GUIDELINES FOR CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

FCS # 5170, Spring Semester 2006

CREATIVITY AND COGNITION IN YOUNG CHILDREN

A. Program Visit or Child Study

Option 1.Program Visit: K-3 Program Visit
Due: March 20th

Contact a teacher and or school personnel and ask to observe a classroom. Explain you are working on aproject for your class at the University. You may choose to observe a K-3rdgrade classroom. Think about observing in your neighborhood school or the school you attended as a child (it cannot be a program you work in because of the bias you might bring to the observation).

Guidelines for Program Observations:

  1. Spend a minimum of 3 hours observing the program (you could go once or a number of times).
  1. Keep a record of your observations/impressions. Include the dates and times and your written observations with your final paper.
  1. Evaluate the program using DAP criteria:
  • Curriculum content
  • Teaching strategies
  • Integrated curriculum
  • Guidance of social and emotional development
  • Teacher-Child interactions

To receive an "A" grade, papers will have to integrate lecture material and reference material (child development guidance, early childhood readings and resource materials) which support the conclusions drawn from your observations. A 6-8 page, double-spaced, typed paper should be submitted.

Option 2.Child Study (required for early childhood Education Students)

Due March 20th.

Guidelines for Child Study:

The objective of this assignment is to observe in detail one child from your lab placement during the term. From this observation, a student should gain insight into development, individual differences, and individualized learning. This paper is based on your observations (do not contact parents or teachers). Once you submit the name of the child you will be observing to your lab instructor FCS 2620, you will be given background information on the child. Remember, this report is based on your observation (not on your teacher's or the parent's opinion or information). If you observe outside of your lab time, submit your observation time and notes with your final, paper.

Content Components for Child Study:

  1. Background Information:Child's name, age (months & years), gender, family size, birth order, and other information that is interesting or insightful.
  1. Physical Development:Appearance, height, weight, coloring, comparison to peers. Health: attendance, energy level, appetite. Coordination: large and small motor skills, self-help skills.
  1. Social Development:Interaction with peers (playmates, types of play), interactions with adults, behavior in the group, knowledge of social techniques: sharing, empathy, how to enter play, how to lead and follow.
  1. Cognitive Development:Language development, vocabulary, concept formation: numbers, letters, colors, shapes. Responding to learning, ability to reason, attention span.
  1. Emotional Development:View of self, other's view of the child (peer/adults), evidence of happiness, security, independence, response to new situations, temperament.
  1. Creative Talent:Language ability, musical-rhythmic ability, intellectual problem solving, spatial design, body coordination, artistic, personal leadership (refer to areas of talent).
  1. Guidance Implications:Summarize the types of guidance techniques that appear to be most effective with this child and include your recommendations.
  1. Conclusion: If this child was in your classroom, what type of activities would you plan to support his/her growth and development? What would be some your recommended goals for the child?

If you are interested in getting an "A" grade for this assignment, integrate lecture material and reference material (child development, guidance, curriculum, class articles) to support the conclusions drawn from your observations. A 6-8 page, double-spaced, typed paper should be submitted.

B.Creative Project Options (select two of the following)

Due: April 24th

Students should select projects that will result in meaningful learning experiences.

Recycled projects from other classes will result in an automatic failure for this class.

  1. Creative Program Visits (minimum 1 hour) Visit early childhood programs in the community to learn more about creative teaching strategies. These can be brief, informal visits and the student should submit a 2 page summary along with observation notes.
  1. Creative Person Interview (minimum 1 hour) Students could interview a creative professional and get his/her philosophy about teaching or other topics covered in lecture. Students generate interview questions from readings and lecture. Students submit a 2 page summary along with questions and notes.
  1. Web Search Students could conduct a web search (minimum 4 sites) on a topic covered in class. Information gathered (attach 1st page of each web site) would be submitted with a 2 page written summary.
  1. Moerer Lecture Understanding the lives of gifted children. Time, date and location to be announced.

Or student can select the following in place of the two creative projects

  1. Attend the "Utah Inter Institutional Early Childhood Education Conference"

The conference is Saturday, March 11 at Utah Valley State College from 8:30 to 4:30. The cost is $35.00 which includes lunch. Students will take hand written note of sessions attended and write a summary of the education experience (3-4 page summary). Registration materials will be provided for those interested in the conference.