Early Childhood Practicum
EDST 320
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
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| This course may be repeated for credit. |
In this small intensive practicum course, students will spend a minimum of 2 hours per week working in early childhood education settings. The practical experience will be complemented by contemporary research about early child development, education, policy, and practice. Course topics will be driven by the interests of the group, by the questions that naturally emerge from the practicum placement experience, and by current debates in the field. Such topics include, but are not limited to: assessment and documentation of learning and development in early childhood settings; the unique functions of exploratory play in human learning and development; exploration and critique of developmental milestones and developmentally appropriate practice; in-the-field consequences of new legislation (e.g., Connecticut's 2023HB-06880-R02-BA mandates on play-based learning and raising the kindergarten age); and constructivism and social emotional development. In addition to reading primary sources and working within early childhood classrooms, we will benefit from conversations with experts actively working to integrate research, practice, and policy. Students will keep journals documenting their field placements, submit response papers to class readings, participate actively in class discussions, and complete an in-depth exploration of a topic of their choice that bridges across the scholarly literature and the field placement experience. This is an advanced class available by Permission of Instructor (POI). Previous coursework in psychology is strongly recommended. |
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| Credit: .5 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS EDST |
| Course Format: Laboratory Course | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Education Studies Minor)(Education Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Reutzel, D. R. (Ed.). (2013). Handbook of research-based practice in early education (Vol. 1253). Guilford Press. ISBN: 1462519253
Various journal articles
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Examinations and Assignments:
weekly readings with written reflections
weekly one-page ¿learning stories¿ documenting practicum experience
final project |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Prospective students should send the instructor an email with (1) a short overview of their previous coursework and/or direct experience related to developmental psychology, early childhood education, and/or education studies and (2) a brief paragraph outlining their interest in this practicum experience.
This course can be counted toward the pedagogy OR practicum requirement for the EDST major and minor. |
| Instructor(s): Brockman,Emmy Times: ..T.... 07:10PM-08:30PM; Location: FRANK108; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 10 | Permission of instructor will be granted during the drop/add period. Students must submit either a ranked or unranked drop/add request for this course. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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