STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1.   Define specific terms and concepts associated with various areas of language and cognitive development in children. (Roman Numeral(s) from outline)

 2.   Recognize and understanding of theories and research dealing with cognitive and language development. (verb in bold in difficult to observe/measure) (Roman Numeral(s) from outline)

 3.   Demonstrate philosophical framework for constructing science/math and language components of and early childhood curriculum.

 4.   Evaluate the integration of cognition and language throughout the curriculum.

 5.   Assess appropriate methods of techniques for encouraging literacy and concept.

 6.   Analyze a learning environment that stimulates the language and cognitive development of young children.

 7.   Develop and identify stages of scientific methods for exploring hypotheses that focuses upon the language and cognitive development of young children.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Theories of learning or questions focusing upon the manner in which children learn

 II.     Vygotsky`s theory of learning

 III.    Piaget`s theory of cognitive development as it relates to how young children learn

 IV.     The characteristics of the sensorimotor and pre-operational child

 V.      Piagets`s theory of conservation

 VI.     Applying Piagetian concepts through the assessment of the cognitive functioning of children aged two through seven.

 VII.    The Science/math and literacy for the young child: definitions, rationale and content

 VIII.   Language/literacy and the young child

 IX.     Scientific method

 X       The horizontal and vertical aspects of an early childhood curriculum: sequencing activities from the concrete to the abstract levels.

 XI.     Constructing the science/math/literacy components of an early childhood curriculum: an integrated approach.