Educating Young Children
Hybrid Course
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Lab Hours: 16
Location: ECSTP
Course Dates/Times: 19 Jan-11 Mar, 2016
In Class sessions – Wed. 6-9pm: Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3,10,17,24. March 2, 9, with additional weekly CTC Blackboard discussions and assignments
Instructor: Julie Hinchcliff
Office Hours: 15 mins before or after class, or by appointment
Instructor Email:
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY
Name & Surname: Julie Hinchcliff
Affiliation: Central Texas College
Education: BS in Education with a minor in Early Childhood and Special Education
Certificates in other education areas
Current teaching license from North Carolina
Owned and operated my own daycare/preschool
Who I AM: I am a mother of 5, wife of a Soldier, and a grandmother. I love teaching learning and sharing with others from the early years through college and life. Travel and crafting are two of the things I enjoy in my time off when I can do it with family. I also enjoy reading a good book and cooking with my family.
Skills: I enjoy helping people of all ages figure out how to learn and what to learn and then take that knowledge and apply it in a way that fits the interest of the person. I enjoy seeing the success and excitement from those I teach, when everything begins to make sense and come together. I am committed to my family and my students in trying to make their educational experience a positive and successful one.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. An introduction to the profession of early childhood education, focusing on developmentally appropriate practices, types of programs, historical perspectives, ethics, and current issues. The student will define development and developmental domains; discuss contributions of historical and contemporary theorists to the field of early childhood education; explain features of a developmentally appropriate program for children; describe types of early childhood programs; identify current trends and issues in the early childhood profession; and explain characteristics and developmental stages of an early childhood professional.
B. This course is a required course for the AAS Degree and Certificates of Completion in the Child Development professions field.
C. This course is occupationally related and serves as preparation for careers in Child Development professions.
D. Prerequisite(s): None
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
A. Upon successful completion of this course, Educating Young Children, the student will be able to:
1. Define development and developmental domains.
2. Discuss contributions of historical and contemporary theorists to the field of early childhood education.
a. Define developmentally appropriate.
b. Discuss how knowledge of child growth and development impacts developmentally appropriate practices.
c. Describe developmentally appropriate practices as they apply to infants/toddlers, preschool and school-age children, and children with special needs.
d. Explain how developmentally appropriate programs are impacted by differences in family structures and social and cultural backgrounds.
e. Explain how play is the foundation for children’s learning.
f. Compare a developmentally appropriate classroom with one which is not developmentally appropriate in relation to room arrangement, materials, and equipment.
4. Describe types of early childhood programs.
a. Identify types and characteristics of different early childhood programs.
b. Contrast early childhood programs.
5. Identify current trends and issues in the early childhood professions.
a. Identify child care research findings, and report on the effects of child care on children, their families, or society.
b. Identify current legislation in the field of the early childhood.
c. Discuss public policy, how it is developed, and its impact on children and families.
6. Explain the characteristics and developmental stages of an early childhood professional.
a. List characteristics of an early childhood professional.
b. Discuss career opportunities for the early childhood professional.
c. List educational and experience requirements for early childhood positions.
d. Discus the Texas Career Development System, including the practitioner’s portfolio.
e. Describe the profession’s code of ethnical conduct and its application in every day practice.
f. Discuss the role of early childhood professional organizations in the development of an early childhood professional.
g. Describe the purpose of and opportunities for professional growth and development.
h. Identify skills needed to located and obtain employment.
i. Describe advocacy as it relates to an early childhood professional.
III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A. The instructional materials identified for this course are viewable through
http://www.ctcd.edu/academics/booksinstructional-materials/
Required Student Textbook:
Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education: Building a Foundation / Bredekamp / 2nd / Pearson / 2012 / 9780132853330Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education: Building a Foundation (bundle for my land and etext) / Bredekamp / 2nd / Prentice Hall / 2013 / 0132996081
9780132996082
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive for this course will not be the grade of the instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.
B. You should attend class regularly in both face-to-face and online Central Texas College (CTC) Blackboard classes. Online attendance involves logging into your Blackboard class and participating in discussions, submitting assignments, etc. Be prepared to also take any unannounced quizzes relating to text assignments and lecture material presented from the beginning of the course. Please refer to ‘Class Attendance and Course Progress’ under the Academic Policies section in our current CTC Course Catalog.
C. You are encouraged to give your best effort throughout the course. From the beginning, you should plan for a steady, organized, and continuous effort, which in the long run will prove more effective for your final grade than a last minute crash-cram policy. Your course grade is not determined solely by exam grade. Such factors as class participation, initiative, attendance, and individual research papers or projects will be considered in grade computation.
D. From time to time, special library and/or outside assignments will be made to members of the class individually and/or in groups. You are expected to read all assignments and fulfill your responsibilities to any group assignment.
E. You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your textbook/reading materials to class. Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.
F. Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade, since both the material assigned and that discussed in class will be the basis for examination material.
G. Scholastic Honesty: All students are required and expected to maintain the highest standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during examinations. The following are considered examples of scholastic dishonesty:
Plagiarism: The taking of passages from the writing of others without giving proper credit to the sources.
Collusion: Using another’s work as one’s own, or working together with another person in the preparation of work, unless such joint preparation is specifically approved in advance by the instructor.
Cheating: Giving or receiving information on examinations.
