KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Cover Sheet for Category 3 (Teacher Preparation) Proposals
Course Number/Minor Name/Program Name: ECE 7700 - Scientific Foundations of Early
Childhood Education
Department: Elementary and Early Childhood Education____________________
Degree Title (if applicable) M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori Early
Childhood Education 2.5-6 Year Level Concentration
Proposed Effective Date _______Spring 2006_____________________________
Check One or More of the Following and Complete the Appropriate Sections
__ X_New Course Proposal
_____Delete Course From Catalog
__ __Course Title Change
_____Course Number Change
__ __Course Credit Change
_____Course Prerequisite Change
_____Course Description Change
_____Change in Program/Degree Requirements
_____New Concentration Proposal
_____New Program Proposal
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
VI
VIII
*If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a
new course with a new number should be proposed.
**A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed
as part of the program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing
course incorporated into the program.
Submitted by: Feland L. Meadows, Ph.D.
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
Sep. 30, 2005
Faculty Member
Date
_________________________________________
Department Curriculum Committee***
Date
_________________________________________
PTEU Program Area Committee***
Date
_________________________________________
Dept. Chair Responsible for the Course/Program Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Teacher Education Council
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Dean, School of Education
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
GPCC Chair
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Dean, Graduate Studies
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
President
Date
***The Department Curriculum Committee and PTEU Program Faculty evaluate a proposal
collectively.
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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM PROPOSAL
I. Current Information (Fill in for changes)
Page Number in Current Catalog _______XX________________
Course Prefix and Number _________XXXX____________
Course Title :
XXXXX
Credit Hours: _______xxx___________________
Prerequisites: XXX ____________________________
Description (or Current Degree Requirements): xxx
II. Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number __ECE 7700________________
Course Title : Scientific Foundations of Early Childhood Education
Credit Hours _3______________________________________
Prerequisites __Admission to M.Ed. Program_____________
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
Students will develop an understanding of the research based Conceptual Framework of a proven,
Scientific System of Education designed to serve children from 2.5 to 6 years of age. Students
will learn the importance of the Prepared Environment, which serves as the essential third
element for effective learning. They will discover that the Sensitive Periods provide the most
powerful times for learning. They will develop new insights into the nature of child development
and will learn that respect for the child’s inner teacher serves as the integrating principle for the
effective education of young children.
III. Justification
Many students enrolled in this program will come with a completely erroneous idea regarding
how young children develop and learn. This course will provide them with the philosophic and
scientific foundations for understanding how children actually develop and learn. It will also
introduce them to an entirely different, research based, scientific system of education for young
children. A thorough grounding in the Conceptual Framework presented in this course will
provide vital insights that are necessary to the comprehension of the other courses that students
will take as part of the Teaching Excellence Phase of this Early Childhood 2.5-6 Year Level
Concentration.
IV. Additional Information (for New Courses Only)
Attach Syllabus/Course Outline
Second Phase of the Early Childhood Track of the M.Ed. Program
Instructors:
Feland Meadows, Ph.D.
Texts:
Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L. and Cocking, R. R. (Eds.) (2000). How People Learn: Brain,
Mind, Experience, and School. National Academy Press.
Freire, Paulo (1985) The Politics of Education. Bergin and Garvey, Publishers.
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Gatto, John T. (1992) Dumbing us Down – The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling.
New Society Publishers.
Gindis, B. (1999) Vygotsky’s Vision: Reshaping the Practice of Special Education for the 21st
Century; in Remedial and Special Education, Vol.20, No. 6.
Katz, L.G. and Chard, Sylvia C. (1989). Engaging Children's Minds: the Project Approach.
Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Kramer, R. (1988) Maria Montessori, A Biography. Addison-Wesley.
Lillard, A.S. (2005) Montessori, The Science Behind The Genius. Oxford University Press.
Meadows, F. (1993) Evaluation of a Model Early Childhood Education Program for At-Risk
Children in California, IUSD Monograph.
Montessori, Mario M., Jr (1976) Education for Human Development, Schocken Books
Mooney, Carol G. (2000) Theories of Childhood, Redleaf Press.
Warner, Sylvia Ashton (1963) Teacher, Simon & Schuster
Additional readings in selected texts from the bibliography will be assigned.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, candidates will:
1. understand the conceptual framework which serves as the foundation for the most effective,
research based, proven system for the education of young children;
2. understand how scientific research lead to the landmark discovery of the importance of
providing a prepared environment in which developmentally appropriate experiences with
scientifically designed and structured manipulative materials provide the most effective,
developmentally appropriate means for each child to achieve self-construction;
3. develop new insights into the nature of the stages of childhood growth and development which
lead to a more effective approach to the education of young children;
Candidates will also be able to:
1. identify the research which validates this scientific system of education for young children;
2. explain the differences between this scientific system of education and other methodologies;
3. describe the principles of scientific pedagogy to peers and parents;
Instructional Method
This course presents a series of interrelated topics delivered by the principal course instructor and
other faculty. Instructional methods include readings, lectures, group discussions, text reviews
and condensations, audio-visual presentations, individual and group assignments, modeling of
teaching strategies, and independent research.
Method of Evaluation
Although each project and assignment will be assessed throughout this and the other courses in
the various modules of the program, each candidate’s culminating evaluation will occur during
the Third Phase, Module VI of the program when s/he will demonstrate competence in presenting
randomely selected materials to a virtual child and will submit a final portfolio of materials which
demonstrates a thorough understanding of the concepts and practices acquired in the program.
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V. Resources and Funding Required (New Courses Only)
Resource
Amount **
Faculty
__________
Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
Specialized funding from Foundations
Total
__________
** All funds to be applied from current masters program budget
Funding Required Beyond Normal Department Growth
__________
Explanation of Resources and Funding Requirements
VII. COURSE MASTER FORM
This form will be completed by the requesting department and will be sent to the Office of the
Registrar once the course has been approved by the Office of the President.
The form is required for all new courses.
DISCIPLINE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE FOR LABEL
(Note: Limit 16 spaces)
Early Childhood Education
_______ECE 7700___________________
Sci.Founds.ofECE
CLASS-LAB-CREDIT HOURS
Approval, Effective Quarter
Grades Allowed (Regular or S/U)
If course used to satisfy CPC, what areas?
Learning Support Programs courses which are
required as prerequisites
3 semester hours
Spring 2006
Regular_____________________
N.A._______________________
N.A.________________________
APPROVED:
__________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee
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