Program Review Template
Instructional Programs
WEST HILLS COLLEGE COALINGA
PROGRAM REVIEW & PLANNING
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
(Please submit this information using Microsoft Word. In formatting your response, please use the exact outline developed below.)
I. General Information
Program: Child Development
Date Prepared: January 15, 2012
Prepared By: Genie Smith Pratt
Department Faculty and Staff: Genie Smith Pratt and Anna-Lisa Little
Courses Included in this Program Plan: CD 3, CD 4, CD 5, CD 7, CD8, CD 9, CD10,
CD 11, CD 12A, CD 12B, CD 14A, CD 14B, CD 15, CD 16, CD 17 A, CD 17B, CD 17C, CD 18, CD 20, CD 21, CD 22, CD 23, CD 24, CD 25, CD 26A, CD 26B, CD 26C
II. Qualitative Analysis
A. Please provide a general description of the program(s) or service(s) that are offered by your unit or department. When applicable, discuss any pertinent historical developments which impact the structure of your area or future planning.
Child Development 3: Child Centered Guidance
CD 3 provides basic information and practice directed towards establishing a child-centered guidance program in the classroom. Conflict resolution and problem-solving behavior of young children are addressed.
Child Development 4: Parenting
CD 4 offers parents and teachers information for understanding parent-child relationships. Students will explore the use of positive parenting skills, assess socially acceptable family values, and learn about child development and how it plays a direct part in parenting the child.
Child Development 5: Child Development
CD 5 is the study of the growth and development of the child from prenatal life through adolescence, with concentration on the first six years of life. Issues concerning the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the child will be studied from relevant theoretical positions. This is a state mandated course for early childhood education teachers.
Child Development 7: Early Intervention
CD 7 provides information pertaining to the understanding and the support of infants/toddlers that are at risk or have established disabilities. Additional emphasis will be directed to assessments, diagnosis and referral identification, curriculum development, learning environment, community resources, and strategies for working with diverse families. Students will be required to do fifteen hours of observation/interviews and or interaction with infants/toddlers with established risks or established disabilities.
Child Development 8: Infant Massage
CD 8 offers information and practice concerning nurturing touch and communication through the use of infant massage. Among the issues to be discussed will be mutual respect, bonding, infant behaviors, and infant stress reduction. The course is designed for parents, parents expecting a newborn, and caregivers working especially in early intervention situations. Students will need to purchase other materials directed by the instructor.
Child Development 9: Using Infant Gestures
CD 9 offers students and parents information on the use of infant/toddler gestures prior and during the development of verbal language abilities and skills. Issues to be addressed in this course will be early childhood language development, listening skills, and communication patterns. Students will have the opportunity to develop and practice their own gesture signs. This course is recommended for parents, infant/toddler
caregivers, and caregivers working in early intervention situations with children at risk or with established risk.
Child Development 10: The Child, Family and Society
CD 10 is a study of the effects of the family and society on the young child. Course content includes information pertaining to children and political advocacy as it relates to children's issues, family issues centering around dysfunction, learning and working with culturally diverse families, understanding the role of the local community, learning to network federal, state, county, and community social service agencies for family support when needed, and other issues that involve the socialization process of young children and their families. There is a major emphasis on diversity and how it relates to families and the teaching of young children.12 hours of community volunteer service are required. This course is a state mandated course for early childhood education teachers.
Child Development 11: Young Children with Exceptional Needs
CD 11 will address the needs of exceptional children in the areas of growth and development; identification classification; early intervention strategies; "inclusion;" and the facilitation of inclusive learning in early childhood education programs. Information on federal legislation and teacher attitudes and philosophy will be presented.
Child Development 12A: Principles and Practices of Early Childhood Education
CD 12A provides basic information pertaining to age-appropriate curriculum. Emphasis is on understanding and planning curriculum for young children that includes physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative competencies.
