Place-Based Knowledge

Welcome to ECED 410/510 Place-Based Knowledge

On this page, you will find our course overview, syllabus, information about your instructor, and Portland State University Policies. You can access the Weekly Course Content from the class dropdown menu.

Course materials will be available on Monday mornings each week from Monday to Sunday. Most students find that they need to visit the Google site several times a week to view readings and videos and access the Zoom links for class.

We are excited to be in this learning community with you all!

As always, let us know if you have any questions or need support to complete our classwork online.

Carrie and Sara

Undergraduate Class

ECED 410

TOP: Place Based Knowledge

CRN

Graduate Class Class

ECED 410

TOP: Place Based Knowledge

CRN

Class Overview

Course Description

This online class is for those interested in working with young children, 0-5 years. It will support students in relationships from an indigenous perspective as early childhood educators. Guided by Indigenous research and methodology principles, we will focus on relationships with each other, relationships in the community, place, land, spirituality, and children. The class follows the oral traditions of storying as a model of engagement.

Course Background

This course is an outgrowth of the Indigenous First Steps Project, a community collaborative

project designed to promote culturally specific early learning programs for Native children in the State of Oregon. The primary aim of the project is to develop a community-designed 12-credit Early Childhood Professional Development Certificate that will focus on Native language, culture, histories, knowledges, and both written and oral stories from Native communities for recovering and sustaining lifeways and lessons that serve to address contemporary issues.

Acknowledgment

Portland State is located on the traditional homelands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Watlala bands of the Chinook, the Tualatin Kalapuya, and many other indigenous nations of the Columbia River. We acknowledge the ancestors of this place and understand that we are here because of the sacrifices forced upon them. By recognizing these communities, we honor their legacy, their lives, and their descendants.

Welcome to the Online Classroom

You will see a drop-down menu each week. Our courses are formatted to be easy to navigate.

Instructor notes - an overview of key concepts for the week
Readings & Resources - these are the materials you will read and explore for the week. Materials include readings, websites, and videos. You will generally need to read and digest these materials prior to posting your discussion.
Class Meetings and/or Flipgrid - Much of our class time is connected to the Class meetings or Flipgrids, where we come together to share ideas. Since the Flipgrids represent the classroom component of our online learning, it is important to remember to check back frequently. Much like you would not say your piece and then get up and leave a live class, we don't share our Flipgrids and then not check back for the week. Responsibilities in the Flipgrids include developing your posts, watching others, and responding to selected posts meaningfully.

Meet Your Instructor

Sara Koyano, M.S. , She/Her(s)

Sara was born in Canyonville, Oregon, and is a citizen of the Nahánkʰuotana (Cow Creek People) with Cree, Kalapuya, and Cow Creek ancestry along with French and Scots-Irish.

Sara is a current PSU education leadership doctoral student who earned her master's in inclusive early childhood education from PSU in 2019. In addition to being adjunct faculty at PSU, and UCC, Sara is involved in the PSU Indigenous First Steps research projects. She has worked as a human services case manager, a preschool teacher, and as a mental health therapist with young children.

Most recently, she has been engaged in youth prevention/wellness and opioid education in her local community. Sara has a special interest in education, Indigenous issues, disability, mental health, and substance use. Since September 2023, she has been learning the Nahánkʰuotana traditional language, Takelma.

Sara lives in Roseburg, Oregon on Nahánkʰuotana Traditional Territory with her husband, two of her children (ages 13 and 19), a dog, a bunny, five cats, and six chickens. She loves spending time outdoors enjoying the beauty of the Umpqua Valley and also loves spending time with her family and working in her garden. Sara is the mom of five (Jessie, Zack, Payton, Bailey, and Carly) and the grandma of two (Tyson, and Enzo).

Carrie Green, M.Ed.

She/Her(s)

Email: @pdx.edu

Office Hours: By appointment

Carrie E. Green, Klamath Tribal Member, M.Ed., Infant Toddler Mental Health Masters Certificate, Certified Yoga Calm Instructor and RYT-200. Carrie has over 30 years of experience working with children and families. She currently is an Adjunct Teacher with PSU Indigenous First Steps program and also an Instructional Coach with the Preschool for All program for Mount Hood Community College Child Care Resource and Referral. Previously she was an Early Learning Manager for the Native American Youth and Family Center creating Early Head Start, Head Start and summer camps for our youth transitioning into kindergarten. In addition, she spent 13 years with Neighborhood House working in the Child Care Improvement Project as a Network Coordinator working with in-home childcare providers.

She also worked in the Early Head Start Program as the Health and Education Coordinator and in the Parent Child Development Center as a Parent Educator. She has many years as a preschool teacher and is passionate about creating environments that foster healthy growth and development. Carrie was a student teacher for third and sixth graders as she finished her Master’s degree of Education at Portland State University in 2011. At the same time, she worked to complete the Masters Certificate for the Infant Toddler Mental Health Program.

Carrie is also the Mother of two amazing children, who identify as Afro-Indigenous. Her 19-year-old daughter, Aslan, who is currently attending Yale University and a fifteen-year-old son, Jude, who attends Ida B. Wells Barnett High School. As a family they love to practice their traditional ceremonies, practice yoga, walk their puppy and spend time with family friends, and community.

PSU University Information

ACCESS AND INCLUSION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

PSU values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to fostering mutual respect and full participation for all students. My goal is to create a learning environment that is equitable, useable, inclusive, and welcoming. If any aspects of instruction or course design result in barriers to your inclusion or learning, please notify me. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides reasonable accommodations for students who encounter barriers in the learning environment.

If you have, or think you may have, a disability that may affect your work in this class and feel you need accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center to schedule an appointment and initiate a conversation about reasonable accommodations. The DRC is located in 116 Smith Memorial Student Union, 503-725-4150.

If you already have accommodations, please contact me to make sure that I have received a faculty notification letter and to discuss your accommodations.
Students who need accommodations for tests and quizzes are expected to schedule their tests to overlap with the time the class is taking the test.
For information about emergency preparedness, please go to the Fire and Life Safety web page for information.

University and Course Policies

Place Based Knowledge IFS Syllabus S-24 410-510.docx

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