Description
ECS 585 Developmentally Appropriate Instruction Stem Subjects GCU
ECS 585 Full Course Discussions GCU
ECS 585 Topic 1 DQ 1
Discuss the importance of understanding brain development as an early childhood teacher. Support your comments with research, and cite your sources properly.
ECS 585 Topic 1 DQ 2
Discuss how confident you feel teaching STEM concepts. Justify your answer.
ECS 585 Topic 2 DQ 1
Constructivist instruction is not as much about getting the right answer as it is about trying out active processes and being able to communicate and analyze those processes and the thinking and learning that occurred as a result of them. Discuss how you will encourage students to think beyond the right answer.
ECS 585 Topic 2 DQ 2
After reviewing your state’s learning standards for mathematics in the early grades, what areas do you need to research in order to teach those skills? What steps will you take to learn those concepts and skills?
ECS 585 Topic 3 DQ 1
Review the NGSS’s Science and Engineering Practices. Align two practices with two standards and discuss how you would teach the standards.
ECS 585 Topic 3 DQ 2
Students often look to the teacher to tell them the right answer. How can you help your students develop confidence in their own thought processes and promote a scientific identity so they no longer do this? Support your thoughts with research.
ECS 585 Topic 4 DQ 1
Research and discuss two articles that support developing engineering skills in early childhood education. Why is this important for young children?
ECS 585 Topic 4 DQ 2
Engineering seems like a daunting concept for early childhood, but it is really a natural concept for young students. Why is it important to incorporate engineering at the ages of 3-4? How does engineering look different in pre-school as compared to early elementary? Justify your answer.
ECS 585 Topic 5 DQ 1
Technology is a hot topic in the early childhood realm. What is the amount of screen time that a young child should be restricted too? Why is this important information to communicate with parents? How do you familiarize young children with technology while limiting their exposure to screen time?
ECS 585 Topic 5 DQ 2
Not every school or district has equal access to technology. Research and discuss the effects of the lack of available technology in schools. How do you provide enrichment/substitutes for students? How do you communicate with parents?
ECS 585 Topic 6 DQ 1
Discuss the steps you would need to take in order to make your practicum classroom a STEM learning environment. Support your steps with research.
ECS 585 Topic 6 DQ 2
Discuss the role of play in the STEM classroom. Support your thoughts with research.
ECS 585 Full Course Assignments GCU
ECS 585 Topic 1 Building Confidence in STEM Presentation
The brain grows at an amazing rate during development, which makes it so important that we provide young children with the best environment to learn and grow. Too much abstract thinking at a young age could possibly overwhelm a child. It is important to understand how the brain functions at each developmental milestone.
For this assignment, use the topic materials and your own research to create a 15-20 slide digital presentation that can be used during an open house geared toward families of children grades K-3. Be sure to include a title slide, reference slide, and presenter notes.
Your presentation needs to include the following:
- Brain development at each stage in relation to how children learn.
- The significance of constructivism for meaningful learning during the developmental stages of young children.
- The importance of introducing STEM at an early age.
- At least 2-3 family resources about the importance of supporting inquiry and exploration in early childhood.
Support your presentation with 2-3 scholarly resources.
In addition to your presentation, write a 100-250 word reflection in which you discuss your self-confidence as it pertains to STEM education. Explain how you will incorporate STEM concepts into your future classroom. Discuss the significance of professional lifelong learning, especially subjects in the STEM field.
While APA style format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
ECS 585 Topic 2 Clinical Field Experience A: Math Lessons
Select an inclusive K-3 early childhood site where you will complete the field experience required for this course. During the remaining weeks of your clinical field experience you will be working with a small group of students identified by your mentor teacher to help differentiate your mentor teacher’s lesson. If you have permission from your mentor, you will also be asked to implement a lesson or mini-lesson to the class or small group in different areas of STEM.
For this field experience, observe the classroom focusing on math, if possible. If not, observe another STEM area (science, engineering, or technology). Additionally, interview your mentor teacher and include the following questions:
- What is your teaching philosophy for math instruction?
- How do you provide a focus on hands-on practice and thinking mathematically?