Child Development 12B: Principles and Practices of Early Childhood Education
Field Work
CD 12B is the continuation of understanding and planning age-appropriate curriculum using classroom experiences. Students will be assigned to the West Hills College Child Development Center or other approved sites for supervised classroom experiences. All students receive teaching evaluations as part of the course requirements.
Child Development 14A: Administration and Supervision of Children’s Programs
CD 14A is designed for students that have a foundation in child development and the desire to be involved in the administration of children’s programs as a director and/or supervisor. The course will focus on state regulations governing child development programs and its application to children’s programs. Information pertaining to staffing, educational philosophies, program planning, health, safety and nutrition issues, child abuse reporting, budget development, and successful business practices will be addressed.
Child Development 14B: Administration and Supervision of Children’s Program’s
Practicum
CD 14B is a course designed for students that have a firm foundation in child development and have an interest in becoming an administrator of a children’s program. This course offers the student an opportunity to design and demonstrate their writing and computer abilities as reflective in assigned projects such as personal portfolios, newsletters, parent education presentations, staff in-services, school policy development, and other related assignments. In addition this course involves the application of administrative knowledge as discussed in Child Development 14A. Students will be given the opportunity to gain administrative experiences in an appropriate community based children’s program.
Child Development 15: Literature and Language Arts for Young Children
CD 15 is the study of age-appropriate literature for young children with an emphasis placed on selection, evaluation and practice of the literature discussed. Students will be introduced to information on emerging literacy and language development. Appropriate language art skills for young children are included, as well as multicultural and gender identity information as it pertains to children’s literature.
Child Development 16: Creative Activities
CD 16 is the study of the concept of creativity, and how it relates to the growth of young children. The student will receive basic information on planning and implementing creative activities in the areas of music, dance, art, science, math, block, social studies, and dramatic play.
Child Development 17A: Sex Education for Teachers and Parents of Young
Children
CD 17A is designed for teachers and parents covering basic sex education for children.
Child Development 17B: Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention
CD 17B provides information concerning child abuse recognition and prevention. The types of abuse and the psychological impact of abuse on young children are presented. Mandated reporting for educators and the California Penal Code as it pertains to child abuse are addressed.
Child Development 17C: Single Parenting
CD 17C is designed for single parents and for teachers working with single parents. Information in this course will include the effects of divorce on children, child custody issues, and the family dynamics of the single parent family.
Child Development 18: Health, Safety and Nutrition
CD 18 provides basic information promoting safety in an early childhood environment, recognition of symptoms of childhood communicable diseases, conditions affecting children’s health, and the importance of good nutrition for young children.
Child Development 19: Family Day Care - Inactive
CD 19 is an introduction to family day care, including health and safety issues, childhood nutrition, the development of children, child-centered guidance, curriculum, sound business practices, child abuse reporting, and working with adults in family day care settings. Other issues addressed will be state regulations and guidelines for operating a family day care.
Child Development 20: Child Study and Assessment
CD 20 provides experience in studying, observing and recording children’s behavior using various scientific techniques. The class includes directed approaches to developmental assessments.
Child Development 21: Infant and Toddler Caregiving
CD 21 is an overview of infant and toddler development, including physical growth, motor skills, perception, cognition, social skills, and personality. Applied developmental knowledge will be directed to the study of appropriate equipment, curriculum content, and health, safety, and nutritional issues. Quality infant and toddler environments will be addressed.
Child Development 22: Supervising Adults Working in Children’s Programs
CD 22 provides information pertaining to the issues and methods of working with staff, adult volunteers, parents and other adults working to publicly funded, non-profit and private children’s programs. This course is required by the State of California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing of all master teachers, site supervisors, and program directors that are employed in publicly funded children’s programs.
Child Development 23: Domestic Violence Recognition and Prevention
CD 23 will address the recognition of domestic violence in families, its effects upon victims and children, and how knowledge of the subject matter provides a prevention platform.
Child Development 24: School-Age Development
CD 24 is the study of the growth and development of the school-age child, with concentration on the years between six through adolescence. Issues concerning the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the school-age child will be studied from relevant theoretical positions.
