Professionalism & Advocacy

Course Number:
ECE 200
Transcript Title:
Professionalism & Advocacy
Created:
Aug 09, 2022
Updated:
Aug 17, 2022
Total Credits:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
No
Grading Options
A-F, P/NP, Audit
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0
Prerequisites

ECE 120
Placement into IRW 115 or WR 115

Course Description

Examines the characteristics of early childhood education as a profession, including key competencies, roles and responsibilities, current issues and trends. Focuses on use of the NAEYC Code of Ethics to guide daily practices and decision-making. Prepares students to become advocates for children, families, self and the profession. Prerequisites: placement into IRW 115 or WR 115; ECE 120. Audit available.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify and participate as a member of the early childhood profession.
  2. Apply the NAEYC Code of Ethical conduct to guide daily practices and ethical decision-making.
  3. Use reflection as a tool to guide daily practice and ongoing professional development.
  4. Demonstrate effective, respectful communication strategies.
  5. Describe current issues and trends that affect the early childhood profession.
  6. Advocate for resources and policies that support children, families, and early childhood educators.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

Assessments may include: interviews, resume, written observations, journal reflections, autobiography, self-assessment, professional plan, professional philosophy, group project, portfolio assignments, graphing assignment, and written assignments.

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Department Required Activities 

This course should result in a minimum of one portfolio artifact for the following NAEYC Standard:

  • # 6 – Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator

Course Content

Outcome #1: Identify and participate as a member of the early childhood profession.
  • Characteristics of professions
  • Criteria for professional status and early childhood education
  • Professional values in early childhood education
  • Role of professional organizations
  • Statements of professional commitment
  • Employment application process
Outcome #2: Apply the NAEYC Code of Ethical conduct to guide daily practices and ethical decision-making.
  • Purpose of a Code of Ethics for any profession
  • Organization of Code of Ethics
    • Core Values
    • Ideals
    • Principles
  • The four constituencies addressed in the NAEYC Code of Ethics
    • Children
    • Families
    • Colleagues
    • Community and Society
  • Distinguishing between ethical responsibilities and ethical dilemmas
  • Using the Code of Ethics to consider ethical cases for each constituency
Outcome #3: Use reflection as a tool to guide daily practice and ongoing professional development.
  • Influences on personal values and morality
  • Intentional practice
  • Collaborative learning
  • Ethical decision making
  • Respectful communication
  • Advocacy
  • Self-care
Outcomes #4: Demonstrate effective, respectful communication strategies.
  • Characteristics of effective interpersonal communication
  • Importance of attentive, active listening
  • Diversity of cultural perspectives and styles of communication
  • Components of effective written/ media communication
Outcome #5: Describe current issues and trends that affect the early childhood profession.
  • Education and compensation of early childhood staff
  • Families’ inequitable access to early childhood programs
  • Licensing regulations and quality guidelines
  • Developmentally Appropriate Practice and K-12 alignment
  • State and federal investment/ public policy
Outcome #6: Advocate for resources and policies that support children, families, and early childhood educators.
  • Types of advocacy
    • Self-Advocacy
    • Individual Advocacy
    • Systems Advocacy
  • Essential considerations and advocacy tools
  • Advocacy roles and responsibilities in early childhood education

Suggested Texts and Materials

Feeney, S. & Freeman, N. (2019). Ethics and the Early Childhood Educator. NAEYC. ISBN: 978-1938113499

Department Notes

NAEYC Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators:

# 6 – Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator

Oregon Registry Core Knowledge Categories:

PPLD - Personal, Professional & Leadership Development (30 hours)