MIRAMAR COLLEGE
Environmental Rating Scale
Instructor: Sandy Jenkins, M.S. /M.A. Course Number: 03042
Winter 2009, CHIL 280
January 1, 2009 – January 30, 2009 Email:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides students and child development professionals with an introduction to the Environmental Rating Scale administration, scoring system, profile and improvement plan. The focus includes environmental evaluation and program improvement. Students learn how to evaluate the quality of child care programs and how to increase the quality of care through practical improvements.This course may be used for professional development, child development permits, employment opportunities, and general interests in working with children.
OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Evaluate the quality of programs based on Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) standards.
2. Create a plan for improvement based upon the ERS evaluation.
3. Identify key areas for program improvement.
4. Define basic curriculum areas and materials necessary for quality programs.
5. Define and recognize the components of quality child care program environments.
TEXTBOOKS:
You will only have one text book depending on which rating scale you would like to focus on for the class. Each book focuses on a different age range or type of setting. Please ask if you have any questions about which book to purchase.
1. Harms, Thelma, Clifford, Richard M., and Cryer, Debby. Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale. Revised Ed. Teachers College Press, 2005, ISBN: 0-8077-4549-9
2. Harms, Thelma, Clifford, Richard M., and Cryer, Debby. Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale. Revised Ed. Teachers College Press, 2005, ISBN: 0-8077-4640-1
3. Harms, Thelma, Clifford, Richard M., and Cryer, Debby. Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale. Revised Ed. Teachers College Press, 2005, ISBN: 0-8077-2955-8
4. Harms, Thelma, Clifford, Richard M., and Cryer, Debby. School-Age Care Environmental Rating Scale. Teachers College Press, 2005, ISBN: 0-8077-3508-6
OTHER MATERIALS:
Tape Measure
Bamboo Knitting Needle
REQUISITES:
Advisory:
ENGL 042 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent of Assessment Skill Level R4
And
ENGL 043 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent or Assessment Skill Level W4
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE CLASSES
Please follow this “Netiquette” Link for important information on how to conduct yourself in online courses: http://www.sdccdonline.net/students/resources/NetiquetteGuidelines.pdf
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Honesty and integrity are integral components of the academic process. Students are expected to be honest and ethical at all time in their pursuit of academic goals in accordance with San Diego Community College District Policy 3100, Student Code of Conduct and Procedure 3100.3, Honest Academic Conduct. Any student found in violation of the policy will receive an “F” for that assignment and/or an “F” in the course.
Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should inform me as soon as possible. You and I can coordinate with the campus Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) to identify your appropriate accommodations. DSPS is located in building C-304 and can be reached at 858-536-7121.
Student Responsibilities:
1. Assignments must be completed by midnight at the end of the due date in order to receive full credit. Assignments will be accepted late with a penalty of 10% off per day late.
2. If you decide to drop this course, it is the student’s responsibility to officially drop the course through the admissions office. This is not the responsibility of the professor.
3. Plagiarism (copying others) and cheating constitutes violation of academic honesty and will result in action taken against involved parties. No material may be copied from another without proper quotation marks, footnotes, or appropriate documentation.
4. Respect the opinions of others during classroom discussions. Ridiculing of other students cannot and will not be tolerated.
IMPORTANT INTERSESSION DEADLINES
· January 7, 2009 Deadline to Receive, Process and Pay for Add Codes and to Drop Classes with No “W” Recorded
· January 12, 2009 Deadline to Drop & be Eligible for Refund of Enrollment Fees and/or Non-Resident Tuition
· January 21, 2009 Withdrawal Deadline – No Drops Accepted After this Date
· February 9, 2009 Grades Available
COURSE GRADES GRADING SCALE
Journal #1 10 Points A 200-180
Scavenger Hunt 10 Points B 179-160
Student Profile 30 Points C 159-140
Discussion Board #2 10 Points D 139-120
Journal #2 10 Points F 119-0
Program Strengths 30 Points Total Points: 200
Discussion Board #3
Topic #1 10 Points
Topic #2 10 Points
ERS Score Sheet 30 Points
Discussion Board #4
Topic #1 10 Points
Topic #2 10 Points
Improvement Plan 30 Points
Course Calendar
Please note that these dates are subject to change according to the needs of the class.
DATES / TOPIC/ASSIGNMENT / DUEJanuary 5-9 / · Read Course Announcement.
· Read Course Syllabus including “Netiquette” Link (found in syllabus).
· Purchase the appropriate Rating Scale book from bookstore or other source.
· Read ALL files under the Module 1 folder. / On or before January 9, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PST:
Scavenger Hunt (on Discussion Board)
Journal #1
“Student Profile” found under “Assignments”
January 12-16 / · Read ALL of your Rating Scale book (including the notes sections).
· View the appropriate training video for your Rating Scale – you will find these under “Course Content”, then “Learning Modules.”
· Read ALL files under the Module 2 folder. Arrange an appropriate time to observe at your child care facility or make an appointment to observe at a facility to evaluate. / On or before January 16, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PST:
Discussion Board #2
Journal #2
“Program Strengths” found in “Assignments”
January 19-23 / · Conduct ERS observation.
· Read ALL files under the Module 3 folder. / On or before January 23, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PST:
Discussion Board #3
Turn in a photocopy of your ERS score sheet by mail or on campus (See “Score Sheet Submission Instructions” under “Assignments” for details.)
January 26-30 / · Read ALL files under the Module 4 folder. / On or before January 30, 2009 at 11:50 p.m. PST:
Discussion Board #4
“Improvement Plan” found in “Assignments”
DISCUSSION BOARD EXPECTATIONS
This course relies very heavily upon your active participation. Check in frequently! Our purpose is to encourage you to critically examine your environment and reflect on ways to improve it. Please respond at least twice to all discussion board prompts. We have the advantage of an encouraging social learning environment and the more positive suggestions and ideas we can provide one another, the better. Remember, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers to these prompts – just make sure that you treat one another with respect. As a result, please do not name the child care environment you work in or will be evaluating. This will encourage honest, yet respectful discussion. I will also issue pop-up announcements when important issues arise during discussion board exchanges so please read ALL announcements as they appear.
I recognize that some of you currently work with children and some of you do not. As a result, I will phrase discussion board topics in two ways – one for those who work with children and one for those who do not. If you ever feel that there is a question that doesn’t apply to you, please contact me as soon as possible and I will change it so that you can answer it and participate. There will also be topics called “Journals.” These will be topics that you will be expected to answer that will be kept private – me and you only.
LEARNING MODULES (COURSE READINGS)
The weekly course readings or “Learning Modules” may be accessed by clicking on the menu bar to the left of the screen. Click on “Course Content.” A menu will appear on the center of the screen with a folder titled “Learning Modules.” Click on this folder and then select the Module that you want to read.
EXTRA CREDIT
Over my years of teaching I have collected photographs of centers, projects and curriculum ideas and compiled them in a book called “The Idea Book.” If you would like 5 points extra credit (or would simply like to contribute to this book) please submit photographs either by mail or email of areas in your child care that you are proud of. Make sure that I have permission to share these photographs with other students. As a result, I ask that NO CHILDREN be included in the photographs – include pictures of the environment only!
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