The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia

Increasing numbers of international students are enrolling in Australian universities in early childhood teaching degrees. For many of these students understanding the early childhood education pedagogies and approaches is a different way of viewing teaching and learning from their own cultural pers...

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Main Authors: Elizabeth Rouse, Dawn Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tuwhera Open Access Publisher 2019-11-01
Series:New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
Online Access:https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/277
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author Elizabeth Rouse
Dawn Joseph
author_facet Elizabeth Rouse
Dawn Joseph
author_sort Elizabeth Rouse
collection DOAJ
description Increasing numbers of international students are enrolling in Australian universities in early childhood teaching degrees. For many of these students understanding the early childhood education pedagogies and approaches is a different way of viewing teaching and learning from their own cultural perspective. Many of these students struggle to understand the teaching and learning theory that underpins early childhood education in Australia which draws on play-based pedagogies, child centred learning, and intentional teaching. This small-scale case study sought to gain insights into how international students undertaking a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) in an Australian university were enabled to link their theoretical learning to practical applications of being an early childhood teacher. Using questionnaire data, the study found that the international students struggled to connect the theory and pedagogical thinking that underpins early childhood education. What was most significant for these students was the experiences they gained through their practical placements.
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publisher Tuwhera Open Access Publisher
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series New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
spelling doaj-art-91a3084858e4431fa38b8784804d1e5d2025-08-20T03:24:36ZengTuwhera Open Access PublisherNew Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work1176-66622019-11-01161 & 210.24135/teacherswork.v16i1and2.277The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in AustraliaElizabeth Rouse0Dawn JosephDeakin UniversityIncreasing numbers of international students are enrolling in Australian universities in early childhood teaching degrees. For many of these students understanding the early childhood education pedagogies and approaches is a different way of viewing teaching and learning from their own cultural perspective. Many of these students struggle to understand the teaching and learning theory that underpins early childhood education in Australia which draws on play-based pedagogies, child centred learning, and intentional teaching. This small-scale case study sought to gain insights into how international students undertaking a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) in an Australian university were enabled to link their theoretical learning to practical applications of being an early childhood teacher. Using questionnaire data, the study found that the international students struggled to connect the theory and pedagogical thinking that underpins early childhood education. What was most significant for these students was the experiences they gained through their practical placements. https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/277
spellingShingle Elizabeth Rouse
Dawn Joseph
The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia
New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
title The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia
title_full The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia
title_fullStr The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia
title_full_unstemmed The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia
title_short The theory–practice challenge: International early childhood education students making connections in Australia
title_sort theory practice challenge international early childhood education students making connections in australia
url https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/277
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