Location: 

Various; distance learning format.

Length: 

Varies; self-study.

Dates: 

September 2018 – Present.

Instructional delivery format: 

Hybrid course/exam

Learner Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: list and describe the three social settings named in this course; explain the term ‘parent’ and recognize different parenting styles; recognize the benefits and processes associated with placing children with disabilities in regular education classrooms; distinguish between signs of neglect, abuses and how to deal with them; outline and describe the various influences attributed to the three social settings, namely home, community, and school on the overall development of the child; and appraise and compare the different communication strategies for establishing and maintaining collaborative relationship and partnership among schools, communities, and families

Instruction: 

Family, school, and community collaboration is the key to addressing the alarming rate of school dropout while also fostering higher educational aspirations. This fact holds true for students at both the elementary and secondary level and is regardless of the parents’ education, family income or background. In this course, students explore the effects of social settings on children’s lives, including home, school, and the community.  Students examine the different roles of parents and how cultural patterns and outside influences differ among families, which are necessary components for teachers in fostering collaborative connections with the different family types. The roles of teachers as protectors against abuses such as bullying, federal laws behind inclusive practices for children with disabilities, and how teachers aid in supporting families will be explored. Students also analyse strategies in establishing both communicative and collaborative relationships among the three social settings (family, school, and community).

Credit recommendation: 

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Education (8/18).