The Early Childhood Personnel Center

This sample syllabus provides ideas for resources, activities, readings, and assignments, aligned with the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators (2020) and DEC Recommended Practices (2014). Consider state and university policies and add them as appropriate. This is a sample only and is not a complete syllabus; nor is it intended to suggest that the Standard would be addressed in only one course in the curriculum.

Sample Syllabus Standard 7: Professionalism and Ethical Practice

Learning Activities

The projects or assignments require learners to apply the practices/skills related to Standard 7: Professional and Ethical Practice. Since these are application activities, they most align with the evidence-based practices for adult learners of authentic learning, reflection, guidance, performance feedback, and follow-up activities. The sample learning activities are organized by the four components for Standard 7.

Issues in the EI/ECSE Profession

Select one issue or trend in the EI/ECSE profession. Search the recommended peer-reviewed journals and locate three research-based articles and two practitioner-based articles that discuss the selected issue/trend. Create an annotated bibliography for each selected source. Each annotation should include the main points of the source and a reflection on how the source fits with your thoughts about the selected issue/trend. Use APA formatting for your references.

EI/ECSE Professional Association/Technical Assistance Websites

Visit the websites below for professional organizations and technical assistance centers specific to EI/ECSE. Each is included in the list of websites in the syllabus. Review each website and the links that are relevant to you as a current or future professional in EI/ECSE.

• Council for Exceptional Children
• Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
• Early Childhood Personnel Center
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Zero to Three

Respond to the following:

• Identify two of the websites that seem to be most relevant to you currently
• Identify 2-3 links from each website that would be most helpful to you now
• For each of the two websites, provide a brief paragraph explaining how you would use the information from the website and the selected links now

Self-Reflection and Professional Growth Plan

Plan a small group activity in which you will use naturalistic and systematic instructional practices. Record yourself implementing the activity. Watch the video and complete both the Naturalistic Instructional Practices Checklist and the Systematic Instructional Practices Checklist.

Review the results and identify one practice from each checklist that you want to improve. Develop a Professional Growth Plan (PGP) using the two practices you identified. Include the following in your PGP:

• One goal and one objective per practice
• An activity or activities in which you will engage to improve each practice
• The person(s) responsible (i.e., you and anyone else that you may ask to assist in some way such as an observer)
• Resources needed (e.g., video vignettes demonstrating the practice)
• One or two outcome/s per practice (e.g., what will happen because of improved practice)

Advocacy Journal

Create an advocacy journal and document your advocacy journey during the course. Seek out experiences that expand on course topics, support the use of evidence-based and recommended practices, and involve advocating for improved outcomes for young children, families, and the EI/ECSE profession.