SCHOOL OF Education 
Virtual Campus 
Mission:  Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused, and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: ECHD 2303 Creative Activities for Preschool Children
TERM AND DATES:  Winter 2017 -18 (November 13, 2017 – February 17, 2018)
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME:   Sharon Kern McCall, PhD
OFFICE ADDRESS:  2201 San Pedro NE – Albuquerque, NM 87110        
PHONE   505-323-9282                           
E-MAIL ADDRESS: mccalls@wbu.edu           
OFFICE HOURS: Please contact through Blackboard “Message the Instructor” at any time

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides the theoretical framework, current brain research, and the background knowledge needed to design creative arts activities for young children. It features dramatic arts, music, dance, and visual arts activities that nurture children’s creativity. Emphasis is placed on understanding how to foster children’s development by providing a safe, sensory-appealing arts program.

REQUIRED RESOURCE MATERIALS:  
Student Textbooks: 
A.	 Koster, J. (2015). Growing artists: Teaching the arts to young children (6th ed.). Florence, KY: Cengage Learning.  ISBN 9781285743141   
 ~and~
B.	Herr, J. (2011). Creative activities for the early childhood classroom (6th ed.). Florence, KY: Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781111831028
C.	Access to WBU Learning Resources www.wbu.edu/lrc

COURSE OUTLINE: 
•	Module One:  INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS
•	Module Two:  TEACHING THE ARTS
•	Module Three:  EXPLORING THE ARTS
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 
1.	The university student will participate in weekly class sessions (discussions and assignments); read all assigned materials; participate in class activities, and field experiences; and demonstrate professionalism
2.	Students will complete and submit all assignments at the appropriate time.
3.	All assigned work must be word-processed (12-point font and double spaced).
4.	The university student will complete two tests and a final exam. 
5.	The university student will complete three projects.

COMPETENCIES FOR THIS COURSE:
•	Students possess knowledge and understanding of theory and practice of art in early childhood programs.
•	Students understand the importance of creativity for young children
•	Students demonstrate understanding of inclusive arts in early childhood programs
•	Students understand the aspects of an integrated arts program for all young children
•	Students understand the importance of music, creative movement, drama, and visual art
•	Students realize the importance of creativity, developmentally appropriate processes, assessment, and inclusive teaching
Student Learning Outcomes:  
The university student will:
1.	Explore the theory and practice upon which exemplary arts education is based
2.	Develop understanding of learning theory, creativity, developmentally appropriate practice, reflective teaching, and sensory development in young children
3.	Examine the components that make up a vibrant, inclusive arts program
4.	Explain how to create an integrated arts program in a welcoming physical and social environment in which all children, including those from diverse backgrounds and those with special needs, can be successful
5.	Describe the basic elements and concepts of music, creative movement, drama, and visual art, and present ways to teach these concepts to young children  
6.	Develop activity ideas that demonstrate how to incorporate the theory, creative processing, developmentally appropriate practice, assessment methods, and inclusive teaching methods for the arts
MEANS FOR ASSESSING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OF THE LEARNING OUTCOMES 

Students should login at the beginning of each week to review assignments for the week.  All assignments are due as noted on course calendar unless otherwise announced by the instructor through Blackboard. All assigned work must be word processed and submitted by the due date in order to receive credit.  
 
Assignment	Student
Learning  Outcome(s)	Possible Points	Points Earned	
Weekly Discussions (10 @ 10 points each)	1-6 	100		
Weekly Assignments(10 @ 10 points each)	1-6	100		
Project #1 (Art and the Senses)	6	 50 		
Project #2 (Art Integrated in Curriculum and Culture)	4, 6	 50 		
Project #3 (Music, Movement, Drama, and Imagination)	5, 6	 50		
Two Tests (25 points each)	1-6	 50		
Final Exam	1-6	100		
                                              Total		500		

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to participate in all required instructional activities in their courses. Online courses are no different in this regard; however, participation must be defined in a different manner. Student “attendance” in an online course is defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Instructors in online courses are responsible for providing students with clear instructions for how they are required to participate in the course. Additionally, instructors are responsible for incorporating specific instructional activities within the course and will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for documenting student participation. These mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, participating in a weekly discussion board, submitting/completing assignments in Blackboard, or communicating with the instructor. Students aware of necessary absences must inform the professor with as much advance notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements. Any student absent 25 percent or more of the online course, i.e., non-participatory during 3 or more weeks of an 11-week term, may receive an F for that course. Instructors may also file a Report of unsatisfactory Progress for students with excessive non-participation. Any student who has not actively participated in an online class prior to the census date for any given term is considered a “no-show” and will be administratively withdrawn from the class without record. To be counted as actively participating, it is not sufficient to log in and view the course. The student must be submitting work as described in the course syllabus. Additional attendance and participation policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university.  The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Through reading of the text and current publications, discussion, and instructor/student demonstrations and presentations, students will develop a better understanding of how to foster children’s development by providing a safe, sensory-appealing arts program.  Virtual class time will be interactive, effective instructional practices will be interwoven with explicit teaching of content by the instructor, and students will be active participants throughout the course.

