10-307-112ECE: STEM
Course Information
Description
This 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in children birth to age 8.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Explain the basic concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    identify the guiding principles of STEM
    use a variety of questioning methods
    identify the teacher's role in high quality, developmentally appropriate STEM experiences
    explain how STEM experiences promote learning in all domains across a continuum
    describe how children play across all age groups during STEM activities

  2. Incorporate STEM into daily routines
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    incorporate STEM opportunities into transitions
    incorporate STEM opportunities into routines
    incorporate STEM opportunities into daily schedule
    incorporate STEM opportunities into verbal and nonverbal interactions

  3. Establish a developmentally appropriate environment for STEM
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    explain how the environment supports children’s physical development
    explain how the environment supports children's social/emotional development
    explain how the environment supports children's language development
    explain how the environment supports children's approaches to learning
    explain how the environment supports children's cognitive development

  4. Examine strategies that teach early science skills
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    identify observation skills used to gather information
    identify tools to gather information and compare observed objects
    incorporate the scientific method into learning experiences
    form explanations based on trial and error, observations, and explorations
    develop methods to teach environmental science
    examine the Next Generation Science Standards

  5. Examine strategies that teach early math skills
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    describe the continuum of number and counting development
    identify concepts of number operations
    describe shapes and spatial relationships
    use attributes and objects for comparison and patterning
    identify concepts of measuring and estimating
    identify methods of collecting, describing, and recording information
    examine the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards

  6. Examine strategies that teach technology skills
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    define technology in ECE
    incorporate using tools
    identify beginning coding skills including patterns and sequencing
    incorporate Higher Order Thinking (HOT) skills including Bloom’s Taxonomy
    incorporate Makerspace (making and tinkering) including loose parts
    incorporate woodworking

  7. Examine strategies that teach engineering skills
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Criteria
    define engineering in ECE
    identify an engineering design process of ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve
    identify the stages of block play
    identify relationship of block play to geometry

  8. Develop STEM learning experience plans that promote child development and learning
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Learning Experience Plan
    Criteria
    plan incorporate relevant developmental domains (physical, cognitive, language, social/emotional)
    plan is relevant, meaningful, and appropriately challenging
    plan is developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate for the age group
    plan includes effective transitions
    plan incorporates the WMELS Framework
    plan reflects the Teaching Cycle

  9. Integrate STEM learning experiences into an interdisciplinary unit
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, Written or Graphic Assessment
    Interdisciplinary Unit Plan
    Criteria
    plan includes multiple sequential learning experiences
    plan addresses all developmental domains
    plan includes experiences from the following areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
    plan meets all requirements for learning experience plans that promote child development and learning