H. Special Work: A term paper or other project, per requirements of the instructor, will be required. The subject must be appropriate for the course material. Check with the instructor when you have made a selection. The value is indicated in the semester grade computation and has considerable weight on your final average.
I. All 16 lab hours must be completed. It would be ideal to accomplish this at an accredited Child Development Center. However, if you are able to observe students in an established early childhood environment this will be acceptable, as long as it has been approved by the course instructor.
V. COURSE FORMAT – Hybrid with BLACKBOARD
This course has been developed as a hybrid course. Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction with instructor via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to CTC Blackboard and that they are familiar with the contents and assignments. It is also the student’s responsibility to log into CTC Blackboard at least once a week to ‘attend’ the online class portion and to participate in the online Blackboard discussions and assignments. Failure to do so will violate the attendance policy and will have a negative impact on the course grade.
The course will meet for eight weeks--once a week--for a three-hour face-to-face session. In addition, instructional strategies will include weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the remaining instruction per week.
VI. EXAMINATIONS
A. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:
1. Mid-term exam on Feb 10
2. Final exam on March 9
3. Term Project due on March 2
B.A student must be present for all examinations. Students who know in advance that they will be absent from an examination due to valid reasons must arrange to take an early examination. Unexpected absences due to illness or extenuating circumstances will require the student to see the instructor about individual make-up work.
C.Students without excused absences will be given a zero for the missed examination.
D. Examinations will consist of both objective (true/false, multiple choice, fill in-the-blank, and matching) and subjective (short answer and essay) questions. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in written form, thus some questions requiring the composition and writing of an essay answer will be required.
VII. SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS
The final grade in this course will be based on the following:
Participation 20 ea 160 points
Assignments & Quizzes 6 @ 50 ea 300 points
Discussion Boards (mandatory) 8@ 20 ea 160 points
Plagiarism quiz 20 points
Term project/ Presentation 80 points
Mid-term Exam 100 points
Final Exam 150 points
Lab hours 30 points
Total possible points: 1000 points
POINTS GRADES
900-1000 A=4 pts/sem hr
800-899 B=3 pts/sem hr
700-799 C=2 pts/sem hr
600-699 D=1 pt/sem hr
0-599 F=0 pts/sem hr
A term paper or term project is expected from all students. Students may vary in their competency levels on these abilities, so the instructor may need to revisit the term paper concept during the course.
VIII. NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COURSE INSTRUCTOR
A. Tuition refunds are made only in the case of class cancellation or official and timely withdrawal from CTC or from a course. Please refer to the current course catalog for more details.
B. GoArmyEd students should contact their education counselor before withdrawing and are required to withdraw through the GoArmyEd portal.
Please note: a military withdrawal does not override CTC’s grading policy.
For self-pay students, refunds are computed from the date the Application for
Withdrawal or Refund is filed with the CTC Field Representative or designated Student
Services Officer. Special conditions apply to students who receive federal, state, and/or
institutional financial aid.
Tuition and fees paid directly to the Institution by the Veterans Administration, Title IV (Financial Aid Programs, a sponsor, donor, or scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the students.
C. Course Withdrawals, Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. The instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal based upon a student’s request. Rather, students must initiate the withdrawal with the designated Education Center Representative, through the CTC Field Representative or the Student Services Officer for that region.
Applications for Withdrawal will be accepted at any time before the completion of 75% of the course, after which time the student will be assigned an “FN”- “Failure for Non-attendance.”
D. Incomplete / Course in Progress Grade Policy: An “IP” or “Incomplete” grade may be assigned by an instructor if a student has made satisfactory progress in a course with the exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other project. The “IP” grade may also be assigned based on circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness, death in the immediate family, or military orders. Notice of absences, with supporting documentation, may be required by the instructor. The instructor makes the final decision concerning the granting of the incomplete grade. With an “Incomplete” grade, students are required to complete a set amount of work before the instructor will submit an official letter grade.
E. Cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic devices will be turned off while the student is in the classroom or laboratory unless the student is using the device for class purposes. No texting or social networking is allowed during class.
F. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.
G. Civility: Individuals are expected to be cognizant of what a constructive educational experience is and respectful of those participating in a learning environment. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
IX. COURSE OUTLINE
Note:
The instructor has the right to change the course schedule. Any changes will be announced in class. If the student misses a class period and changes are announced, it is the student’s responsibility to receive the missed information from a classmate or the instructor.
Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to internet so that they may communicate, via CTC Blackboard, with the instructor. The class is broken down into eight sessions. See below for course outline.
SESSION 1 – Wed. Jan 20th Intro and Lesson One
a) Class will meet face-to-face on Wed. (1800 to 2100)
b) CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Friday by midnight (European time).
CTC Blackboard peer response to Discussion Board posts is due Mon. by midnight
(European time)
c) CTC Blackboard assignment # 1 is due Mon. by midnight (European time)
d) Plagiarism Quiz is due Sunday midnight
The Early Childhood Education Professions; Foundations
Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
Chapter One: Continuity and Change in Early Childhood Education
(1) Describe the field of early childhood education.
(2) Identify standards for high-quality early childhood programs, and explain their importance.
(3) Identify the dimensions of intentional teaching.
(4) Describe the culture of the early childhood profession.
(5) Discuss research supporting the lasting benefits of early childhood education.