Department:    ECE

 Course #:    100

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 Course Description  

Comprehensive introduction to the history, philosophy, research, and current issues in early childhood care and education. Weekly two-hour observations focusing on culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate practices in programs including Montessori, Head Start, and family and center child care for children birth to age 8 years.

 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 Culture, Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Identify different types of Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs.
2. Identify components that differentiate programs.
3. Identify leaders in the field of Early Childhood education and describe their contribution.
4. State a personal philosophy of education.
5. Understand major historical influences, theories, and movements in ECE programs.

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)