Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: explain the legal and ethical basis for assessment practices and procedures; examine assessment as a comprehensive process for collecting information to inform the teaching, evaluation, and placement of children birth through age 8; describe the role and value of families as partners in a comprehensive assessment system; summarize the importance of a culturally responsive approach to assessment and evaluation; plan formal and informal assessment techniques and methods in order to collect information that determines children’s progress and levels of performance; evaluate assessment tools based on the purpose of the assessment being conducted; demonstrate how technology can be used in the assessment process, including how to use assistive technology for children with disabilities.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: discuss the major theories of early childhood development; discuss the roles and influences of families on pre-natal care and development; identify the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language developmental characteristics of children from infancy through age eight; integrate the cognitive, social, emotional, physical, motor, and language developmental aspects of child development into a holistic view of the child; identify family and cultural influences on child development; and discuss how the environment in which a child learns and grows influences individual growth and development.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:  define "creativity" and identify the stages of the creative process; discuss the reasons for the decline in creativity in schools and outline ways that teachers can promote students' creativity; distinguish between the different types of play and explain how play supports children's literary, social, and physical development; discuss autocratic, permissive, and democratic styles of teaching and explain how each of these hinders or enhances creativity; examine the Reggio-early-childhood art curriculum and explain why it is so successful; list the nine key opportunities that teachers should provide to students through art as identified by the National Art Education Association; provide examples of how teachers can use music and dance in their curriculum, paying attention to the various roles a teacher must take on to teach children these disciplines; examine several ways in which dramatic and sociodramatic play helps children grow and develop; describe features required to create classroom environments that nurture creative work; describe classroom environments that hinder children's creativity; examine how children's toys have changed over history; explain three consideration when performing an assessment of a creative product; examine the 12 qualities of genius in children and discuss ways teachers can apply this information to their approach to instruction; and discuss the interrelatedness of creativity and reason.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: apply disciplinary knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to interpret the meanings of education and schooling in multiple cultural contexts; discuss normative perspectives on education and schooling; use critical perspectives to analyze various aspects of education and schooling; explain how key events in educational history influence current educational practices; articulate a personal philosophy of teaching and learning; discuss democratic principles and how they inform and direct schooling practices, leadership, and school governance; describe the impact of diversity on instruction, schooling leadership, and governance; demonstrate a basic understanding of the legal status of teachers and students, including how the rights of teachers and students are impacted by rules, laws or regulations at the federal, state, and district levels; explain different school reform movements and how they impact teaching, learning, and the curriculum; and demonstrate a basic understanding of how schools are governed and financed.