Course Description
Examination of significant theories in early childhood and elementary education research, constructs used in those theories, and current philosophical and empirical work drawing on those theories. Readings in the course will include texts drawn from philosophy, developmental and social psychology, socio-cultural theories, critical theories, and poststructural/postmodern/literary theories.
Athena Title
Rsch Pers Early Child and EDEL
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EDEL 8030E, EDEC 8030E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
a. Students will be able to describe and compare significant theories used to inform early childhood and elementary education research, write appropriate research questions for various theories, and discuss seminal studies in early childhood and elementary education drawing on various theories. b. Students will be able to analyze and critique current research in early childhood and elementary education in a variety of ways, including addressing the significance of the question being posed, describing historical answers to similar questions, and articulating relationships between theories, topics and methods. c. Students will be able to describe significant topics and questions in early childhood and elementary research and areas in the field requiring further study.
Topical Outline
a. Perspectives in developmental and social psychology (e.g., Piaget, Vygotsky) b. Current research in early childhood and elementary education drawing on psychological perspectives c. Perspectives in socio-cultural, cultural and activity theories (e.g., Geertz, Hymes, Rogoff) d. Current research in early childhood and elementary education drawing on socio-cultural and activity theories e. Perspectives in critical theories f. Current research drawing on critical theories in early childhood and elementary education g. Perspectives in poststructural/postmodern/literary theories (i.e., Bakhtin, Foucault) h. Current research drawing on poststructural/postmodern/literary theories i. Exploring early childhood and elementary education research projects in relation to other fields (e.g., mathematics, literacy, special education, etc.) j. Characterizing current questions and research projects in early childhood and elementary education