EDEC 602: The Young Child PreK-3
Credit Hours: (3)
Theories of cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of the young children are related to early childhood curriculum. Current curriculum theory applied to classroom practice.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
I. Physical and Motor Development
A. Infants
B. Toddlers
C. Three through five
D. Five through nine
E. Observing physical characteristics and motor development.
F. Planning for physical and motor development
G. Special Topic: Mainstreaming: planning for physical differences
II. Affective and Social Development
A. Infants
B. Toddlers
C. Three through five
D. Five through nine
E. Observing socio-affective development
F. Planning for socio-affective development
G. Special Topic: Culturally-responsive teaching and socio-affective development
III. Cognitive/Intellectual Development
A. Infants
B. Toddlers
C. Three through five
D. Five through nine
E. Observing cognitive and intellectual development
F. Planning for cognitive development
G. Special Topic: Play: Contributions to development
IV. Theoretical Orientations (integrated into examination of development and curriculum)
A. Behaviorist (Skinner, Bandura & Walters)
B. Nativist (Gesell, Lenneberg, Chomsky)
C. Psychoanalytic (Freud, Erikson)
D. Interactionist/Constructivist (Piaget, Neo-Piagetians)
V. Domain-Specific Development
A. Emergent literacy
B. Mathematical thinking
C. Scientific thinking
D. Children's understanding of social sciences
E. Development in the arts
F. Special Topic: Multiple intelligences
VI. Action-Research: Teaching and Learning in the Classroom (integrated throughout the course)
Detailed Description of the Conduct of the Course
Instructional strategies: Lectures, video-tapes, visits to early childhood settings, group-research, presentations of examples of research, demonstrations.
Student activities: Locate an environmental assessment instrument and use it to record information in an ECE setting; apply Piagetian tasks with children of 4, 7 and 12; review curriculum materials; cooperatively develop a conference "ideas" session and a staff development session.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Students should be able to:
1. Describe characteristic cognitive, socio-affective and psychomotor development
birth through age 9.
2. Apply this knowledge in professional decision-making in working with children and
their families.
3. Research and discuss philosophical and social issues related to the development
and education of young children.
4. Identify and use appropriate assessment techniques and instruments related to the
development of young children.
5. Describe and, when appropriate, conduct action-research projects related to children's
development.
6. Discuss the influence of play upon children's development and alternative roles
of the adult in play.
7. Explain the influence of theoretical orientations upon programs for young children.
Assessment Measures
Quizzes and exams; performance on observational tasks, ideas and staff development session planning, and other assignments.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
Revised: March 22, 1999