KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Cover Sheet for Category 3 (Teacher Preparation) Proposals
Course Number/Minor Name/Program Name: ECE 7720 – Sensorial Foundations of Intellectual
Life
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.
Sep. 30, 2005_
Faculty Member
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
Department Curriculum Committee***
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
PTEU Program Area Committee***
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
_________________________________________
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 7720________________
Course Title : Sensorial Foundations of Intellectual Life
Credit Hours 3____________
Prerequisites __Admission to M.Ed. Program_____________
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
Sensorial experiences provide the foundations for all cognitive growth. Sensorial development
can be richly enhanced through the use of scientifically designed, developmentally appropriate
materials which address a child’s need to refine skills related to each of the senses. Work with
these materials promotes the sensorial development required for the successful mastery of
writing, reading and mathematics skills. In addition, students will learn to help children develop
listening, sight singing and musical notation skills with the Montessori bells and boards. Students
will learn to present materials related to geometry, botany, geography and the Peace Curriculum.
III. Justification
Little is known regarding the intricate relationship between perception and cognition. This course
will provide students with insights and an understanding of how sensorial input provides the
foundations for intellectual growth. They will develop kills in assisting children to establish
sensorial foundations for a wide range of cognitive development. Through the observation of
children in their field experiences, students will have ample opportunities to understand the
essential contribution which sensorial development makes to the cognitive growth and the
education of young children. Students will observe Instructors modeling strategies for the
presentation of each sensorial material. Students will have hands-on experience with
scientifically designed and structured manipulable materials which will help them to become
competent to present those materials to children at the right times in their development.
IV. Additional Information (for New Courses Only)
Attach Syllabus/Course Outline
Second Phase of the Early Childhood, (2.5 – 6) Level Track of the M.Ed. Program
Instructor:
Feland Meadows, Ph.D.
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Texts:
Lillard, A.S. 2005 Montessori, the Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.
Lillard, Paula Polk 1973 Montessori, A Modern Approach. New York, N.Y.: Schocken Books.
Montessori, Maria 1994 The Absorbent Mind. Oxford, England: Clio Press.
Montessori, Maria 1995 The Discovery of the Child. Oxford, England: Clio Press.
Standing, E. Mortimer 1984 Montessori, a Revolution in Education. Fairfield, PA: Plume Press.
Additional readings in selected texts from the bibliography will be assigned.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, candidates will:
1. discover why the sensitive periods of development are the most powerful times for learning;
2. demonstrate skill in the use of materials to enhance development during those critical periods;
3. know how to give 315 presentations with 67 scientifically designed, self correcting, sensorial
materials which address each child’s need to refine skills related to each of the five senses;
5. know how to work with these materials to promote the sensorial development required for the
successful mastery of writing, reading, mathematics and music skills.
6. know how to give presentations of classified nomenclature which enrich the child’s vocabulary
and which instill concepts related to language, math, geometry, geography, biology and music.
7. understand how sensorial development serves as the foundation for all intellectual life;
Candidates will also:
1. demonstrate their ability to design the learning environment by ordering and structuring the
sensorial materials correctly on the classroom shelves;
2. demonstrate their ability to diagnose the developmental needs of children they observe;
3. correctly present the developmentally appropriate sensorial materials in the correct sequence to
children in the classroom.
Instructional Method
A theoretical framework for understanding the role of the sensitive periods of
development as the most powerful times for learning will be presented and discussed.
Strategies for the presentation of each material will be modeled by the Instructor and
other faculty. Students will have hands-on experience with materials and will receive
student manuals which they will complete after observing the modeling of presentations
by the instructor. Instructional strategies include readings, lectures, group discussions,
text reviews, audio-visual presentations, individual and group assignments, modeling of
teaching strategies, presentation of materials and independent research. Students will
observe children of various ages and stages of development in the classroom working
with the sensorial materials. Students will have ample opportunities to observe and
interact with children during their fieldwork experience.
Method of Evaluation
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of how to design the learning environment by ordering
the sensorial materials in the correct sequences on the classroom shelves. Students will present
the developmentally appropriate sensorial development materials in the correct sequence to the
instructor. Students will document their understanding of the sensorial foundations of intellectual
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life through a final examination. Students will be observed during their fieldwork to record their
competencey in presenting sensorial materials and activities to children at the appropriate times in
their development. 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.
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 7710___________________
Sensorial Dev.
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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