PEN 001: Fundamentals of Parenting Education

Course Description

This self-paced, non-credit course is only open to current applicants of the CT Parenting Educator Credential. Completion of this course is a required part of the initial application for the Credential. The course will provide applicants with an overview of the National Extension Parenting Education Framework (NEPEF) which focuses on a set of priority practices for parents and serves as the basis for parenting educator skills. The course will also provide an overview of the CT Parenting Educator’s Code of Ethics. NEPEF and the Code of Ethics are the guiding documents upon which the CT Parenting Educator Credential is based.

Prerequisite(s)

  • Must be a current applicant of the CT Parenting Educator Credential

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Identify the competency areas of the National Extension Parenting Education Framework – Content side of the model for priority practices for parents.
  2. Understand and appreciate the critical knowledge and skills that parents require to raise children who are happy, health and contributing members of society.
  3. Identify the competencies of the National Extension Parenting Education Framework – Process side of the model that guides professional practice for parenting educators.
  4. Learn a new NEPEF-based vocabulary and world view that can be shared with other CT parenting educators.
  5. Apply these practices and skills in order to assess oneself and identify areas of strength and areas that need improvement.
  6. Create a professional development plan which can be used in selecting and registering for your next set of courses, workshops and professional development opportunities to further your knowledge and skills as a parenting educator.
  7. Identify the components of the CT-PEN Code of Ethics for Parenting Educators and understand application of principles to practice.
  8. Understand the importance of maintaining a commitment to professionalism and ethical conduct as a parenting educator.

Note: Students who successfully complete this course and have met all other education and experience requirements are eligible for the CT Parenting Educator Credential.

Required Text(s)

All course documents and required reading will be available in the course.

  • DeBord, K., Bower, D., Goddard, H. W., Kirby, J., Kobbe, A., Myers-Walls, J., Mulroy, & M., Ozretich, R. (2002) NATIONAL EXTENSION PARENT EDUCATION FRAMEWORK, Cooperative Extension System (CES).
  • Smith, C. A., Cudaback, D., Goddard, H. W., & Myers-Walls, J. (1994). NATIONAL EXTENSION PARENT EDUCATION MODEL Manhattan, Kansas: Kansas Cooperative Extension Service.
  • “CT-PEN Parenting Educator Code of Ethics” adopted by CT-PEN Leadership Team - April, 2010.

Course Schedule

WeekSLOsReadings and ExercisesAssignment(s)

1

1-3

  • PowerPoint - Unit 1: Overview of the Learning Modules
  • Download and save all course documents.
  • Print NEPEF notes slides

2

1-5

  • PowerPoint - Unit 2: The National Extension Parenting Educators’ Framework
  • Read the NEPEF Content Areas
  • Read the NEPEF Process Areas
3

4-6

  • PowerPoint - Unit 3:
    A Professional Self-Assessment for Parenting Educators - NEPEF Content Competencies
  • Identify personal philosophy of parenting and parenting education
  • Self-Assessment - NEPEF Content competencies
  • Develop your professional development plan for content areas and submit.

4

4-6

  • PowerPoint - Unit 4:
    A Professional Self-Assessment for Parenting Educators - NEPEF Process Competencies
  • Self-Assessment - NEPEF Process competencies
  • Develop your professional development plan for process areas and submit.

5

4-8

  • PowerPoint - Unit 5:
    The Parenting Educators Ethical Principles and Guidelines
  • NEPEF Test
  • Print and Read the CT-PEN Parenting Educator’s Code of Ethics
  • Print slides with “Questions to Think About” and write your thoughts
  • Record your thoughts to all questions raised in narrative and PowerPoint.
  • Complete the NEPEF Test

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.