Child Development 25: School-Age Curriculum
CD 25 provides basic information pertaining to school-age curriculum. Emphasis is on understanding and planning curriculum for the school-age child that includes assessing, implementing and evaluating programs. Other topics discussed include scheduling, policies, indoor/outdoor environments, special needs and cultural issues.
Child Development 26A: Foundations of School-Age Child Care
CD 26A provides basic information pertaining to the foundations of a school-age child care program. Emphasis is on the growing field of school-age care, characteristics and traits of school-age children, developing and implementing program rules, planning program activities and handling conflicts among school-age children.
Child Development 26B: Quality School-Age Care
CD 26B provides basic information pertaining to school-age program standards of quality care. Emphasis is on understanding quality school-age care by evaluating human relationships, indoor and outdoor environments, daily activities, safety and health issues and administration.
Child Development 26C: School-Age Sports and Activities
CD 26C is the study of school-age sports and activities and how they relate to the growth of school-age children. The student will receive basic information on planning and implementing activities, quiet times, art and crafts, puppets, music and movement, construction and carpentry, nutrition and cooking, activities, with water, and gardening.
A total of twenty-seven courses are currently offered by the Child Development Program. All courses are rotated so that students can take required and elective courses during a two-year period. Short term classes are incorporated in this schedule and this includes nine week classes, six week classes, three week classes and one-two day class. Child Development (CD) 22 is taught using a nine week schedule, CD 17A, 17B, 17C, and CD 26A, 26B, 26C are all six weeks long, and CD 8 and 9 are taught in three week classes or one eight hour weekend class. CD 23 is taught either in the six week format or over two eight hour weekend sessions. In addition nine courses are currently being offered on-line as well. Our industry advisory committee has requested however that several of our core courses and more sensitive courses be taught only in a face to face format.
The Child Development Program offers a number of services to both faculty and students. The faculty are committed to accommodate student success. Office hours are strategically offered to accommodate traveling and working students. Instructors also regularly counsel students on Child Development course selection, Permit requirements, career options, scholarship opportunities, job placement and voluntarily act as Professional Growth Advisors to students and community professionals who are Child Development Permit holders.
In 2009-2011, VTEA covered the room rental fees for the twice a year Child Development Program Advisory Committee meetings. Instructors must also stay current with updated industry trends and state guidelines for future preschool and elementary teachers as well as promote the successful operation of the Child Development Training Consortium at the District level. The Child Development training consortium reimburses students who are working in the early childhood education field and kindergarten with a stipend for books, tuition, and pays for the child development permit.
B. Please list assumptions or trends unique to your area that are likely to influence your discipline or profession; you may want to describe how the nature and needs of students in your service area are changing, etc.
(Example: Regional issues, new employers, water, resources, or changing demographics)
As a result of a teacher shortage, the Child Development Training Consortium continues to pay students a reimbursement stipend.
Pre-K camps and First School approaches that prepare Pre K – 3 educators to interpret
and respond to school assessment data are being initiated in several local communities.
Additional training in Child Study and Assessment (CD 20) may be beneficial to early
childhood educators already working in the field.
There is a continued interest in infant and early childhood mental health. Not only is Child Development education important for future caregivers, professionals in a variety of fields such as law enforcement, social services, public health and nursing also need this knowledge and training. Currently Child Abuse (CD 17B) and Domestic Violence (CD 23) and Child Family and Society (CD10) are integrated as part of a certificate in Social Work at WHCC. The continued economic downturn also takes a toll on parents and thus affects their children again impacting social service needs.
Current neuroscience research and an updated knowledge base about brain development in the earliest years along with a significant need for additional infant and toddler caregiving slots in Fresno County. There is an on-going need provide high quality care to all children and especially for those children in the 0-3 age range. Studies have shown that poor quality childcare is damaging to our youngest children, reemphasizing the importance of our work.
The economy and budget cutbacks in all areas of the field are necessitating a streamlined educational process where students choose an educational focus early and do not waste time or money on courses not required by their specific degree or certificate.