10307127Foundations in AfterSchool & Youth Development (Madison)
Course Information
Description
This first course provides an overview of the knowledge and skills individuals need to care for school-age children between the ages of five and twelve in a group setting. It will provide a foundation for the importance of out-of-school-time programs and explore the philosophy and goals for high quality programs. It is based on an understanding of the principles of child growth and development. It provides an overview of the rules and regulations governing group care for school age children and the responsibilities of the providers. Lastly, it will provide a foundation for the basic core knowledge and competencies as laid out by the National Afterschool Association.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Explain the key components necessary for quality after school and youth programs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write reading reflection
    Write quality after school program paper
    Write philosophy statement
    Criteria
    Read articles discussing key components of a quality afterschool program
    Describe key components of a quality afterschool program and reflect on the readings
    Identify at least five elements or components of a quality after school program and why these are essential, citing supportive evidence from the readings
    Articulate a philosophy statement of what you value about after school

  2. Develop techniques, activities, and transitions for a selected group of children and youth with diverse and individual developmental needs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write reading reflection
    Write ideas for activity, technique, and transition
    Write a developmental profile of a school age child using multiple observations over a minimum of a week
    Criteria
    Read articles discussing growth and development
    Describe growth and development of the afterschool child and reflect on the readings
    Construct developmentally appropriate ideas for an activity, guidance technique, and transition for a selected age group
    Prepare a developmental profile after observing a school age child of a selected age in a school age program

  3. Outline developmentally appropriate behavior guidance techniques for after school and youth programs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Prepare notes for a discussion of a behavior guidance experience
    Write reflective piece your role and responsibilities in guiding behavior including how your attitude and responses affect outcomes
    Write a comparison of different types of consequences
    Prepare notes for a guided discussion of adapting punitive punishments
    Criteria
    Discuss a behavior guidance experience and process the results for a situation you were involved in
    Describe your role and responsibilities in guiding behavior
    Compare of types of consequences
    Discuss how punitive punishments can be adapted

  4. Determine the role of the caregiver in creating a safe environment for school age children.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write reading reflection
    Write an accessibility checklist
    Write a paragraph about improved accessibility
    Write a list of resources
    Criteria
    Read articles discussing safe environments in afterschool
    Describe a safe environment in afterschool programs and reflect on the readings
    Develop an accessibility checklist for your program
    Discuss what suggestions you have regarding improved accessibility
    Develop a list of resources to support children with special needs

  5. Apply Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) to activity planning for after school and youth programs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write a list of learning domains
    Review an activity template and concept web
    Write a concept web based on a new topic
    Write a developmentally appropriate activity plan
    Write a reflection piece on the implementation of the activity plan and include your efficacy assessment
    Develop a list of all the learning domains using the assigned readings
    Criteria
    Examine learning domains in after school settings
    Review a sample activity template and concept web
    Develop a new concept web based on the topic
    Plan a developmentally appropriate activity
    Implement a developmentally appropriate activity
    Assess the efficacy of a developmentally appropriate activity

  6. Design a schedule for an after school and youth program.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write a summary of your completed time study
    Write an assessment of your program’s transition times
    Present to the class your ideal schedule for an after school program
    Criteria
    Construct a time study of a typical after school program day
    Identify transition times in your program’s current daily schedule
    Examine transition times in your program’s current daily schedule
    Create your ideal after school program schedule

  7. Design the physical environment to create an effective program for school age children.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write a list of the interest areas currently set up at your site
    Prepare notes for discussion of inventory of materials for your program site
    Write a summary of how many materials you already have in use and any additional materials/equipment you provide
    Present to the class your ideal after school program physical environment /space
    Criteria
    Develop a list of the interest areas currently set up at your site i
    Inventory materials for your program site using the checklist provided
    Identify how many of the materials on a given checklist you already have in use
    Identify additional materials/equipment you provide that are not on the checklist
    Design your ideal after school program physical environment /space

  8. Apply regulations including precautions and actions for health and safety in after school and youth programs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Write a reflective piece on the role an afterschool program has in assuring the over-all health and well-being of school age children
    Write a sample snack menu using the USDA guidelines and licensing requirements, including one that children can prepare
    Criteria
    Explain the role afterschool plays in the over-all health and well-being of school age children
    Prepare a sample menu for one week of snacks

  9. Evaluate strategies for involvement of families from diverse backgrounds in after school and youth programs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Present your family gathering plan to the class including how your plan meets the needs of diverse families
    Write pre-training and post-training assessments of your communication with families
    Write a reflection of the success of your communication with families
    Criteria
    Plan a family gathering that meets the needs of diverse families
    Illustrate your communication with families

  10. Outline regulations and standards that impact the quality, effectiveness, and evaluation of after school and youth programs.
    Assessment Strategies
    Complete the Licensing Scavenger Hunt
    Write summary of DCF school building exceptions
    Write a summary of the NAA areas of excellence and NAA areas for improvement in your program
    Complete Half a Childhood program checklist
    Criteria
    Describe key components of the Department of Children and families (DCF) Licensing manual relating to afterschool programs
    Summarize the DCF exceptions for programs in school buildings
    Review the National Afterschool Association (NAA) Standards at a Glance
    Identify 3 areas of the NAA standards where your program excels and 3 areas you would like to improve and explain why
    Review program checklist in Half a Childhood

  11. Create an After School and Youth Program Credential Portfolio.
    Assessment Strategies
    Create a web-based electronic portfolio
    Update portfolio regularly for submission to the Credential Commission
    Criteria
    Set up a web-based electronic portfolio account using a program recommended by your instructor
    Add required portfolio entries for Section 1 of the portfolio guide