EDSPX505.ECSTEM.1 - Early Childhood STEM - Part 1

Course Description

Number of Credits: 1

This course is the first in a two-part series each made up of 5 modules. You may be joining this training opportunity with very little experience in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). You may have multiple years of experience supporting early STEM activities for young children. You might feel like skeptical that children are capable of developing the foundations for STEM learning right from infancy. You may feel anxious that you have not offered STEM soon enough in your program. You may be a teacher in a school district, an administrator of a nationally accredited child care center, an owner of a home-based care provider, a librarian, or a museum administrator or a parent. Whatever hats you may wear, you are EXACTLY the person for whom this course was developed. YOU are a significant person in children's learning and development, and the authors of this course desire to see you equipped and excited to wonder, discover, learn, and relish this "STEMsational" journey alongside them. 

Instructor Information

Cari Murphy

Phone - (208)-885-6000
Email - carilee@uidaho.edu

Shannon Dunstan

Phone - (208)-332-6908
Email - sdunstan@sde.idaho.gov  

Course Objectives:

1. In module 1, participants will understand the components of high-quality early STEM experiences and activities, analyze the roles of the child and the educator in high quality STEM experiences, work to create high quality STEM engagement in the classroom, and develop STEM programs with intention.
2. In module 2, participants will Identify the seven senses and their critical role in learning during the early years, work to recognize and include precursor math concepts in everyday activities, describe how schema theory helps to reframe toddlers’ actions as "research" rather than misbehavior and explain how open-ended materials promote STEM learning.
3. In module 3, participants will describe the use of the engineering design process within everyday play, analyze the implications of integrating the engineering design process on the development and learning dispositions of all young children, and reflect on the role of the adult in extending children’s thinking and engagement during engineering challenges through intentional planning of play spaces, access to materials, and open-ended questions.
4. In module 4, participants will describe the four precursor concepts that are foundations for math that infants demonstrate from birth, explain ways that the six early math concepts could be embedded within everyday routines and activities, evaluate your learning environment for ways to boost math vocabulary in young children, and Identify ways to support families in nurturing their young children's engagement in and love of math.
5. In module 5, participants will identify the important link between literacy and math, work to understand practical ways that both math and reading instruction can be supported during preschool story times, describe how to select the best picture books to support math instruction, and articulate how to use picture books during both large group and informal one-on-one reading times to nurture mathematical thinking. 

Required Materials

There are no outside readings or materials required for this course. Handouts for each session are located within the learning modules. 

Course Requirements

1. Participation: Participants are required to log into the course and proceed stepwise through the material to complete all four modules.
2. Quizzes (20 points/quiz): Participants are required to successfully complete a quiz for each module.
3. Survey: Participants are required to complete a satisfaction survey at the end of the course.
4. Final assignment (100 points): At the beginning of module 1, participants will download a workbook which includes module activities for modules 1-5. Participants should familiarize themselves with the workbook prior to starting the modules and will then be prompted to complete activities in the workbook throughout each module. After the fifth and final module, participants will finalize and submit their workbook as their final assignment. 

Grading

This is a Pass/Fail course. Participants must earn an 80% score on all quizzes to pass the course. Quizzes can be retaken until passed.