This course studies the philosophy, history and development of early childhood programs. You'll examine the teacher-child relationship and how existing programs meet the needs of preschool children and review programs to evaluate how they meet the criteria of a quality learning environment. You'll get a chance to see how ECE programs operate in the real world by attending mandatory field observations at sites designated by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to

• Describe the history of early childhood education
• Discuss various guiding principles among early childhood educators
• Know the differences among early childhood programs and how they are evaluated by checklists
• Identify the differences among developmental stages of children

Topics Include

• History of early childhood education
• Types of programs
• Defining the young child
• Developmental and learning theories
• Teaching: A professional commitment
• Curriculum: Creating a context for learning and play
• Issues and trends in early childhood education