Education

This course is a study of key issues in development, with a focus on early and middle childhood. Topics include family, peer, cultural, and media influences on typical and atypical development.

This course examines the underlying concepts in indigenous education and the theories that inform current research practice. Particular emphasis is given to theories of ethnicity, culture, indigeneity and colonization and their application to the New Zealand context.

This course focuses on the development of a graduate level research proposal. It covers concrete issues of conducting research: identifying a topic; generating hypotheses or research questions; case selections; measurement issues; selecting appropriate research methods; combining quantitative and qualitative methods; carrying our literature review; applying APA editing style, and considering research ethics.

This course provides students with the theoretical, contextual and strategic knowledge and skills that will equip them to advocate for the early childhood profession, young children and diverse families and communities. Students critique community, national and international levels of policy, frameworks and practices relevant to advocacy with and for children, families, communities, non-governmental organizations and professions. Te Tiriti o Waitangi provides an underpinning framework for the advocacy models to be developed in the course.

This course explores the role of art in primary (elementary) education as a vehicle for aesthetic, perceptual, cognitive, and experiential learning. It offers a study of different approaches to visual and craft art education from creative self-expression to trends such as Barbosa’s triangular approach, to intercultural art education, visual culture, etc. This course discusses the philosophy of techniques and materials and their relevance in primary education, as well as the main values of art and its role in education.

This course explores the fundamental principles and practical applications of human rights in an increasingly interconnected world. Grounded in foundational frameworks like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the class examines gender equality, children's rights, cultural imperialism, and democratic education. 

This course examines the history and culture of education in Japan, emphasizing how human relationships and behavioral patterns influence educational practices. Additionally, it addresses contemporary issues facing Japanese education.

The course explores the role of social sciences in primary education, focusing on critical thinking, citizenship education, and global competencies. Students examine teaching resources, digital tools, inquiry-based strategies, interdisciplinary approaches, sustainability, inclusion, and assessment methods for effective social science instruction.

This course prepares students with the necessary skills to provide effective writing tutorials in English. The course teaches the theoretical foundations of academic writing and tutoring. The course covers the process approach; roles of tutoring as a constructive dialogue in the writing process, as well as the roles of effective writing tutors. The course also offers a practical component with opportunities for tutorial observations, mock tutorials, and reflective practice in tutoring.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. This course, held in English, offers an extremely practical introduction to the essential techniques needed to teach English in a primary school context. The course looks at objectives and the relevant methodology providing many practical examples, with particular reference to skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, lexical and structural development. Students examine practical play-based activities that can help children learn and reinforce new language, and look at approaches such as the use of storytelling, songs and chants, nursery rhymes, "arts and crafts" and drama.

Above all, the course provides a series of activities that teachers can directly apply in the classroom - enjoyable basic activities to help teachers with their first steps in their new career. Course activities include: workshop and presentation of teaching activities followed by discussion/analysis of various practical activities.