Early Ed Learning Through Play, Johnson, Spring 2025
| Course Number: |
EDX 5710 S66 |
| Instructor: |
Malinda "Lindy" Johnson, M.A. |
| Location: |
In-person at the Kindergarten Conference in Burlington, VT on March 26, 2025 and online. |
|
Dates and Times:
|
Mar 26, 2025 - Jun 07, 2025. Online synchronous meetings from 4:00-5:30 pm on the following dates: April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20, and June 3. |
| Credits: |
3 Graduate Credits |
Tuition:
|
$1,195 |
Course Description
This course is designed to extend and build upon participants’ understanding of how children construct knowledge through play. Students will attend the VT Kindergarten Conference to learn about and determine a content direction and then continue their learning through virtual coursework. Application of learning will be demonstrated through lesson implementation and assessment. Lessons will include learning through play that is self-directed as well as adult guided.
Audience: Early childhood educators with an earned bachelor’s degree
Course Goals & Objectives
Course Goals:
- Focus on a strand (or strands) from the conference to research, design a unit of study, and implement lessons/activities with early childhood students.
- Use active instructional strategies that provide space for children to explore, encourage curiosity, creativity, and active communication through play.
- Redesign classroom space(s) to facilitate guided and self play opportunities that allow independence and cooperation.
- Evaluate and assess student learning throughout implementation of the lesson(s).
Course Objectives:
- Students will design and revise lessons that incorporate play to meet standards for learning.
- Students will modify (as needed) learning spaces to facilitate cooperative play opportunities.
- Students will intentionally plan instruction with child and adult guided play included in design and implementation.
- Students will evaluate learning outcomes in relation to standards using observation and student work to determine the effectiveness of lessons.
Required Texts
Required texts are not included in the course tuition.
Masterson, M.L., & H. Bohart, eds. 2019. Serious Fun: How Guided Play Extends Children’s Learning. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
Other readings will be provided by the instructor.
For additional course information
Lindy Johnson, (802) 793-7454
For additional registration information
Center for Schools Team (802) 468-1325