University Grading System:
A	90-100%		Cr	For Credit*	
B	80-89%		NCR	No Credit	
C	70-79%		I	Incomplete**	
D	60-69%		W	Withdrawal	
F	below 60%		X	No grade given	
			IP	In Progress	
	
*A grade of incomplete is changed if the work required is completed prior to the date indicated in the official University calendar of the next long term, unless the instructor designates an earlier date for completion.  If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the “I” is converted to the grade of “F”.  An incomplete notation cannot remain on the student’s permanent record and must be replaced by the qualitative grade (A-F) by the date specified in the official University calendar of the next regular term.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Wayland Baptist University places great value on professionalism. Professionalism is a key component to being an effective early childhood teacher, and this semester is your opportunity to demonstrate professionalism. Professionalism will be expected during class time on campus and especially during your experience in an early childhood setting. Additionally, because it is so important for early childhood teachers to communicate ideas effectively to colleagues, parents/families, and administrators writing clear and error-free English is a priority for students in the Wayland School of Education. Therefore, your ability to express your knowledge of educational concepts and theories within the conventions of academic discourse will be assessed through written assignments. Criteria for evaluation will be based on both content and mechanics.  Integration of information from lectures, readings, discussions, and other experiences will be taken into consideration as will correct and appropriate format and construction.

450 – 500 = A		400 – 449 = B		350 – 399 = C		300 – 349 = D		< 300 = F

Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:  Wayland Baptist University students are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. (Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one's own work.)  
Disciplinary action for academic misconduct is the responsibility of the faculty member assigned to the course. The faculty member is charged with assessing the gravity of any case of academic dishonesty and with giving sanctions to any student involved. Penalties that may be applied to individual cases of academic dishonesty include one or more of the following:
1. Written reprimand.
2. Requirement to redo work in question.
3. Requirement to submit additional work.
4. Lowering of grade on work in question.
5. Assigning the grade of F to work in question.
6. Assigning the grade of F for course.
7. Recommendation for more severe punishment (See WBU Academic Catalog for further information).

Plagiarism – “The attempt to represent the work of another, as it may relate to written or oral works, computer-based work, mode of creative expression (i.e. music, media or the visual arts), as the product of one's own thought, whether the other's work is published or unpublished, or simply the work of a fellow student.  When a student submits oral or written work for credit that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references, and, if verbatim statements are included, through use of quotation marks as well. By placing one’s name on work submitted for credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgements. A student will avoid being charged with plagiarism if there is an acknowledgement of indebtedness.” 
Source: http://www.spjc.cc.fl.us/webcentral/admit/honesty.htm#plag  

IMPORTANT DATES:
Course Begins:  November 13, 2017 
Last day to drop or withdraw without record/Census Date:  December 5, 2017
Last day to ofﬁcially drop or withdraw with “W”:   January 28, 2018 
Last day to ofﬁcially drop or withdraw with “WP/WF”:   February 2, 2018
Winter Term Ends: February 17, 2018

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE/COURSE OUTLINE:
The instructor reserves the right to amend the course outline as needed during the course.
Session/
Date	Content	Chapter Readings	Assignments Due	
MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS	
(1)
November
13-19   	Review Syllabus, Assignments, and Rubrics; Introductions; 
		Due Sunday,  November 19
Weekly Assignment #1
Discussion #1	
November
 20-26	
THANKSGIVING BREAK		
ENJOY!	
(2)
Nov. 27 – 
Dec. 3  	Chapter 1. The Arts and Young Children
	Chapter
1 	Due Sunday,  December 3
Weekly Assignment #2
Discussion #2	
(3)
December 
4-10 	Chapter 2.  Nurturing Creativity	Chapter 2
   	Due Sunday, December 10
Weekly Assignment #3
Discussion #3	
(4)
December
11-17     	Chapter 3.  Artistic Development

Chapter 4. Awakening the Senses
	Chapters 
3 and 4	Due Sunday, December 17
Weekly Assignment #4
Discussion #4
Test #1: Chapters 1-4 (Module 1)	
December 18 – January 1	
CHRISTMAS BREAK		
ENJOY!	
MODULE TWO: TEACHING THE ARTS	
(5)
January 1-7     	Chapter 5. Coming Together Through the Arts
	Chapter 5 	Due Sunday, January 7
Weekly Assignment #5
Discussion #5
Project #1 (Art & the Senses)	
(6)
January 8-14 	Chapter 6. Creating a Place for the Arts
Chapter 7. Introducing the World's Arts
	Chapters 
6 and 7	Due Sunday, January 14
Weekly Assignment #6
Discussion #6
	
(7)
January 15-21     	Chapter 8. Integrating the Arts into the Curriculum
	Chapter 8 	Due Sunday, January 21
Weekly Assignment #7
Discussion #7
Project #2 (Art Integrated)	
MODULE THREE:  EXPLORING THE ARTS	
(8)
January 22-28    	Chapter 9.  Creating Visual Art
Chapter 10. Making Music	Chapters  9 and 10   	Due Sunday, January 28
Weekly Assignment #8
Discussion #8
Test #2: Chapters 5-8 (Module 2)	
(9)
January 29 –
February 4     	 Chapter 11. Moving Creatively
	Chapter 11	Course Evaluation
Due Sunday,  February 4
Weekly Assignment #9
Discussion #9	
(10)
February 5-11      	Chapter 12. Nurturing the Imagination	Chapter 12	Due Sunday, February 11
Weekly Assignment #10
Discussion #10
Project #3 (Music, Movement, Drama, Imagination) 	
(11)
February 
12-17 	 
FINAL EXAM		Due Friday, February 16
FINAL EXAM 
 	
Thank you in advance for your commitment to the content for this course and the development of skills for enhanced skills for the creative arts and young children!