EC221 Concepts of Infant-Toddler Development

 

INSTRUCTOR:	Becky Davis
E-MAIL:	gdavis@sault.com
DEPARTMENT:	Early Childhood Education
CREDITS:	3
PRE-REQUISITE:	EC212, ED111, SI117, EN111, and EN112

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine concepts of development as related to the early education and care of infants and toddlers. We will study the recent brain research to understand how the management of the play environment can enhance learning. Fieldwork is required, please see requirement below.

LEARNER OUTCOME: The information presented in this course will expand the knowledge base of the teacher of infants and toddlers in promoting competent growth, developing a challenging environment and understanding the importance of caregiver-child relationship for all infants and toddlers in their care.

• Students will be prepared to promote and integrate knowledge of infant and toddler development in a professional care giving environment.
• Students will be prepared to observe, document and assess environments in which infants and toddlers will thrive and have opportunities to obtain optimal growth and development.
• Students will make connections between prior knowledge and experience and the new information presented in this course.

CONTENT OUTCOMES: Students will have the opportunity to:

• apply the current brain research and its relationship to the care of infants and toddlers.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will complete nine text content assessments.
• students will prepare one combined report paper demonstrating comprehensive knowledge and understanding of one content topic.
  
• define and measure environmental characteristics that promote optimal development for infants and toddlers.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will complete three field observation reports.
• students will log, classify, and summarize field observations.
• students will complete four content knowledge and information analysis essays.
  
• identify and evaluate theories of best practice for infants and toddlers in group settings.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will submit two evaluative summaries of current practices.
  
  
• identify integrated activities to enhance the language development of infants and toddlers
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will evaluate and summarize one field experience project in which they implemented an activity based on a theoretical hypothesis from the text.
  
• students will complete four information analysis essays.

SUPPORTIVE SKILLS OUTCOMES: In order to support the student’s skill and effective use of new knowledge this course will present each student with embedded learner outcomes as follows:

• students will have the opportunity to apply foundation concepts from general education courses.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will submit all responses using college level writing, generally accepted grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• students will access the Internet and demonstrate the ability to find specific course related material.
• students will submit assignments within the defined timeline and maintain steady progress toward completion of the course requirements.
  
  
  
• Students will have the opportunity to make connections between prior knowledge/experience and new learning.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will apply knowledge from general child development or CDA courses and demonstrate enhanced understanding of infants and toddlers in each of the fifteen course assignments.
• students will demonstrate cumulative understanding of infant and toddler care as reflected in the short answer responses.
• students will demonstrate the ability to draw upon their past knowledge with infants and toddlers and reflect upon it critically, enriching or altering their prior knowledge with new insights from the material presented in this course.
  
  
• Students will have the opportunity to identify and use professional resources.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will use the Internet, professional journals, or local library material to complete two information analysis essays.
• students will access and report on one infant-toddler web site.

FIELD WORK OUTCOMES: This course will include an emphasis on observation skills in a field experience.

• Students will enhance their ability to observe infants and toddlers for response to environmental stimulus.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will submit three narrative field observation reports.
• students will demonstrate observation skills through specific observation items.
  
  
• Students will link research and theoretical knowledge from course material to application with a collaborating field site.
  
  Evidence of growth:
• students will implement and evaluate one adult-child activity selected from the text.
  
  
• students will demonstrate the value of ethical, professional and respectful competencies through observation reports.
• students will submit field reports void of value judgments, identifying information or personal opinion.
• students will sign and adhere to a confidentiality statement.

   

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Rethinking the Brain, Families and Work Institute - ISBN 1-888-32449-X
How Babies Talk, Golinkoff Hirsh-Pasek - ISBN 0-452-28173-3
Infant-Toddler Environmental Rating Scale - ISBN 0-807-74640-1
I Love You All Day Long - Francesca Rusackas & Priscilla Burris - ISBN 0-06-050276-2

BMCC Policies:
All students please review the following policies and procedures

Student Handbook : (http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/index.html).
Drop or Add a Class : (http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/index.html#course).
Book Refund and Book BuyBack Policies:(http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/vbookstore.html)
Billing or an outstanding bill: (http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/billingProcedures.html).
Information about class schedules and transcripts:(http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/transcripts.html).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• Identification of a field observation site. Please read assignment one for more specific details of the site selection and requirements.
  
  Site requirements:
  Field site must have at least two children under the age of three.
  Field site first choice should be a child care setting.
  Site supervisor will read and sign the cooperating site agreement.
  Site supervisor will complete and mail the supervisors feed back form.
  Site supervisor consents to four observation visits.
  

1. Students must sign a confidentiality statement. Breech in confidentiality may result in expulsion from BMCC.

FIELD EXPERIENCE SITE SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
Each student must identify a site in which at least two children under the age of three are cared for on a regular basis. The site can be a licensed childcare center, a home, a licensed daycare family home, Early Head Start center or infant-toddler center. The caregivers must agree to allow you to evaluate and report on your observations of how children learn in their environment. You will be observing and recording the developmental activities of the children. You will not be evaluating the children or the adults, only the environmental stimulus. No individually identifying information will be disclosed in assignments. The collaborating site supervisor will be required to sign an agreement contract and submit a final feedback form. At the conclusion of your observations you will give the supervisor the book, I Love You All Day Long, as a thank you for their cooperation.

COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:
Students will have fifteen weeks to complete fifteen assignments. Assignments will be submitted at least weekly, but may be submitted early if the student wishes to complete the course in less than fifteen weeks. Each assignment will be worth 50 points. There will be four field assignments and nine text quizzes, one compiled report and a comprehensive reflection summary. Students must complete all assignments to complete the course.

GRADING:
Grades will be assigned according to the sum total of the points you earn for each assignment. A final course grade will be submitted to BMCC within three days of the final assignment completion. Grades are not official until the BMCC registrar records the grade on the student's transcript. BMCC will send the grade report to the student.

Grades will be as follows:
750-675	points	100-90%	A
674-600	points	89-80%	B
599-525	points	79-70%	C
524-450	points	69-60%	D
449-0	points	59-0%	F

Please click here to testify that you have read and understand the syllabus and have read and understand the academic dishonesty and plagiarism information.

Index | Calendar | Lesson 1