Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    ECED&

 Course #:    105

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5.5

 CIP:    131210

 EPC:    402

 REV:    2018

 Course Description  

Explore the foundations of early childhood education. Examine theories defining the field, issues and trends, best practices, and program models. Observe children, professionals, and programs in action.

 Prerequisite  

None

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 44

Lab: 22

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Social Sciences, Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Explain current theories and ongoing research in early care and education as it applies to children, families, and early childhood programs.
2. Describe how children learn and develop through play and the role of play in early childhood programs.
3. Observe an early childhood environment and identify examples of best practice. Compare early learning program models.
4. Explain the importance of building partnerships with families and strategies for working effectively with families from a variety of cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
5. Identify appropriate guidance and discipline techniques used in family and early learning settings.
6. Describe the observation, assessment, and teaching cycle used to plan curriculum and activities for young children.
7. Apply the professional code of ethics for early care and education to resolve a dilemma.
8. Describe major historical figures, advocates, and events shaping today�s early childhood education.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

0. Application and Integration

Definition: Applying information from one or more disciplines and/or field experiences in new contexts (Outcome 0.1); developing integrated approaches or responses to personal, academic, professional, and social issues (Outcomes 0.2-0.5).

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
0.3 Identify and evaluate the relationships among different perspectives within a field of study and among different fields of study.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.7 Adapt communication to diverse audiences and media.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition: Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.4 Demonstrate effective communication across differences in human communities and cultures.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.1 Identify ethical and healthy choices and apply these personally, socially, academically, and professionally.

Course Contents

1. Introduction to ECE.
   • Historical perspective.
   • New understanding of childhood theories.
   • Importance of observation, i.e. observation techniques and observation behavior.
2. Program evaluation/organization.
   • NAEYC program recommendations.
   • State law.
   • Classroom environment.
   • Classroom routine.
   • Parent involvement and program/home partnerships.
3. Programs.
   • Parent education.
   • Intervention.
   • Montessori.
   • State/federal.
   • Behavioristic.
   • Culturally relevant program considerations.
4. Program differentiation.
   • Structured/unstructured.
   • Cognitive/effective.
   • Content/process.
   • Planned/self-discovery.
   • Extrinsic/intrinsic.
5. Philosophy (personal)