ECE 101: Introduction to Early Childhood Education

Course Description

This course will focus on the history, theory, philosophy, and goals of early childhood education. Topics include the role of the teacher and of the environment as they influence student learning, a variety of early care and education programs, typical developmental characteristics, and what it means to be an Early Childhood Professional. This includes the Code of Ethical Conduct, as well how to meet the needs of individual children, including those with special needs. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

None

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

Describe age appropriate and culturally appropriate developmental expectations for the young child. (NAEYC Standard Four, Using Developmentally Effective Approaches, 4a, and 4d)
Discuss and reflect upon teaching practices and how goals, objectives, and assessments are integral to planning a Developmentally Appropriate program for all children including children with disabilities and other diverse learners. NAEYC Standard Four, Using Developmentally Effective Approaches, 4a, and 4d)
Relate the key developmental/learning domains commonly associated with child development to early learning and development standards. (NAEYC Standard One, Promoting Child Development and Learning, 1b)
Investigate, discuss and reflect upon the roles, responsibilities, and essential dispositions of the teacher in an early childhood program. (NAEYC Standard Six, Becoming a Professional, 6a and 6d)
Examine, discuss and reflect upon ethical concerns related to early care and education issues (NAEYC Standard Six, Becoming a Professional, 6b and 6d)
Examine and reflect upon the importance of social/emotional relationships between and among teachers, children, and diverse families. (NAEYC Standard Two, Building Family and Community Relationships, 2a. 2b, Standard Four, Using Developmentally Effective Approaches, 4a, 4d)
Appraise, discuss and reflect upon individualized approaches to discipline using positive guidance strategies for all young children including children with disabilities and other diverse learners (NAEYC, Using Developmentally Effective Approaches, 4d)
Investigate, discuss and reflect upon early childhood learning environments with particular attention to the safe, healthy, and stimulating settings for the diverse needs of all children including children with disabilities and other diverse learners. (NAEYC, Standard One, Promoting Child Development and Early Learning 1c)
Investigate the role of all developmental domains, and technology into a holistic, developmentally appropriate curriculum supporting the needs of every child, including children with disabilities and other diverse learners. (NAEYC Standard Four, Using Developmentally Effective Approaches, 4b, Standard Five, Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum, 5a)
Explain the role of experiences of multicultural, anti-bias curricula, and inclusive learning environments with attention to different learning styles and teaching strategies. (NAEYC Standard Two, Building Family and Community Relationships, 2a and Using Developmentally Effective Approaches, 4a)
Describe and discuss the history of early childhood care and education including developmental theories, philosophical and sociological perspectives, and the various program models. (NAEYC Standard Six, Growing as a Professional, 6c and 6d)
Compare and contrast different types of early childhood programs and their approached to inclusion. (NAEYC Standard Six, Growing as a Professional, 6c and 6d)

General Education Outcomes (GEOs)

Please check the applicable GEOs for this course, if any, by outcomes at GEO Discipline Search.

Course Activities and Grading

Assignments	Weight
Discussions (20 points each - Weeks 1-8)	50%
Assignments (20 points each – Weeks 1,2,4,5,6 and 8)	50%
Total	100%

Required Textbooks

There is no assigned text for this course. We will use articles that will be posted in the weekly modules and in the Course Materials section of our Blackboard course shell.

