Standard

Updated: 11/30/05

ECE 101 - Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education

Course Description

Introduces concepts relating the responsibilities and procedures involved in a variety of early childhood care situations. This course addresses key CDA competency goals and functional areas. Topics include: historical perspectives, career opportunities, work ethics, functioning in a team environment, guidance, transitional activities, program management, learning environment cultural diversity, licensing and accreditation, and professional development file (portfolio) guidelines.

Competency Areas		Hours
Historical Perspectives		Class	5
Career Opportunities		D. Lab	0
Work Ethics		P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Functioning in a Team Environment		Credit	5
Guidance
Transitional Activities
Program Management
Learning Environment
Cultural Diversity
Licensing and Accreditation
Professional Development File (Portfolio) Guidelines
Prerequisite:	Provisional admission

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES		5	0	0
	Demonstrate familiarity with major contributors to the field of early childhood care and education.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES		3	0	0
	Describe career opportunities.
	Examine a variety of early childhood care and education settings.
	Identify early childhood care and education professional organizations.
WORK ETHICS		2	0	0
	Identify positive qualities of a child care worker.
FUNCTIONING IN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT			0	0
	Describe characteristics needed to communicate and work in a team environment.
GUIDANCE			0	0
TRANSITIONAL ACTIVITIES		2	0	0
	Identify strategies for making transitions throughout the day.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT		8	0	0
	Identify different types of planning.
	Recognize the components of a lesson plan.
	Examine formats for monthly, weekly, and daily plans.
	Develop a daily schedule.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT		6	0	0
	Identify components of a well-organized, developmentally appropriate learning environment.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY		4	0	0
	Explain the importance of responding to cultural diversity in the learning environment.
LICENSING AND ACCREDITATION		15	0	0
	Identify licensing requirements.
	Identify sources for accrediting ECCE programs.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FILE (PORTFOLIO) GUIDELINES		1	0	0
	Identify necessary components of a professional resource file or portfolio.

Suggested Resources

Books

Bentzen, W. (2000). Seeing Young Children: A guide to observing and recording behavior, 4^th Ed. New York, NY: Delmar.

Essa, E. (2003). Introduction to Early Childhood Education, 4^th Ed. Albany, NY: Delmar.

Gordon, A. & Browne, K. (2004). Beginnings and Beyond, 6^th Ed. New York, NY: Delmar.

Herr, J. (2004). Working with Young Children. Tinley Park, IL: Goodheart-Wilcox.

Mayesky, M. (2002). Creative Activities for Young Children, 7^th Ed. New York, NY: Delmar.

Nilsen, B. (2001). Week by Week: Plans for Observing and Recording Young Children, 2^nd Ed. New York, NY: Delmar.

Taylor, B. (2004). A Child Goes Forth, 10^th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Merrill, Prentice-Hall.

Videos:

Carter-Black, D. (Producer), Mcaleer, V., Scott, C. (Directors). (1999). Ten Things Every Child

Needs for the Best Start in Life! [Videotape]. Chicago, IL: Consumer Vision, Inc.

Peterson, T. (Producer) & Shreve, D. (Director). (2002). Negative Behavior-Positive Discipline

[Videotape]. Monmouth Junction, NJ: Cambridge Educational Research Group, Ltd.