Emphasis on selection of, interpretation of, and decision making with developmental assessment instruments. Ethical and multicultural issues considered. Students receive extra credit in the course for volunteering and must write a paper reflecting on their experience. Their experiences are also discussed in class. Each team consists of a mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors and will have members from different disciplines.
Projects are of at least one year duration.
In general, students are expected to participate in a project team for at least two consecutive semesters. Projects are intended to solve real problems, and are defined in consultation with project partners from community agencies. Each project team meets for a two-hour lab where faculty and TAs provide support and advice, but the team members define and distribute tasks and work with agency representatives to identify and solve problems. Focuses on typical and atypical development of young children, and how understanding development influences objectives, activities, materials, and teaching strategies in an early childhood classroom. Includes a practicum experience with young children.