Introductory Information

I want to share my teaching philosophy with you since this directly influences how I have designed this course:

Higher education should be the leader in “questioning the status quo, challenging paradigms and openly practicing new ways of living, thinking, teaching, and learning” (Moore, 2005, p. 78). I want child development learners to transform from being defined by society’s roles and identities to creating themselves within the context of society (Baxter-Magolda, 2004); from passive recipients to creators of knowledge (Cranton, 1994; Mezirow, 1991); from a reliance on experts to making informed judgments based on their own experiences (Cranton, 1994; Mezirow, 1991). Learners develop the skills necessary to function effectively in a diverse society by being engaged in emancipatory learning developed through critical reflection, learner empowerment, a sense of community, and the acknowledgement of individual differences in ways of knowing. Learning, then, is most affected by the conscious, informed actions of the educator in the learning environment where connection is achieved by valuing learners as knowers, incorporating learners’ own experiences into the learning process, and defining learning as the process of socially constructing meaning. 

In a nutshell, this means that I have structured this course from a learner-centered approach that focuses on supporting your learning. I am not here to tell you the 'right' answer; I am here to provide an environment where you can explore the course content based on your current knowledge and use the learning opportunities to develop your interests in adult supervision and mentoring. For this reason, this class is organized differently from what you may be used to and this might cause some confusion or discomfort. Please take time during the first week and throughout the course to familiarize yourself with the course requirements and assignments. If you have general questions, you can post them to the Questions and Answers forum so all students can benefit from the question and answer - often another student will be able to answer your question or share how they addressed the concern. If you have questions that pertain specifically to you, you can email or message me directly. 

Modules

Our course is structured into modules. I have the course broken down into 16 modules, 1 week each. The modules are visible, however, the content for each consecutive week will not be available until the Monday morning each module opens. Each module will begin with an introductory page, labeled Start Here. This will provide you with information about the module, the objectives, related assignments, etc. 

Navigation

One of the nice features about Canvas is more seamless navigation! Once you open the introductory page, you can click through the following pages using the "next" button at the bottom of the page. I have included additional links that you can go through consecutively, or you can go back to the Module - Start Here page and select each one yourself. 

Be Organized

There are some great ways to stay organized built into Canvas. The calendar features color coded assignments and other requirements to each course you are taking. You might also want to print out the Class Schedule for a quick reference to chapter readings, and an overview of the work we'll do each week. 

Workload

This course is not "work at your own pace". Online courses give students the freedom to log-in and participate in the course with flexibility, however, there are some basic requirements that you must meet throughout the module. I have made the assignments available right from the beginning of the course, so that you can be aware of them, and, if you wish, begin to work on them in advance.  If you do work ahead on assignments, you will need to be sure you're including the content and knowledge from the associated modules. While you can begin to work on assignments before they are due, you will not be able to submit them until the module they are assigned. Again, look at the Class Schedule to see when each assignment is due. 

This is a 3-unit course. You should expect to spend about 9-10 hours a week on reading, participating in discussions, and completing assignments.

Working with Diverse Peers

Each of us brings our own unique experiences and learning abilities to this course, and each of us needs support in different ways in order to be our best. Listen, accept, and respect other people's experiences, feelings, and thoughts. When strong feelings are expressed, it is important to 1) validate this is the way someone is feeling, 2) support them in working through/with the feeling rather than suppressing it, fixing it, or trying to talk them out of it, and 3) help people do the work tasks regardless of the feelings.  

Pronto

Pronto is an instant messaging tool integrated into Canvas. I encourage you to use Pronto to connect with your classmates and to ask for help from each other. 

Getting the Right Help When You Need It

Learning is not a solitary experience! It's social - learning happens only in relationship and with communication. It is important to know when and where to reach out to others to get help with your learning.

Using the Introductory Information drop down menu, be sure to read through the Student Resources, Course Essentials, Course Expectations, Participation Policies, Grading Guidelines, and Canvas and Technical Support. These resources will help you to be prepared for this semester.