Assessment item 2
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Leadership in Action
Value: 60%
Due Date: 31-May-2019
Return Date: 25-Jun-2019
Length: 2500 words
Submission method options: EASTS (online)
Task
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Assignment 2 requires you to develop a staff development plan to implement in either your current workplace or a workplace in which you have previously undertaken practicum, casual or voluntary work. It requires you to work with a minimum of two staff, one of which can be you, to develop the Individual goal setting and Individual development plans. It then requires you to draw together common ideas/themes for the whole staff to devise an Action plan that is relevant for the staff as a team. The purpose of developing the staff development plan is to take a ground-up approach to support the professional learning of staff and ultimately improve the quality of the children’s experiences. This assignment is not about training as staff development goes beyond that notion. It is about developing increased levels of professional competence.
Your 'Leadership in Action' staff development plan should be submitted as a report that includes a discussion under the following headings:
Part A (800 words)
• The role of leadership in supporting staff development
Part B (1700 words)
• Rationale
• Individual goal setting
• Individual development plans
• Group goal setting
• Action plan
• Evaluation
• Reference list
• Appendix (including a screen shot of forum posts 3 and 4, clearly showing the submission date of the posts)
Note: A Guide to Assessment 2 that provides advice as to what can be included under the headings for Part A and Part B can be found in Resources on the Interact2 subject site. The reference list, appendix and forum posts are not included in the word count.
Rationale
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This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:
• be able to articulate the relationship between leadership philosophy and authentic leadership enactment.
• be able to demonstrate the relationship between positional and distributed leadership in the ECEC context.
• be able to demonstrate the relationship between effective collaborative practice and integrated service provision.
• be able to demonstrate appropriate leadership and management strategies to facilitate collaborative teams.
• be able to apply effective leadership skills to lead pedagogical and curriculum development.
• be able to articulate the value and process of mentoring.
• be able demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills and relationship building strategies to afford effective teams; and,
• be able to use strategies to build institutional cohesion and vision to guide quality ECEC practice.
Early childhood educators are pedagogical leaders working in changing national contexts. New regulatory frameworks require different reporting requirements and opportunities to enact leadership in ways that are contextually relevant and sustainable. The revised National Quality Standard (NQS) Quality area 7.2 of the National Quality Standards states “Effective leadership builds and promotes a positive organisational culture and professional learning community- (ACECQA, 2018, p. 279). The preparation and development of a staff development plan links current literature pertaining to pedagogical leadership with a service philosophy, a group staff development plan and individual development plans. The staff development plan focuses on supporting the professional learning of staff. It presents an opportunity to enact leadership within your workplace and demonstrate how this plan supports the National Quality Standards.
Australian Children's Care and Education Quality Authority (ACECQA). (2018). Guide to the National Quality Standard. Retrieved from: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-03/Guide-to-the-NQF_0.pdf
Marking criteria and standards
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MARKING CRITERIA HIGH DISTINCTION DISTINCTION CREDIT PASS FAIL
1. A discussion (see Part A) of the role of leadership and staff
development in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
(15 marks)
The discussion synthesises understandings of the role of leadership and staff development in ECEC and builds on a range of views from the literature. The discussion explains the role of leadership and staff development in ECEC and provides a range of views from the research literature. The discussion describes the role of leadership and staff development in ECEC and identifies some views from the research literature. The discussion refers to the role of leadership and staff development in ECEC and makes some relevant connections with the research literature. The discussion provides little discussion of the role of leadership and staff development in ECEC and makes little, if any, connections with the research literature.
2. The staff development plan (see Part B) foregrounds your role as leader and identifies the professional learning needs of staff in the context of your service. Your plan draws on the leadership and staff development research literature.
(25 marks)
The staff development plan explains your role as leader and promotes the professional learning needs of staff. The effectiveness of the plan is critiqued in relation to the leadership and staff development research literature. The staff development plan describes your role as leader and supports the professional learning needs of staff. The plan provides examples from the leadership and staff development research literature. The staff development plan outlines your role as leader and provides for the professional learning needs of staff. The plan makes accurate connections to the leadership and staff development literature. The staff development plan outlines your role as leader and the professional learning needs of staff. The plan makes some relevant reference to the leadership and staff development literature. The plan does not clearly outline your role as leader and the professional learning needs of staff with little or no reference to the leadership and staff development literature.
3. The content of the staff development plan (see Part B) reflects knowledge of policies and regulatory frameworks that discuss leadership for staff development.
(10 Marks) The content of the staff development plan critiques current policies and regulatory frameworks and integrates knowledge of the
impact of leadership for staff development.
The content of the staff development plan applies current policies and regulatory frameworks that discuss the importance of leadership for staff development. The content of the staff development plan describes and makes meaningful
connections with current policies and regulatory frameworks that discuss leadership for staff development. The content of the staff development plan identifies and makes some relevant
connections with current policies and regulatory frameworks that discuss leadership for staff development. The content of the staff development plan does not identify current policies and regulatory practices that discuss leadership for staff development.
4. The assignment shows evidence of proofing, with attention to grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation. The assignment cites a range of references formatted in APA referencing style.
(5 marks) The assignment demonstrates evidence of accurate proofing, with meticulous attention to grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation throughout. The assignment cites a wide range of current references formatted in APA referencing style without errors.
The assignment demonstrates evidence of accurate proofing, with particular attention to grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation throughout. The assignment cites a range of current references formatted in APA referencing style. The assignment demonstrates evidence of accurate proofing, with due attention to grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation throughout. The assignment cites a range of references formatted in
APA referencing style. The assignment demonstrates evidence of proofing, with attention to grammar, spelling sentence structure and punctuation. The assignment cites references formatted in
APA referencing style. Written expression citation and referencing standards have not been met.
5. Active contributor to the Community of learners
(5 marks) Satisfactory:
Your posts demonstrate that you have engaged with the module content for forum posts 3 and 4. Compulsory forum posts 3 and 4 were posted to the forum by the due dates. Unsatisfactory: Your posts demonstrate little engagement with the module content for forum posts 3 and 4. Compulsory forum posts 3 and 4 were not posted to the forum by the due dates.

Presentation
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Submit your 'Leadership in Action' staff development plan (2500 words) as a report via EASTS by the due date May 31, 2019. Attach a copy of forum posts 3 and 4 as an appendix at the end of the assessment item.
Your assessment task should be:
•Written in standard English. Marks may be deducted for errors in spelling, punctuation or syntax.
•Typed, with one and a half line spacing in 12 point font. For example, Times New Roman and 1.5 line spacing. Avoid fancy fonts.
•Include your name and your student number in the header or footer of every page of the assessment task.

Requirements
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Assessment item 2 must be submitted as well as compulsory forum posts 3 and 4. The compulsory forum posts must be shared via the online forums, in line with the due dates indicated in the Schedule. Attach a copy of the completed forum posts as an appendix at the end of the assessment task. Late posts receive no marks.
You are advised to:
1. keep a copy of the submitted assignment
2. keep a record of when your work was submitted
Assessment Information