Instructor: Dr. Nancy Coghill                                Office Hours: T-F  9-11 (Nursery School)
Office: 319 Hamilton Hall                                                         T 1-2; W 3-4
Telephone: 482-6576; NS 482-5369                      Other times by appointment.  Appointment
email: ncoghill@louisiana.edu                                recommended for all meetings

UL Lafayette Bulletin course description (2003-05): Growth stages, guidance, and techniques. Observation at UL Lafayette Nursery School Laboratory. 

Text: Rathus, S.A. (2003). Voyages: Childhood and adolescence. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Required Materials:  HUMR 339 Observation Lab Materials Packet

Course Objectives:
(1)  To learn principles of development which influence the child from conception to 5 years.
(2)  To explore and evaluate the history and study of children in early childhood stages.
(3)  To recognize and understand the developmental stages of children conception to 5 years.
(4)  To explore environmental influences on infants and preschool children.
(5)  To apply developmental information to children in the nursery school setting.
(6)  To observe children in an early childhood group setting.

Course instruction methods : Lecture; discussion; demonstration; laboratory observation; video presentation .

Emergency Evacuation Procedures : A map of this floor is posted near the elevator marking the evacuation route and the Designated Rescue Area.  This is an area where emergency service personnel will go first to look for individuals who need assistance in exiting the building.  Students who need assistance should identify themselves to the instructor.

Course Evaluation:  Exams (3)          300 points
                                In-Class Exp.     100
                                Lab (16 hours)      32                     Grades determined on
                                NS Lab reports     50                           90%, 80%, 70%, 60% basis
                                Oral Lab report       8
                                Infant experiences 10
                                Total Points        500
 
Attendance Policy:
     The student is responsible for securing all information and materials from missed classes.  University regulations regarding no tobacco, no eating, no drinking (water excepted) in class will be observed. Students behaving inappropriately will be asked to leave the learning environment.  Beepers and cell phones must be in the silent position throughout the class period.

Exam Make-up:
     Make-up exams will be given only in the case of verified illness.  Make-up exams will be given at the convenience of the instructor.

Assignments:
(1)  Three  exams (100 points each) will be given as scheduled on the course outline.  Exams are multiple choice and short answer application.

(2)  Students will attend the UL Lafayette Nursery School Lab for 16 hours during the semester.  Lab times will be assigned during the first 2 class periods. During all credited observation periods, students must have UL Lafayette Student ID worn visibly.  Student is responsible to complete sign-in/ sign-out procedure at the lab each day of attendance.  Lab time card must remain at the Nursery School to be valid. Lab sessions are in increments of 1 hour (60 minutes).  Students will receive 1 hour of lab credit for 60 minute session or more.  Students will receive 2 hours of lab credit for 120 minutes or more. Observation credit will be received only during the hours of 8:30 through 11:30 daily.  Each student will present an oral report to the class as scheduled in this document.
    Lab observations begin Wednesday, September 1 and will conclude Friday, November 5. Make-up days for students will be held Monday through Friday, November 8-12.  Students may make up a maximum of  2 hours during this time period.

(3)  Students will write a lab report (max.8 double-spaced typed pages). Lab observation journal will be paperclipped to the lab report. This report is due 1:00 p.m. November 17.  No report will be accepted after the due date and time, however, students may submit reports before the due date. The lab report will be written in narrative form and will include the following topics (use these topics as sub-headings in the paper). Lab report must have a title/ name cover page and will be stapled (not enclosed in a plastic cover!!!)
                (1)  Introduction
                (2)  Large Motor Development
                (3)  Fine Motor Development
                (4)  Cognitive Development
                (5)  Language Development
               (6)  Emotional Development
                (7)  Interaction With Peers and Adults
                (8)  Conclusion
                
 (4) Student will select one of the following infant/toddler issues and prepare an informative poster presentation for parents/ caregivers or the general public about the issue.  Evaluation will be based on quality of information (cite sources); usefulness of the information; quality of the presentation (as creativity; readability; design; neatness.....)  Due: 1:00 p.m. October 11.
    (a) Comparative shopping for infant items.  Use no store names, but brand names can be compared between stores. Give prices at discount, general merchandise and specialty stores for the following items: diapers, gowns or sleepers, receiving blankets, sheets, towels, dressy outfit, crib mobile, plus 4 other items (your choice).
    (b) Consumer protection.  Present information about 2 safety issues identified by the CPSC within the past 12 months.
    (c) Infant care. Present pros and cons of various infant care settings (ex. centers, family child care homes, parent care, family member care).
    (d) Immunization. Present information on required (by LA State Health Dept.) infant immunizations (0-24 months). Give information on when, how, why....               

(5)  Students will participate in in-class experiences.  No in-class points may be made-up .  These experiences will include unannounced quizzes and small group work.  Experiences will be worth a maximum of 10 points each.  There will be 12 of these experiences throughout the semester.  Each student's 10 highest scores will be totaled for the In-Class Experience portion of the course grade.