- In what way would you embed mathematics learning opportunities in the learning environment, as well as beyond the classroom?
- What tools and resources (including technology) do you use to allow exploration and enhance conceptual understanding?
- How do you incorporate communication as part of thinking mathematically?
- How do you ensure an equal learning opportunity for all students, including those with exceptionalities?
In 250-500 words, summarize and reflect on the interview, including your discussion of strategies and specific examples of hands-on STEM lessons. Discuss how the lesson promoted problem-solving and critical thinking skills for students. Explain how the mentor teacher prompted the importance of communication as part of thinking mathematically. Discuss how the strategies used promote discussion, motivation, and engagement. Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
Support your reflection with 1-2 scholarly resources.
In addition to the above observations, interview, and reflection for this topic, speak with your mentor teacher about assisting during an upcoming science lesson or activity. This will help you prepare for the Topic 3 assignment. With your mentor teacher, identify a small group of students who would benefit from differentiation and engagement strategies during the upcoming science lesson or activity.
Once you have identified the lesson and group you will be assisting with, continue to work with your mentor teacher on the following:
- Identify areas of strengths and potential improvement for the small group.
- Identify which state standards and learning objectives the lesson is focused on.
- Based on the lesson and the group’s characteristics, develop and share with your mentor teacher two differentiation and engagement strategies to utilize during the upcoming lesson or activity, making adjustments where needed.
- Prepare to utilize the identified strategies with the small group during the agreed upon science lesson or activity.
Spend any remaining field experience hours for this topic observing and/or assisting your mentor teacher with instructional tasks in the classroom.
Submit your observation notes, interview notes, and reflection as one deliverable.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form in LoudCloud in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ECS 585 Topic 2 Math Reasoning or Problem Solving Lesson Plan
Math is a strong focus in the STEM curriculum. Education is always changing and the focus of STEM education is increasing across all grade levels. It is important for us as educators to set a mathematical foundation at an early age to inspire student’s interest in math and STEM.
Develop a math lesson plan for your field experience classroom using the “Class Profile” and the “COE Lesson Plan Template.” Begin by selecting a K-3 standard and learning outcomes from your state’s math standards for that grade level. It is highly recommended that you select the same grade level as your practicum classroom and continue to use that grade throughout the course.
Your lesson plan should be completed in its entirety, with a focus on:
- Mathematical instructional practices with learning progression.
- Problem solving or reasoning techniques that promote critical and creative thinking.
- How the students will communicate their thinking.
- Incorporate the use technology.
- As appropriate, concepts discussed with your mentor teacher during the field experience for this topic.
While APA style format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
ECS 585 Topic 3 Clinical Field Experience B Science Lessons
Allocate at least 5 hours in the field to support this assignment.
While your mentor teacher is working with the rest of the class, engage with the small group of students identified in Topic 2 on a science lesson or activity. Use your differentiated and engagement strategies where you see fit.
After the science lesson or activity, in 250-500 words, summarize and reflect upon your experiences being sure to:
- Describe your initial conversation with the mentor teacher, including how the small group was chosen.
- Describe each differentiation and engagement strategy you planned, explaining your choices in relation to the needs of students within the small group.
- Reflect upon your experience using the identified strategies with the small group during the science lesson or activity.
- Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice
In addition to the above activity and reflection, speak with your mentor teacher about assisting during another upcoming lesson to help you prepare for the Topic 4 assignment. This lesson should be an engineering or STEM lesson or activity. With your mentor teacher, decide if you will target the same small group of students or select a new group of students who would benefit from differentiation and engagement strategies during the upcoming engineering or STEM lesson or activity.
Once you have identified the lesson and group you will be assisting, continue to work with your mentor teacher on the following:
- Identify areas of strengths and potential improvement for the small group.
- Identify which state standards and learning objectives the lesson focuses on.
- Based on the lesson and the groups characteristics, develop and share with your mentor teacher two differentiation and engagement strategies to utilize during the upcoming lesson or activity, making adjustments where needed.
- Prepare to utilize the identified strategies with the small group during the agreed upon science lesson or activity.
