EAD308 - History & Philosophical Traditions in ECE

Subject Title
History & Philosophical Traditions in ECE

Subject Description

An understanding of the historical and philosophical traditions of the field will help students build on past success and develop their own critical understanding of this field. Both the Eastern and Western traditions will be explored, including but not limited to African, Meso-American, Pre-Columbian North American, Chinese, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and the Greek, Roman, Medieval periods, the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, and the pre- and post- Industrial Revolution period leading to contemporary education. This course explores the multi-dimensional definition of philosophy and education, and their purpose as well as branches of philosophy (metaphysics/ontology, epistemology, axiology, ethics), schools of philosophy (idealism, realism, pragmatism, existentialism, behaviorism), and educational philosophies (perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, reconstructionism/critical pedagogy, postmodernism, existentialism, holism, behavioral engineering).

Credit Status
EAD 308 is a required subject in the Bachelor of Child Development.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

1. Define and describe (through written work and classroom discussions) various traditions in philosophy including branches of philosophy (metaphysics/ontology, epistemology, axiology, ethics), schools of philosophy (idealism, realism, pragmatism, existentialism, behaviorism), and educational philosophies (perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, reconstructionism/critical pedagogy, postmodernism, existentialism, holism, behavioral engineering).
2. Outline the ways in which various philosophical branches and schools compare and contrast with each other.
3. Describe the cultural and contextual historical influences that philosophers had during different points in history (Greek, Roman, Medieval periods, the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, and the pre- and post- Industrial Revolution period).
4. Describe the ways in which various branches of philosophy are applied in an ECE setting.
5. Distinguish between various educational philosophies and explain and describe their use in contemporary educational settings.
6. Deconstruct contemporary educational approaches using reconstructionism and critical pedagogy.
7. Predict the direction in which postmodernism may steer ECE.
8. Synthesize Eastern and Western traditions of education in order to address the needs of a multicultural, diverse, and global society.
9. Illustrate the ways in which young children are able to use philosophy in their learning.
10. Modify and adapt educational philosophies in order to articulate an individualized philosophical approach to teaching and learning.
11. Interpret, critique, and summarize assigned readings.
12. Formulate arguments against and/or defenses for particular philosophical stances.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.