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SYLLABUS
ECI 620 (WEB BASED)
Early Childhood Curriculum
Center for Excellence in Education
Northern Arizona University
Summer II 2001
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Instructors:
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Dr.
Kelvin G. Broad
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e-mail:
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phone:
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(403) 609 3224
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Introduction
Welcome to this seminar course hosted on the Internet. The virtual format
has allowed us to expand our community of learners. The journal articles
and our required text are all recent and have been chosen as a starting
point for discussions of Early Childhood Curriculum. In this course, you
will gain new perspectives and insights into developing and implementing
early childhood curriculum. You will also be expected to participate in
the VCC discussion forum and share your perspectives with other educators.
Goals/Outcomes
You will engage in personal and professional reflection upon course readings
in the area of Early Childhood Curriculum and make connections to your
personal experiences of early childhood education.
You will also participate in on-line dialog with class peers allowing
you to share in the negotiation of a greater understanding of early childhood
education. Direct, practical application ideas are encouraged as well
as discussions of broad, national trends in early childhood education.
The technological links provided by Cline Library and the hot buttons
will ease the distribution of reading materials as well as sharpen your
technology skills. By completing this course you will be more prepared
to make curricular decisions and develop authentic instructional practice
based upon those decisions.
Please understand
that this is NOT a correspondence course. This is an on-line
graduate seminar course. You will be discussing specific topics in each
of the five modules with other educators across the State. Please do not
go ahead of assigned dates for participating in the VCC.
Please be aware
that this is a regular 3 credit 15-week course that has been condensed
into a 5-week time frame. Thus, the course will be intense and require
a time commitment of approximately 9 hours per week.
Course objectives
- Identify key competencies
in four content areas (Science, Mathematics, Literacy and Art) in Early
Childhood Education
- Examine and develop
appropriate strategies for addressing key competencies that you identify
- Develop a personal
position statement/belief statement about exemplary Early Childhood
curriculum.
Required Text
Cromwell, E. S. (2000).
Nurturing readiness in early childhood education: A whole-child curriculum
for ages 2-5 (2nd Ed.). Allyn & Bacon: Needham Heights, MA. This
text is available at the NAU Bookstore.
All other readings
for this course are available either on-line from the Cline
Library or have hot links placed in each module
description. You simply click on the library button that you will find
on the tool bar at the top of each page of the ECI 620 site.
This button will take
you to the Cline library research page. To access our resources click
on the Course Reserves button located on the left-hand side of the page
and follow the instructions.
Course
Expectations
Early
Childhood Education Experience
This course focuses upon the field of Early Childhood Education and
you will be frequently asked to reflect upon and share your experiences
of working or observing educational practice in early childhood settings.
If you do not currently teach at the kindergarten level or lower it is
strongly recommended that you organize to visit (3-4 half-day
visits) an early childhood education setting and observe young children
as they engage in a variety of learning experiences.
Course
Readings
For each module you
are required to read a number of research articles that relate to the
focus of the module. Each of these articles are available from the Cline
Library. You are also expected to explore the course text (Cromwell,
2000) to locate and read information that is relevant to the focus of
each module. The course readings will provide you with the information
required to complete the module assignments and to participate effectively
in the VCC.
Discussion Forum
Participation (3 points per module, 15 marks total)
Engage in Discussion Forum discussions at least 3 times per module (modules
1-5) - day and time of your choice. First posting is response to the questions
posed at the beginning of each module in the VCC. Second and third postings
should be responses to other students' postings.
Assignments
Personal Biographical
Sketch (4 marks total)
Write a short biography introducing yourself to other members of this
class. Be sure to tell us about your teaching experience and your current
teaching placement. Post on the discussion forum in the Virtual
Conference Center. You are welcome to respond to your peers after
their biographies are submitted.
Modules 1-4: Developing
key competency statements and practical examples (14 points per
module, 56 marks total)
In modules 1-4 you will read articles that discuss theory and practice
in early childhood education relating to particular content areas. At
the conclusion of each module you are expected to:
1. Develop four key
competency statements that address four skills or abilities that you expect
students to develop in the content area that the module addresses.
For example: Students
will use literacy based tools in purposeful ways to develop understanding
of the important role of print in day-to-day life.
Key competency
statements must be clear and concise and articulate student behavior
and learning outcomes relating to the content area (1-2 sentences).
2. Develop four corresponding
practical examples (one for each key competency statement) that articulate
one way of organizing materials and/or implementing instruction that would
allow preschool children (3-5 years) to engage in an activity that would
assist them in developing each key competency.
For example: For
the key competency above the practical example could be to: set aside
an area to be the class post office. Include writing tools (pencils,
pens etc.), letter writing materials (envelopes, stickers, an assortment
of paper), and post office paraphernalia (post boxes, scales, tape etc.).
Visit the local post office to observe real world examples authentic
use of print in day-to-day life.
Each practical
example outlines one way that you as an early childhood educator
would organize the classroom environment and/or develop activities to
allow students to engage in play that would result in students developing
the key competency (1-2 paragraphs). We will be looking for a
clear correspondence between each key competency and the associated
practical example.
Module 5: Developing
a Personal Position Statement or Belief Statement
(20 points Total)
In module 5
you will bring together your ideas and understandings about Early Childhood
Education and develop a personal Position Statement or Belief Statement.
You may wish to delineate particular areas of focus in your position statement
by using specific headings. For example, the teacher's role, role of play
etc. The aim off this statement is to communicate your ideas regarding
key considerations are in developing quality early childhood education
environments. In completing this assignment you are expected to:
- support your beliefs
about early childhood education by using information/excerpts from the
course readings.
- cite your references
to course materials both in the body of the paper and on a separate
reference page.
- prepare a document
that is 6-8 pages in length (double-spaced, 12 point font)
- use effective writing
and organizational skills to clearly present your ideas.
- submit a paper
that is free of errors in capitalization, spelling, referencing, and
punctuation.
Total 100 points
Grading System:
90-100% A
80- 89% B
70- 79% C
60- 69% D
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