations or  

errors and/or  

consistent minor  limitations or  

errors 

Inadequate or  

irrelevant  

discussion of  

language and  

actions that  

could be used to  handle the  

situation,  

strategies for  

teaching gender  equity to young  children, and  

strategies for  

working towards  social justice and  equity in the  

early childhood  setting.

Not  

attempted

Criteria 4 

Academic  

Literacy including  English  

expression,  

writing, APA  

7 references, and  reference to  

relevant readings  and resources.  

/5

Achieves all  the criteria  for a high  

distinction  

to an  

exemplary  

standard,  

without any  errors.

As per Distinction  and: Insightful  

integration of  

readings and  

discussion with  

compelling writing  that aligns all  

aspects of the task.  Intext citations and  short quotes have  been used  

effectively.

As per Credit  

and: In-depth  

discussion and  

critique that is  

clearly written  

with minimal  

referencing and  grammatical  

errors.

As per Pass and: Writing is clear  with references  

made to relevant  readings that link  to required unit  content. APA 7  

Referencing is  

mostly correct.

Limited reference  to unit readings,  content and  

resources. APA  

and/or writing  

referencing may  need  

improvement 

punctuation,  

grammar,  

paragraph  

structure, APA 7th  referencing

Writing is not  

cohesive, and/or  the unit learning  materials have  

not been  

included in a  

reference list or  in-text citations. 

Significant  

improvement  

needed in  

writing and  

presentation  

with consistent  errors in spelling,  punctuation,  

grammar,  

paragraph  

structure, and  

APA 7th  

referencing

Not  

atte