EDEC 425

I. Course Title: Assessment-Based Instruction and Adaptations for Young Children

II. Course Number: EDEC 425

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits 

IV. Prerequisites: IDEC major, successful completion of EDEC 322 and EDEC 423, EDSP 360 or EDSP 361; 2.5 GPA.

     Corequisites: EDEC 430 or permission of instructor.

V. Course Description: Designed to provide pedagogical concepts and skills for preservice teachers working with preschool age children in inclusive classrooms. Informal assessment strategies are applied to individualize instruction and adapt curriculum. Applied use of technology and media will be integrated throughout the course.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

I. Teaching based on child development and learning theory

A. Influence of developmental abilities upon learning and children’s readiness for conceptual understanding

1. Assessing children’s readiness
2. Piagetian stages of cognitive understanding
3. Vygotsky’s social learning and zone of proximal development

B. Identifying cultural influences and contexts within and without the classroom

II. Authentic assessment of children’s learning

A. Observations

B. Anecdotal records

C. Checklists

D. Portfolios

E. Rubrics

F. Assessment tasks

G. Other

H. Using assessment to guide instruction

III. Planning and instruction 

A. Behavioral objectives

B. Applying tools of inquiry according to the discipline

1. Thinking as social scientists
2. Read and critically apply recommended practices

C. Enhancing instruction with applied technology and media

D. Integrating the curriculum

E. Using a variety of instructional strategies

1. Cooperative learning
2. Direct instruction
3. Project approach
4. Other

F. Instructional grouping

1. Large group
2. Small group
3. Paired
4. Individual
5. Multi-age

G. Incorporating IEPs into daily instruction

H. Strategies for working with children with limited English

I. Strategies for working with gifted children

J. Assessing instruction

IV. Creating positive learning environments

A. Physical environments

B. Time and space management

C. Routines

C. Learning Centers

D. Prop Boxes

E. Managing the social and emotional environment

V. Teachers as professionals and reflective practitioners

A. Education responsive to the needs of children, families, and community

B. Education that is responsible in providing children with skills needed to living and interacting in a diverse global society

B. Reflecting upon the teaching/learning environment

C. Reflecting on teaching strategies, methods, and practices

E. Professionalism

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Students will learn to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate curriculum, instruction, learning activities, and assessment for children ages birth through 5 years of age, taking into account learning style variations, interests, cultural and experiential backgrounds, and abilities.

A variety of instructional strategies will include, but not be limited to: lesson planning and implementation, hands-on learning activities, cooperative learning, direct instruction, technology/media enhanced instruction, use of manipulatives, assistive technology, media, student presentations, and guest speakers.

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Students successfully completing this course will demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and dispositions to:

1. Demonstrate understanding that each child is an individual with unique developmental variations, experiences, strengths, interests, abilities, challenges, approaches to learning, and with the capacity to make choices.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of child development and learning process that occur in multiple contexts, including family, culture, language, community, and early learning setting.
3. Explain the purpose of assessments that are to make informed choices about instruction and for planning in early learning settings.
4. Create authentic assessment tools that are developmentally appropriate for preschool age children’s learning.
5. Use assessment tools in ways that are ethically grounded and developmentally appropriate in order to document developmental progress and promote positive outcomes for each child.

VIII. Assessment Measures:

• Development of teacher-made assessments
• Lesson planning with technology and media applications and analyses of children’s learning and abilities
• Self-analyses and reflections of lessons

 

Other Course Information: This course is usually paired with EDEC 420 at the undergraduate level.

 

Review and Approval

January, 2007 Barbara Foulks Boyd & Boyoung Park

Revised 4/29/09 Boyoung Park

March 01, 2021