ASSIGNMENT

___________________________________________________________________________
HMEC5333
ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
MAY 2019 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English or Malay.

2. Number of words: 3000 – 5000 words excluding references.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a MULTIPLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date: 8 JULY 2019 until 22 JULY 2019.

6. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

The objective of this assignment is to enable learners to strengthen their knowledge on the
current and important issues being debated within the field of early childhood care and
education (ECCE) locally and internationally. It will also examine current issues and trends,
historical origins, related policies, recurring issues, research findings, current practices,
workforce, and resulting programme developments in the field of ECCE.
This assignment has two parts:
1. Part 1: Written Assignment: 40%
2. Part 2: Presentation: 20%

1. Part 1: Written assignment (40 marks)

The purpose of studying Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education is to help students
understand and discuss the different issues and trends in Early Childhood Care and
Education, both locally and internationally. Choose ONE of the topics below:
(a) Early Literacy;
(b) School Readiness;
(c) Professional Development;
(d) An Inclusive Approach;
(e) The Early Years Curriculum;
(f) The Playing Learning Child;
(g) Any other relevant topic.

The following aspects need to be covered in your assignment:

1. Introduction of the task.
2. Critically discuss current issues of the chosen topics and its implication to early
childhood care and education locally and internationally.
3. Give real examples either local or international scenarios.
4. Suggest ways to overcome or improve the issues or trends discussed.
5. Conclusion

[40 MARKS]
2. Part 2: Presentation (20 marks)
You will be expected to present your assignment in Seminar 3. Online students (who are not
attending Seminar 3 in person) would need to video record your assignment presentation in

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an open-spaced, low-traffic and quiet setting. This would allow you to be clearly heard and
be as natural and as creative as you can. The presentation video should be less than 16
minutes and should be uploaded in the YouTube. The link of your video should be included in
your assignment.

[20 MARKS]

[TOTAL: 60 MARKS]

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HMEC5333 ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD / MAY 2019
Excellent
Weightage
Criteria
4 3
Introduction 1.0 The introduction fully
elaborates the background
of the assignment and
fascinates the reader. The
objective was meticulously
described.
ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
Rubric 1: Written assignment (40%)
Unsatisfactory/No Max
Good Fair Low
Response Marks
2 1 0
The introduction clarifies the The introduction includes a The introduction No introduction 4
background of the assignment brief background of the includes very brief provided.
quite comprehensively. The assignment, with a hazy, background of the
objective was accurately incomprehensible objective. assignment. The
described. objective was irrelevant
and misleading.

Current issues of 3.0
the chosen topics
and its implication
to early childhood
care and education
A clear, detailed, and
comprehensive discussion
on chosen topics and its
implication to early
childhood care and
education.
The discussion was
supported by relevant
literature review. Discussion
showed that the candidate
has a strong knowledge and
understanding of the topics
discussed.
Five or more references
referred.
A clear and detailed
discussion on chosen topics
and its implication to early
childhood care and education
The discussion was supported
by relevant literature review.
Learner was able to explain
and analyse the idea of the
chosen issues or trends.
Discussion shows that the
learner has some
understanding of the topics
discussed.
Three to four references
referred.
A brief discussion on chosen
topic. Unclear relation with
chosen topics and its
implication to early childhood
care and education.
Only one or two issue/s or
trend/s referred in the
discussion. Learner was not
able to explain the chosen
issues or trends in a clear
manner.
Discussion shows that the
learner has limited
understanding of the topics
discussed.
Less than three references
referred.
A vague discussion on Discussion on 12
chosen topic. The chosen topic is
discussion was not irrelevant and
supported by relevant illogical.
literature review.
Discussion shows that
the learner has limited
understanding of the
topics discussed.
Only one reference
referred.

