Early Childhood Education Laboratory I

Catalog description

This course provides the student an opportunity to function as a member of a caregiving/teaching team with infants (birth to 12 months) or toddlers (12-36 months) in an approved early learning program. They will have the opportunity to observe theories and principles of child development in real life classrooms and to learn the importance of relationship-based caregiving. This is a 90 hour field placement in a childcare, family care, or Early Head Start learning program. Students will be able to observe commonalities and individual trajectories of infants and toddlers and create learning experiences that promote development. The student's activity is carefully supervised by a qualified in-service classroom teacher and the Colleges supervisor of the field experience. The course also includes a weekly seminar to discuss issues rising from this laboratory experience. Students must present their FBI, PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal and NSOR clearances to the field placement site. NOTES: Background clearances including FBI, PA Child Abuse, National Sex Offender Registry, Abuse and PA Criminal clearances and a Pennsylvania approved child abuse recognition and reporting training is required prior to enrollment in this course. Documentation of a negative TB test is also required. The 90 hour field experience portion of this course must be completed in person.