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ECED 2370 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

ECED 2370 - Developmental Assessment Methods

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course is a study of assessment for children from birth to eight years of age. Both formal and informal instruments will be discussed emphasizing tools that can be effectively used by teachers of young children. Considerations in choosing, administering and reporting results of assessments will also be addressed. Field experiences required.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

  1. Know and understand the legal and ethical responsibilities in assessments. (3a, 3c, 3d, 6b)
  2. Identify and interpret specific terms and characteristics of different screening and assessment tools. (3b)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of collecting, recording, compiling, interpreting, summarizing, and reporting assessment information. (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d)
  4. Know about and understand culturally appropriate assessment. (1a, 1b, 2b, 3b, 3d)
  5. Use informal strategies to plan and implement individual curriculum and teaching practices to meet the needs of individual children. (1a, 2b, 3c. 5c, 6c, SS foundational concepts, written & verbal communication skills)

NAEYC Associate Degree Standards are addressed in this course here:

Standard 1: Promoting Child Development and Learning
1a. Knowing and understanding young children’s characteristics and needs, from birth through age 8
1b. Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on early development and learning

Standard 2: Building Family and Community Relationships
2b. Supporting and engaging families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships

Standard 3: Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families
3a. Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment - including its use in development of appropriate goals, curriculum, and teaching strategies for young children
3b. Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches, including the use of technology in documentation, assessment and data collection
3c. Understanding and practicing responsible assessment to promote outcomes for each child, including the use of assistive technology for children with disabilities
3d. Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and other professionals

Standard 5: Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum
5c Using own knowledge, appropriate early learning standards and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging curriculum for each child

Standard 6: Becoming a Professional
6b. Knowing about and upholding ethical standards and other early childhood professional guidelines
6c. Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice, using technology effectively with young children, with peers, and as a professional resource
6d. Integrating knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education

Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

ECED 2320 or departmental approval.

Course Topics:
  • Review of developmental stages of children birth-eight
  • Types of screening and assessment tools: observation guides, portfolio assessment systems and tests that evaluate specific skills
  • Legal and ethical responsibilities in assessment
  • Linking assessment to curriculum, families and the children
  • Community resources and referral procedures
  • Professionalism: NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct (Ethical Responsibilities to Families & Children)
Specific Course Requirements:

None

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

None

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

There are no exams in this course. Assessment of course content is within the assignment for each module.

Grading Procedures:

Assessment of student outcomes is based on a written assignment and observation assignments within each module. A grading rubric is provided for these assignments.

Grading Scale:

450-500 Points A
400-449 Points B
350-399 Points C
300-349 Points D
under 299 Points F

Assignments and Projects:

Student learning will be assessed through the following:

  1. Written Assignments based on Study Guides and course information: complete as assigned by the instructor.
  2. Observations complete as assigned by the instructor
  3. Child Assessment Portfolio Parts 1 and 2: complete a portfolio project including ongoing observations and goal-setting
  4. Child Assessment Portfolio Parts 3 and 4: implementation of plans and reflection of portfolio process
  5. Discussions: each student will participate in the discussion forum for each module

See outline and calendar for specific due dates for module assignments. 

ItemPoints eachSubtotal Points Percentage
12 Written Assignments
Drop Lowest Grade
10 points each11022%
8 Observation Assignments
2 Observation Assignments
10 points each
15 points each
11022%
11 Discussion Assignments
Drop Lowest Grade
5 points each5010%
2 Rough Drafts10 points each204%
1 Child Assessment Portfolio Parts 1 and 2120 points 12024%
1 Child Assessment Portfolio Parts 3 and 490 points each9018%
 Total Points500100%

Extra Credit: There will be extra credit opportunities provided throughout the course. Modules 2- 11 will include a specific opportunity somewhere in the Module Content. Guidelines must be followed to receive the extra credit. 

Assignment Expectations:
Students must submit assignments in Microsoft Word format or Rich Text Format (RTF) using 12 or 14 point font (Arial preferred). Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure will be taken into consideration in grading all assignments. Assignments should reflect college-level work. Points will be deducted for numerous errors.

Class Participation:

Each student is expected to:

  • check into the course at minimum of 3 times each week
  • participate in class discussions a minimum of 3 times each week
  • respond to instructor e-mails and announcements
  • read and follow module content instructions
  • submit assignments as due
  1. Students are expected to participate in the course at least 3 times each week. Participation is defined as: reading email, posting discussion, reading content pages, and/or uploading assignments, etc. The instructor may be monitoring this participation.
  2. Students are expected to respond to the instructor’s e-mails.
  3. Students are expected to contact the instructor with any problems.
  4. Students are expected to participate in module discussions. Each student must post an original answer to the discussion topic listed for each module and reply to at least two of the other students’ postings. These are not to be done all at one time. Refer to Discussion rubric. Late discussion postings will not be accepted.
Late Policy:

Assignments will always be due by 11:59 pm. Central Time on Monday nights – see calendar and outline for specific due dates. To receive full credit, assignments must be submitted on time. Late assignments (those submitted beyond the due date and time) will have points deducted: 10% for one week (or a minimum of 1 point) no assignments accepted beyond one week late. You should deliver assignments in Central Standard time. Late Discussion postings will not be accepted. The Final Assignment will not be accepted late.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021