Spend any remaining field experience hours for this topic observing and/or assisting your mentor teacher with instructional tasks in the classroom.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form in LoudCloud in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ECS 585 Topic 3 Science Lesson Plan
One of the most important goals of education is to teach students to think. Science contributes to this goal with its emphasis on hypothesizing, thinking about the physical world, and reasoning from observations and data. The term science process skills is commonly used to describe such processes and is reflective of the behavior of scientists.
Using the same K-3 grade level as you did in the previous topic, develop a science lesson plan by selecting a standard and learning outcomes from your state’s science standards for that grade level. Use the “Class Profile” and the “5E Lesson Plan Template,” to complete this assignment. As appropriate, incorporate concepts that you discussed with your mentor teacher during the field experience for this topic.
Your lesson plan should be completed in its entirety, with a focus on:
- Problem solving or reasoning techniques.
- Hands-on math and inquiry-based science activities.
- Inquiry-based learning for integrating cross-disciplinary skills and developing meaningful science learning progressions.
- Central concepts and structures of the field, based on science standards.
- Incorporating communication skills into the thinking process.
APA style is not required, solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
ECS 585 Topic 4 Clinical Field Experience C: Field of Engineering Lessons
Allocate at least 5 hours in the field to support this assignment.
While your mentor teacher is working with the rest of the class, engage with the small group of students that was identified in Topic 3 on an engineering or STEM lesson or activity. Use your differentiated and engagement strategies where you see fit.
After the engineering or STEM lesson or activity, in 250-500 words, summarize and reflect upon your experiences being sure to:
- Describe your initial conversation with the mentor teacher, including how the small group was chosen.
- Describe each differentiation and engagement strategy you planned, explaining your choices in relation to the needs of students within the small group.
- Reflect upon your experience using the identified strategies with the small group during the science lesson or activity.
- Discuss how the lesson incorporated engineering into the main content area. What field of engineering did the lesson support?
- Discuss how the mentor teacher may have integrated engineering with math and science together. If there was no integration, how would you integrate these three subject areas?
- Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice
In addition to the above activity and reflection, speak with your mentor teacher about assisting during another upcoming lesson to help you prepare for the Topic 6 assignment. This lesson should be a STEM lesson or activity; preferably one that incorporates technology. With your mentor teacher, decide if you will target the same small group of students, select a new group of students, or if you may teach to the entire class. Ask your mentor teacher which state standards and learning objectives he or she will be using so you can prepare a lesson for the class or small group.
Spend any remaining field experience hours for this topic observing and/or assisting your mentor teacher with instructional tasks in the classroom.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form in LoudCloud in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ECS 585 Topic 4 Engineering Lesson Plan
If you have ever watched children at play, you know they are captivated with building things and taking them apart. In other words, children are natural-born engineers. When children engineer in a school setting it helps them build science, math, and problem solving skills.
Based upon the students in your field experience classroom, revise your math lesson plan from Topic 2 to integrate engineering concepts. Select a grade-appropriate engineering standard using your state’s standards, or standards from the Next Generation Science Standards. Your lesson plan should be completed in its entirety, with a focus on:
- Incorporating developmentally-appropriate general engineering concepts into the instruction and instructional activities.
- Clearly identifying what you would do to support a student with exceptionalities (you may select and identify the student’s exceptionalities on the lesson plan).
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
ECS 585 Topic 5 Benchmark – STEM Unit Plan
When teachers contextualize learning and integrate that context across all subjects, students are typically more engaged in learning and are able to make connections.
For this benchmark assignment, you will create a four day mini-unit by completing the “STEM Unit Plan Template” that integrates science, math, technology, and engineering. Select a K-3 grade level for your unit (preferably the same grade you have been using throughout this course) and one area (science, math, technology, or engineering) to use as the primary content area of focus. Integrate the three remaining content areas into the unit as much as possible. Use your state’s standards to identify the learning goals and targets. Use the “Class Profile” to provide background data on your students.
In your unit be sure to outline lessons that:
- Develop students’ abilities to use the major concepts of the subject area (science, technology, engineering, or math) that you selected for the unit.
- Integrate concepts from the remaining three content areas to help students successfully apply their developing skills.
