Assignment two | Tauanga mahi tuarua 30%

Critical Analysis

Learning outcomes 1 and 3
Academic standards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Word count 1500 words, +/- 10%
Due Week 5 – Wednesday 12th March 2025, 10pm

Introduction

This assignment involves using critical analysis: this means looking closely at your teaching practice to understand what and why you are acting and teaching as you do within your early childhood setting. Underlying values, attitudes, beliefs and intentions impact your teaching and can be examined by looking closely at your teaching practices. As you have learned, critical theories represent a range of theoretical perspectives and practices through which people may pursue social justice, address inequality, and teach to ensure a fairer, more inclusive, and equitable society.

You will be guided in this by the points relating to Critical Theories found in Tāhūrangi, found at
https://tewhariki.tahurangi.education.govt.nz/te-whakamahi-i-ng-ari-arohaehae—critical-theories/5637161151.p

Preparation

Read the information about Critical Theories available through the link above focusing on the information relating to ‘Explaining critical theories’ and ‘How critical theories are featured in Te Whāriki’.

Reflect on the Weekly content and readings from Weeks 1,2, 3 and 4, and the information on the website above and find other readings that support this kaupapa. Make notes of your understanding of the website, clips and readings, ensuring you note the author(s) so you can find them again.

Task

Critical theories claim that some groups/communities are privileged in educational settings, while others are marginalised.

With this statement in mind respond to the following:

• Examine what critical theories are and justify why early childhood kaiako in Aotearoa New Zealand need to engage with critical theories.
• Explain how the background influences of kaiako impact on inclusion, exclusion and marginalisation of diverse communities in early childhood settings.
• Identify and outline one personal background influence evident in your own teaching and its potential impact for a marginalised community.
• Propose next steps in your own teaching practice to enhance inclusion, rather marginalisation, in your teaching practice.

The assignment is structured as a report and should be set out as follows:

• Title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• A section attending to each of the four aspects of the task using these headings:
  • Critical theories and importance of critical theories
  • Role of background influences
  • Identification of own background influences
  • Proposal of steps to enhance inclusive practice
• Conclusion
• References

Marking Criteria

To be granted a pass in this assignment, you must satisfy the following criteria

• Met Learning Outcomes 1 and 3.
• Met Academic standards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
• Examined what Critical Theories are.
• Justified the importance of critical theories for kaiako in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Explained how background influences of kaiako impact on inclusion, exclusion and marginalisation of diverse communities.
• Identified and outlined at least one personal background influence on own teaching practice and its potential impact for marginalised communities.
• Proposed steps to enhance inclusion in own teaching practice.
• Used reliable literature, including both course readings and independently sourced literature, to support points made.