1 12/11/2006 ELE 4776 1 Eastern Illinois University Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education ELE 4776 History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Spring 2007 Instructor: Tess Bennett, Ph.D. Office: 2213, Buzzard Hall Office Hours: Before and after class and other times by appointment Phone: 217-581-7881 (office E-mail: [email protected] Unit Theme: Educators as creators of effective educational environment, integrating diverse students, subjects, strategies, and societies. Catalog Description: The history and philosophy of early childhood education from birth through age eight. Historical and contemporary models, social policy, and philosophical issues. Course Goal: This course is intended to provide: 1) basic knowledge about the historical foundation of early childhood education (ECE); 2) an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of current programs, practices and philosophies; 3) recent trends and issues in the field; and 4) national values and social forces which influence the field of early childhood education. Prerequisites: ELE 2321 Outcomes for all the ELE Classes: • Develop a desire for lifelong learning. • Demonstrate good communication. • Demonstrate/ exhibit sensitivity to student’s feelings. • Demonstrate knowledge of facts, and an understanding of fundamental principles, ideas, and relationships among various domains. • Utilize concepts of measurement and assessment. • Provides for the uniqueness of the individual. • Emphasize higher order, critical thinking. Outcomes Specific to this Course: • Understands the teacher’s role in relation to culturally and linguistically diverse student populations. • Analyze the relationships between cultural background and individual development • Demonstrate knowledge of past and present development, issues, research, and social influences in the field of education. • Understand student and parent legal rights in relation to early childhood education. • Use technology to support teaching and learning. • Model appropriate professional behavior…ethnical, legal, social, and moral. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodation, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 581-6583. Learning Model: Learning Model: Developmental: This model begins from the perspectives of the selfhood of the individual. It emphasizes development that occurs as a result of interaction between the individual and the physical and social environment. Learning occurs when individuals assimilate new experiences into already exiting cognitive structures. The model pays great attention to the individual perspective and shapes education so that students can better understand themselves, take responsibility for their own learning, and go beyond current developments in order to become stronger, more sensitive, and more creative. (Joyce, B., Weil, M. & Showers, B (1992). Models of Teaching, 4th. Ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon).2 12/11/2006 ELE 4776 2 Course Text: Morrison, George, S. (2007). Early Childhood Today, 10th. Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall. Course Requirements and Evaluation: Points 1. Attendance and class participation 25 2. Research Paper on an Ethical Issue 75 3. Mid-term 100 4. Journal article review 50 5. Famous person quiz 25 6. Philosophy of Education paper 50 7. Oral Presentation 75 Total 400 Assignments 1. Students are expected to attend and participate in class. 2. The research paper on an ethical issue should be 6- 8 pages, APA 5th Edition format. You will sign up in class for your topic from a list. You may come up with an original topic, but it must be approved by me. The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to some of the ethical dilemmas early childhood education teachers face. Some examples of these are; red shirting, approaches to child guidance, assessment of children with special needs, confidentiality, family issues, home visiting, child abuse reporting, medicating young children, Preschool for All, No Child Left behind, inclusion. 3. The midterm will be a take home essay. 4. The journal article review paper will be 2- 4 pages, APA 5th Edition format. Some of the journals you may use for this assignment are Young Children, Childhood Education, Young Exceptional Children, Early Childhood Research and Practice, Childhood Education. Some of these are on the web. Choose an article of interest to you and write a summary and reaction. Format for this assignment will be discussed in class. 5. The famous person quiz will be an in class project. Each student will write three quiz questions about a famous person in the text. Bring your book to class each time. 6. The philosophy of education paper should be no more than 2 pages. It is your personal philosophy that goes in the front of your portfolio behind your resume. It has an introduction and three sections, your beliefs about teaching children, working with families, and teaming with peers and colleagues, and a conclusion. 7. The oral presentation will be completed individually or with a partner. It should be no more than 15 minutes long. And include detailed information about the program you got from articles, the internet, print materials, or interviewing experts. A handout is required. More information about this will be given in class. A) You will choose to research a program (you must go beyond what is in our text) in early childhood education. Some examples of these are; Montessori Reggio Emilia Project Approach Waldorf Knowledge-based Learning Bright Horizons Head Start Migrant Head Start Early Head Start High Scope Creative Curriculum for Preschool Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos Universal Preschool or Preschool for All in IL3 12/11/2006 ELE 4776 3 B) You will tell the class specific details of the program you researched. Please use the web, other audio visual or print and handout materials to facilitate your discussion. Make handouts for all class members. C) I will assign a program for you to contrast with the program you chose. Portfolios will be checked for Block 2 in this class. Four additional artifacts with reflections must be added in addition to your philosophy of education and updated resume.