- Incorporate effective strategies in which students engage in the equitable and appropriate use of digital tools and resources
- Differentiate the instruction based on the needs of the students in the class (as outlined on the “Class Profile”), using developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate teaching and learning strategies
In addition, include a research-based rationale for your instructional choices. In 750-1,000 words, describe the following:
- An explanation of the strategies and resources utilized, including technological tools, for the STEM instruction.
- How you used the data from the “Class Profile” to modify instruction to meet each child’s learning needs and promote positive outcomes.
- How the legal and ethical use of digital information and technology would be modeled in the unit.
Cite 2-3 scholarly resources that support your rationale.
Prepare the rationale portion of the assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
ECS 585 Topic 6 Clinical Field Experience D: Incorporating Technology
Allocate at least 5 hours in the field to support this assignment.
For this field experience, you will teach or assist with the lesson or activity that you and your mentor teacher planned during Topic 4. This should be a STEM lesson or activity, preferably one that incorporates technology to either a whole classroom or to a small group of students that your mentor teacher has chosen.
When teaching your lesson remember to focus on:
- Instructional strategies
- Questioning to promote higher-order thinking
- Differentiation, including accommodations to meet the diverse needs of students
- Assessment
- Creating engagement and promoting discussion
Once you have completed delivering your lesson, discuss the successes and challenges you experienced with your mentor teacher. Ask for feedback and suggestions for future modifications.
Once you have completed your field experience, summarize and reflect upon the lesson in 250-500 words. Identify the areas that went well as well as areas to improve upon, and include the advice given to you by your mentor teacher. Discuss how you incorporated technology into the teaching or learning. If technology was not used, reflect on how you could have incorporated technology into the lesson. In addition, reflect on how this experience will affect your future professional practice.
Spend any remaining field experience hours for this topic observing and/or assisting your mentor teacher with instructional tasks in the classroom.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to LoudCloud in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ECS 585 Topic 6 STEM/STEAM Instructional Tools Chart Plan
As STEM-focused education has been initiated in schools across the United States, some educators are now promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics). The Arts, in this case, can refer not only to creative arts, but also English language arts, liberal arts/social studies, and physical arts/physical education. The focus is on developing the skills of creativity, critical thinking, organization, and real-world application across all content areas.
Part 1: Instructional Tools Chart
Instructional tools are very important when it comes to both engagement and to help with developmental growth. Using the “Instructional Tools Chart,” create a descriptive list of five instructional tools that you would consider using in your field experience classroom to enhance STEM/STEAM.
Part 2: Reflection
In a 250-500 word reflection, highlight how the integration of all content areas creates a stronger foundation for learning. Briefly describe how STEM and STEAM differ from one another, and your personal stance on whether you prefer the use of STEM, STEAM, or both in K-3 education, explaining how the learning environment and individual student needs affect your choice. Reflecting back on the previously created lesson plans you wrote for this course, how would you envision incorporating technology tools and literacy into them?
Support your findings with 2-3 scholarly resources.
Submit the Instructional Tools Chart and the reflection as one submission.
While APA style format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
ECS 585 Topic 6 Clinical Field Experience Verification Form*
Candidates must complete all programmatic requirements, including practicum/field experiences hours defined in their coursework. Additional information about practicum/field experiences can be found on the Student Success Center.
To earn credit for this assignment, all required course hours must be completed and submitted by the assignment due date.
- Access the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form in the My Documents section in the Student Portal.
- Complete all required fields on the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
- Submit by clicking “click to sign.” An email will be sent to the classroom teacher/mentor to complete and verify the practicum/field experiences.
- Communicate with the classroom teacher/mentor to request he or she verify the practicum/field experience. Once verified by the classroom teacher/mentor, an email will be sent to the candidate’s primary email address on file with the final completed document.
- Save a .pdf copy of the completed Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to your computer.
- Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to LoudCloud.
*The data entered into this document is subject to a verification audit. Candidates who engage in fabricating, falsifying, forging, altering, or inventing information related to practicum/field experiences, internships, clinical practice, and/or any associated documentation may be subject to sanctions for violating GCU academic integrity policies, which may include expulsion from GCU.
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