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Ways to overcome 3.0 Very clear, detailed and
or to improve the comprehensive discussion
issues or trends on ways to overcome or
discussed. improve the current issues
or trends discussed.
Suggestions were based on
own ideas and reading
related to books, journals,
proceeding papers, or on-
line documents.
Real examples 1.5 The examples were
either local or appropriate and clearly
international linked to the issue.
scenarios
Organization 0.5 Systematically organised,
with painstaking attention to
logic and analysis. Unity
clearly leads the reader to
the conclusion and stirs
thought regarding the topic.
Citation & More than five relevant
References citations and references
provided. All citations
0.5
sources and references were
complete and according to
APA style.
Conclusion 0.5 Conclusion was made
thoroughly and summarizes
all information in the
project. Reader can
understand the whole
project by reading the
conclusion only.
TOTAL 10
A clear and detailed
discussion on ways to
overcome or improve the
current issues or trends
discussed.
Suggestions were based on
own ideas and briefly relates
with reading from related
books, journals, proceeding
papers, or on-line documents.
The examples were
appropriate and seems to link
to the issue.
Writing was coherent and
logically organized with
transitions used between
ideas and paragraphs to
create coherence. Overall
unity of ideas is present.
Five citations and references
provided. All citations sources
and references were
according to APA style.
Conclusion was made quite
comprehensively. Reader
might need to refer to the
content to understand the
whole project.
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A detailed discussion on ways to A very brief discussion Discussion on 12
overcome or improve the on ways to overcome or suggestions ways
current issues or trends improve the current to overcome or to
discussed. issues or trends improve the issues
Suggestions were based on own discussed. or trends is
ideas with very little reading Suggestions were mainly irrelevant and
from related books, journals, based on own ideas. illogical.
proceeding papers, or on-line
documents.
.
The examples were appropriate The examples were not No discussion on 6
and somewhat linked to the appropriate and / or the example of the
issue. unconnected to the issue.
issues. activity
Writing was coherent and Writing lacks logical Writing does not 2
logically organized. Some points organization. It shows have logical
remain misplaced and stray some coherence but organization and
from the topic. Transitions ideas lack unity. Serious none coherence
evident but not used errors. shown.
throughout essay.
Five citations and references are Less than five citations There is no citation
provided but not according to and references provided. or reference
APA style. provided in this
2
assignment.
Conclusion was evident but not Conclusion was very No conclusion. 2
convincing. Reader cannot get brief with leaping points.
good grasp of the project from Very difficult to
conclusion. understand and could be
misleading.
40
PART 2: PRESENTATION (20 MARKS)
Excellent
Criteria Weightage
4 3
Presentation slides 1 Are creative, thought-
provoking, flawless and
enhance the effectiveness of
the presentation.
Introduction 0.5 Begin with self-introduction,
followed by topic introduction.
Explain the purpose of
presentation in an impressive
and captivating voice.
Contents 1 All the information is relevant
and precise to requirements of
the assignment.
Knowledge 1 Demonstrate full knowledge
and able to explain and
elaborate clearly.
Delivery Skills 0.5 Able to speak clearly with
different intonation, appealing,
maintain audience interest and
seldom look at notes.
Enthusiasm 0.5 Demonstrate passionate
enthusiasm about the topic
being presented.
Voice 0.5 Student’s voice is very
confident, enthusiastic,
powerful, and vibrant.
TOTAL 5 20
Rubric 2: Presentation
Good
Are creative, attention-
grabbing and fascinating.
Begin with self-introduction,
followed by topic
introduction. Explain the
purpose of presentation, in a
clear and engaging voice.
Most of the information is
relevant but some need
elaboration.
Demonstrate full knowledge
and able to explain.
Speaks with a satisfactory
variation of intonation,
charming but still tend to
look at notes.
Show some enthusiastic
feelings about the topic
being presented.
Student’s voice is steadfast,
energetic and distinct.
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Unsatisfactory/No
Fair Low
Response Max
Marks
2 1 0
Somewhat attractive and Not interesting. No presentation 4
noteworthy. slides provided.
Start with topic Does not clearly Does not introduce 2
introduction and some introduce the topic and the topic or the
explanation on the the purpose of purpose of
purpose of presentation, presentation. presentation.
in a disconcerting voice.
Information is valid but Some information is not Information is not 4
not directly related to related to the valid and unrelated
the purpose of the assignment. to the assignment at
assignment. all.
Demonstrate full Does not demonstrate Knowledge presented 4
knowledge but some of full knowledge and is not relevant.
the explanation is not knowledge presented is
clear. not relevant.
Speaks in uneven, Speaks with low volume, The delivery and 2
agitating intonation and monotonous tone and sentence structure
reading mostly from reads the entire report are understandable.
notes. from notes.
Show little or mixed Demonstrate no Show no interest in 2
feelings about the topic enthusiasm about the the topic presented.
being presented. topic being presented.
Student’s voice is Student’s voice is weak Student’s voice is not 2
generally steady, strong and indistinct. clear at all and too
and clear. faint.