Level 1: 3 graduate credits
Introduction to Reggio inspired practice
In the Level 1 course students will 1) be introduced to the basic structure of a Reggio inspired practice 2) theories influencing the approach 3) guiding principles 4) documentation and analysis of video footage 5) documentation panels - through practical hands-on experience of creating panels from documentation of children in an early childhood classroom 6) the development of emergent curriculum - which we will practice in the 5-day seminar.

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Level 1 Course Objectives:
1) Students will learn the elements of a Reggio inspired practice.
2) Students will learn to use documentation to develop constructivist curriculum extensions centered on their own experiential encounters with creative arts materials.
3) Through practical experience students will all have the opportunity of setting up an environment that provokes the learning and inquiry of peers.
4) Through the practical experience of observing a wide range of video footage students will effectively analyze children’s play and develop constructivist curriculum extensions.
5) Through evening readings and group discussions students will gain a knowledge base of the “constructivist” theories that are central to a Reggio inspired negotiated curriculum.
6) Many experiential hours with materials will provide students with first hand knowledge of the role that materials and environment play in the early childhood classroom.
7) Students will develop competence in the creation of a documentation panel.
8) Throughout, dialogues will incorporate the principles of constructivist theorists that include Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky, Mead, and others. The principles of disequilibrium, co-construction, negotiation, transformation, and scaffolding will be discussed thoroughly. Level 1 Course Evaluation Methods:

Assessment will be a combination of self-reflection and facilitator’s reflection on:
1) Participation in discussion & activities during the seminar week
2) The Reflective Journal
3) The Research Paper
During the seminar week the group will establish goals and criteria for learning and self-evaluation that they will continue to refine individually (with the guidance of the instructor) and as a group.

Requirements

Residence: One-week seminar at the school with presentations & group discussion, as well as plenty of opportunity for classroom observation.

Reading: Combination of readings on theory, practice, reflection, and criticism of the approach.

Reflective Journal (Interfaces with Practicum, i.e., teaching internship, integrating learning into existing teaching practice, (other?): Log of how the reading and learning is of direct influence to your professional development and/or daily practice to be turned in by the end of semester. The journal must include documentation and reflective analysis / discussion. It will include visual media (drawing / photos or video stills). Include: 1) reading in the area of child development 2) documentation on the areas of development of 4 children using the running record and documentation methods learned in the weeklong seminar and receive: Child Development credits towards certification)
Note: Students will receive online feedback of journals 2x this semester.

Research Paper: To be turned in by the end of the semester. Students can conference online with instructor as paper progresses.
Option 1) An in-depth paper that critically reflects on the many aspects of Reggio inspired practice.
Option 2) A series of critical essays on specific aspects of Reggio inspired practice.

Syllabus / Week Long Seminar – Level 1
Note: Documentatation (D) of the events will continually occur in any number of forms: Video recordings (V); Audio recordings (A); Written records (W); Graphic records (G).

Wednesday
8:30 Exploration / Encounter with materials and others
9:30 Greeting / Course Expectations
11:00 Identifying student knowledge & goals with Signs (symbols)
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Discussion of student knowledge & goals in relation to the
guiding principles of negotiated, emergent curriculum
2:30
or
3:00 Morning Exploration continued
4:00 Analysis of Documentation of the Morning’s “Encounter”
One group will use the analysis to develop a provocation for the next
day’s encounter with materials
5:15 Closing with evaluation of the day

Thursday
8:30 Exploration / Encounter
The group’s exploration will be organized around the provocation of
Group 1.
9:30 Discussion: The Image of the Child as rich in resources, strong, and competent: Theoretical Background of Reggio inspired Practice
11:00 Exercise: Developing Non-video forms of on-the-spot Documentation on-the-spot / from video footage
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Curriculum Development from data collected in earlier exercise
4:00 Analysis of “Encounter” Documentation
Next group will develop provocation for Friday’s encounter.
5:15 Closing with evaluation of the day

.
Friday
8:00 Meet at Brattleboro Center / Leave for assigned Preschool Observations in local RE inspired preschools
2:00 Discuss Preschool Observations
Group will meet back at VC to discuss the morning observations. The Reggio principle that “the environment is the 3rd teacher” will frame this discussion.
3:00 Exploration / Encounter of the day
4:00 Analysis of “Encounter” Documentation
Next group will develop provocation for Saturday’s encounter.
5:15 Closing with evaluation of the day

Saturday
8:30 Exploration / Encounter
9:30 Introducing Documentation Panels
Students will be introduced to the guidelines and criteria for creating a documentation panel.
11:00 Creating Documentation Panels
Participants will divide into small groups to create two panels:
Using the documentation of children provided by the facilitator
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Creating Documentation Panels continued
Groups Review of panels, with discussion follows
4:00 Analysis of “Encounter” Documentation
. Next group will develop provocation for Saturday’s encounter.
5:15 Closing with evaluation of the day

Sunday
9:00 Questioning & the Co-Constructed Learning Process
Viewing video footage of children and teachers in a Reggio inspired classroom accompanying dialogue and development of principles for questioning children.
10:30 Exploration / Encounter
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Closure
This discussion will provide the group the opportunity to identify the
elements of the provocation, documentation, exploration/encounter,
experience that aided problem-solving, creativity, learning, collaboration – all essential elements of a negotiated “constructivist” curriculum that is Reggio inspired. Here students can share their morning creations, reflections of the week, and the ways in which their study of a negotiated curriculum will directly impact their teaching practice.
3:00 Sign out and fill out evaluations

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InnovativECE: Exploring the Essence of Reggio Inspired Practice

4 Course Overview & Contacts

Online Courses
Level 1: Online

Level 2: Online

Level 3: Online

Level 4: Online