Course Description: E590 Parent Involvement for the 21^st Century 2(3 credits): To increase and enhance the student's knowledge and understanding of young children and their families and the issues, concerns, and questions surrounding parent/family involvement in varied settings.

Throughout this course, we will examine four facets of Early Childhood Education. These facets will include:

1. defining or clarifying responses, beliefs, and commitments;
2. following current issues pertaining to families from local to state to national to international levels;
3. developing, nurturing, and maintaining relationships with colleagues at age or grade level, within the school or center, throughout the program, agency, or district, and in the profession; and
4. renewing or creating partnerships "in the best interest" of young
   children and their families for now and beyond this time.

Galinsky, Ellen (1999). Ask the Children: What America's Children Really Think about Working Parents. New York: William Morrow and Company
(ISBN:0-688-14752-6).
Special Note: Purchase through  http://www.amazon.com/  or
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

1. E-mail /Internet access either home or through the Indiana University

   All IUPUI students must have IUPUI Network ID in order that we can complete the electronic assignments (i.e., Chat and Oncourse).  To get an IUPUI Network ID go http:// www.iupui.edu/~support/email.html  to create a  NETWORK ID. If you have a problem, you can call 317-274 -HELP (Support Center) or send an e-mail message (support@iupui.edu) for written assistance.

   For Bloomington and University of Southern Indiana students,  go to  http://accounts.usc.indiana.edu/starter to create an  IU Bloomington  NETWORK ID in order to complete the electronic assignments (i.e., Oncourse).  If you have a problem, you can call  812/ 855-6789 (Help Desk) or send an e-mail  message (ithelp@indiana.edu) for written assistance.

2. All assignments must be typed using at least a 12 point font size. Acceptable  Word Processing programs are Word for Windows  98 or 2000 or  a text file (ASCII). If you have any other word processing program, please consult with Dr. Blackwell.

In this course the major responsibility for learning will be shared by the students and the instructor. What is gained from this experience will depend upon our willingness to explore issues, ask questions, and share ideas and new research. Therefore, as a result of active participation in this class, each student will be able to:

1. create a clearer knowledge and understanding of young children and their families;
2. become better acquainted with the critical issues impacting parent/ family involvement and Early Childhood Educators;
3. explore the relationship between parent/ family involvement and programs for young children;
4. explore creative approaches to developing, refining, and supporting relationships with families from diverse communities (the influence of culture);
5. identify ways to connect novice, experienced, and seasoned Early Childhood Educators with regard to working with young children and their families (paradigm shift);
6. investigate the concerns, issues, questions, and controversies pertaining parent/family involvement and the education of young children and their families;
7. use the Internet as a research tool in order to pursue his or her own questions about family involvement and the teaching and learning process; and
8. construct and develop a better understanding of the role parent/ family involvement in Early Childhood Education and its place in the larger educational continuum.

1. Regularly attend class. Actively participate in class discussions/debates and share your readings. Remember you are entitled to your own perspective for all issues discussed; however, come prepared with evidence of a thoughtful approach to the varied issues.
2. Read one journal article or a book chapter as preparation for each class. Prepare a short summary of your reading. Bring at least one written question for the main discussion topic as your contribution to our weekly small group activities. Include this question at the bottom of your weekly written summary to be collected at the end of each class.
   Special Note: E-mail your question for the next week's topic by NOON Tuesday. Students, enrolled at campuses outside Indianapolis, can send their summaries as attachments for the e-mail.
3. Complete all assignments on time. All assignments must be typed using at least 12-point letter size. Late assignments will receive a ten-point penalty for every week after the due date.
4. More than three (3) absences from scheduled class meetings, except for storms, school/job-related issues, and illness/surgery, will result in a ten-point reduction in the final grade for this course.

The traditional A, B, C, D, and F grading system will be applied to this course. Evaluation of each assignment will include the following:

1. quality of thought, creativity, and effort
2. clarity of expression,
3. mechanics of the written product, and
4. adherence to the specified guidelines/ structure.

*Plus or minus may be applied to any grade as a message of overall quality of the assignment

In order that we can become better acquainted as a group, each class session will begin with a short sharing time. Students may share hopes, desire, thoughts, ambitions, challenges and opportunities during this time. The professor, also, will participate in this segment of the class.

NEWS-- Checking the World around Us--

Review the news from the past or current week. Highlight international, national, regional, state, and local stories/issues. Explore the following newspapers:

Weekly magazines such as Time, Newsweek, US News and World Report, and your choice can offer interesting perspectives regarding the families.

As a result of reading the newspapers and magazines, share your perceptions of the issues confronting educators, families, young children, general public, and our world. Generate one or two short question(s) to prime the class discussion pump.

Electronic Sharing: Turning A New Page While Making Connections Weekly Sharing

Using e-mail as the tool for journal writing, the students will highlight the (1) questions raised, (2) impact of class, (3) discoveries or confirmations about family involvement and young children and Early Childhood Education, (4) changes in their thinking, and/or (5) any unanswered questions. This assignment should be done once a week. Dr. Blackwell will respond to your entries. Electronic journal writing reduces the amount of paper and provides opportunities for students to share privately and freely their inner thoughts, concerns, joys, and anxieties with the instructor. Be sure to send your message by Monday of each week in order to get a response by Wednesday morning. Questions can be sent at any time and will be answered throughout the week.