Pedagogical Contexts for Play
UndergraduateCUR-EDE3922025
Examine the value of play to become an advocate for children’s right to play. Investigate historical and current theoretical perspectives and study examples of current local, national, and international play-based curriculum in learning settings.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 23 Nov 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 2 June 2025,
- 1 Dec 2025
- Price from
- $666
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Pedagogical Contexts for Play
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- defend and apply play-based approaches to curriculum design
- interpret views on the relationship between play and learning
- analyse and explain historical and current pedagogical assumptions, perspectives, and practices in play-based learning
- design inclusive environments for play
- critically review contemporary issues impacting on children’s right to play.
- Perspectives on play
- Theories about play and learning
- Confronting assumptions about play
- Play and culture
- Play-work dichotomy: Continuity and transitions
- Approaches to designing play-based curriculum: Reflective practice
- Adult roles in children's play: Intentional teaching
- Observing and documenting play: Assessment for learning
- Contemporary issues impacting children's right to play
- Designing environments for play
- Families, communities and play
- Play and the formation of ethical identities
This subject examines the value of play in early childhood pedagogy, and invites students to become advocates for children’s right to play. The subject explores historical and current theoretical perspectives on pedagogy and play, and offers opportunities to discuss examples of current local, national, and international play-based curriculum in learning settings from birth - 8 years. The subject emphasises planning of physical environments for play and includes a focus on the outdoors as a pedagogical space. Students will learn to plan with intent, observe, interpret, and assess children’s learning through play. Students will critically review contemporary issues impacting on time and opportunity for play, and explore possibilities for and approaches to establishing shared understandings between educators and families on the value of play in children’s learning.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Researching Play (50%)
- Essay (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- CUR-ECE-DEG-2025 - Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Elective
- CUR-FAST-DEG-2025 - Fast track your Curtin on campus study
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
one of
CUR-EDE222 (Not currently available)
- CUR-EDE220-Early Childhood Professional Experience 1: Learning and Teaching in Junior Primary
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Others
You don't have to enrol in this subject if you have completed EDE102 Pedagogy and Play (Birth-5 years) as they are considered equivalents.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
UndergraduateCUR-ECE-DEG
Fast track your Curtin on campus study
UndergraduateCUR-FAST-DEG