Course Schedule

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignments
1	4	Topics: Becoming a Knowledgeable and Reflective Practitioner Lecture: Welcome and Let Us Begin Readings (Articles): Promoting Reflective Practice The Role of Dispositions in the Education of Future Teachers Reflective Writing	Review course in Blackboard Review Course Policies Review Course Syllabus Review the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Read assigned articles Review the lecture material Introduce yourself in discussion forum Submit the Week 1 Assignment: Professional Dispositions and You Participate in the Week 1 Discussion: The 10 Most Important Professional Dispositions Complete Professional Dispositions Self- Assessment
2	3,9	Topic: The Importance of Understanding Child Development Lecture: Placing ourselves and the children we care for in our dynamic contexts Readings (Articles): Voices from The Field Why Do You Want to Be an Early Childhood Educator? What if Everyone Understood Child Development Principles of Child Development and Learning and Implications That Inform Practice	Read assigned articles Review the lecture material Submit the Week 2 Assignment: Early Childhood Education in Context – Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System’s Model to Examine the Role of the Early Childhood Professional. Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Participate in the Week 2 Discussion: Relating the key developmental/learning domains
3	5,11,12	Topic: Early Childhood Teaching Models: History and Theory Lecture: Early Childhood Teaching Models: History and Theory Readings (Articles): The History of Child Care in the U.S. Historical Timeline: Preparation for the Care and Education Workforce in the United States Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators View PowerPoint Presentation: Early Childhood Education: Modern Practice as an expression of History and Theory	Read assigned articles. Review the lecture material Review Powerpoint Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Participate in the Week 3 - Discussion 1 - Understanding and Evaluating Early Childhood Teaching Models. Participate in the Week 3 - Discussion 2 -Choosing a Teaching Model.
4	1,2	Topic: Knowing Each Child as an Individual – Using Observation to Learn about Children Lecture: Knowing Each Child as an Individual – Using Observation to Learn about Children Readings (Online Texts): Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education (Peterson and Elam) Chapter 1: Observation and Documentation - The Key to Intentional Teaching Sections (Total Reading – 16 pages) Chapter 3 - Using Observation Methods, Tools and Techniques to Gather Evidence (Total reading 16 pages) Chapter 6: Using Documentation and Assessment to Communicate with Families Section 6.3 (Total Reading 7 pages)	Read assigned articles. Review the lecture material Submit the Week 4 Assignment: Using observations to make plans for children in our classrooms Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Participate in the Week 4 Discussion: Observation as Our Most Reliable Tool for Assessment
5	3	Topic: The Individual Child: The Early Childhood Response to Each Child’s Gifts and Challenges Lecture: Universal Design Readings (Online Texts): Text: Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education Peterson and Elam Chapter 4: The Purpose, Process and Practice of Monitoring, Screening and Evaluating (Total Reading 18 pages) Text: Introduction to Curriculum for Early Childhood Education (Paris and Beeve) Chapter 6: Guiding Behavior and Managing the Classroom (Total Reading 23 pages)	Read assigned articles. Review the lecture material Submit the Week 5 Assignment: Putting Universal Design into Practice. Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Participate in the Week 5 Discussion: Guidance Strategies
6	7	Topic: The Importance of Play and Intentional Teaching Lecture: Emergent Curriculum and the Importance of Play Readings (Online Texts): Text: Introduction to Curriculum for Early Childhood Education (Paris and Beeve) Section I: Understanding How Children Learn Chapter 2 The Importance of Play and Intentional Teaching (Total Reading 13 pages) Section II: Developing Curriculum to Support Children’s Learning Chapter 4: Developing Curriculum for a Play Centered Approach (Total Reading 20 pages) Section IV: Planning for Children’s Learning – Introduction to Planning for Preschoolers Introduction to Planning for Preschoolers (Total Reading 9 pages) Section IV: Chapter 15 : What Curriculum Looks Like for Infants and Toddlers (Total reading 17 pages)	Read assigned articles. Review the lecture material Submit the Week 6 Assignment: Adaptation Strategies, Materials, and Plans Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Participate in the Week 6 Discussion: Developing Responsive, Reciprocal, Respectful Experiences with Children and their Families.
7	1,10	Topic: Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice Readings (Online Texts): Text: Introduction to Childhood Studies Susan Eliason Chapter 4: Influences of Family, Society, and Culture on Childhood Chapter 5: Impact of the Environment, Education, Economy, and Political Conditions on Childhood Text: The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education (Esquivel, Elam, Paris, & Tafoya) Chapter 11: Families of Children with Special Needs or Special Health Care Needs	Read assigned articles Review the lecture material Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Submit the Week 7 Discussion 1: Early Childhood and Gender: Choosing Appropriate Children’s Books Participate in the Week 7 Discussion: 2 What Does Research Say about Universal Preschool?
8	5	Topic: Building your plan for professional development Lecture: Professional Ethics and the Importance of Early Care and Education Readings (Online Texts): Text: The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education (Esquivel, Elam, Paris, & Tafoya) Chapter 4: Teachers’ Professional Identity and Becoming Equity Minded Chapter 16: The History and Influence of Systemic, Internalized Privilege and Oppression	Read assigned articles Review the lecture material Submit the Week 8 Assignment: Self-Assessment Part 2 – Appraising Growth and Designing Goals through the Lens of Ethical Behavior. Re-read the Discussion Posting Protocol and Rubrics Participate in the Week 8 Discussion: Five Takeaways

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.