Play in Development and Early Childhood Education | Enroll Anytime Online Course
Dive into the world of play-based learning with T&L 526 and explore the connection between play and cognitive, physical, and social-emotional growth in children aged 0-8.
T&L 526 is a graduate-level course. In order to register for the course, you must hold a bachelor’s degree and meet the UND Graduate School's admissions requirements.
| Course Title | T&L 526: Play in Development and Early Childhood Education |
|---|---|
| Credits | 3 graduate credits |
| Pre-requisite | Acceptance to UND Grad School as a degree or non-degree seeking student. |
| Format | Online - Self-Paced Enroll Anytime |
| Estimated time to complete | Up to 9 Months |
| Cost | Graduate tuition is $528.36 per credit. There is a one time non-refundable UND application fee of $35 for non-UND students registering for their first UND course. All graduate students, including non-degree seeking students, must also pay a graduate student enrollment fee of $185 in their first semester at UND. Visit the Costs & Aid page for more information. |
Why take the Play in Development and Early Childhood Education Course?
This course explores the role of play in cognitive, physical and social-emotional development, and the way in which play is incorporated into educational and other programmatic settings. Students will explore how assessment of play indicates a child's development, and they will use assessment to promote Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) for PreK-Grade 3 (ages 0-8) learners.
Throughout this course, you’ll explore play theories and how play functions as a window into a child's learning and growth in various developmental domains, such as motor skills, cognitive abilities, and emotional regulation. Additionally, the course emphasizes the role of culture and technology in children’s play, giving you the tools to incorporate inclusive and culturally responsive approaches to supporting play. You will also learn about how play can support children with special needs and children in diverse environments, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
You have up to 9 months from your enrollment date to complete 13 lessons. During the course you will complete various types of assignments, which include readings, quizzes, written analysis of videos, and critiques of articles.There are no proctored exams in the course.
Lesson Topics
- Lesson 1: Introduction
- Lesson 2: Meaning of Play
- Lesson 3: Play as Development & Theories of Play
- Lesson 4: Observing and Assessing Play
- Lesson 5: Supporting Play for Infants and Toddlers
- Lesson 6: Screen Usage in Early Childhood
- Lesson 7: Play as a Valued DAP
- Lesson 8: Supporting Play for Preschool Children
- Lesson 9: Supporting Play in Kindergarten
- Lesson 10: Supporting Play in Primary Ages & Supporting Play for Children with Special Needs
- Lesson 11: STEM Activities
- Lesson 12: Outdoor Play
- Lesson 13: Reflection
Meet the Professor
Required Textbooks
- Sluss, D.J. (2019). Supporting play in early childhood: Environment, curriculum, assessment (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage. ISBN: 9781337568036
- Masterson, L. & Bohart, H. (Eds.). (2019). Serious Fun: How Guided Play Extends Children’s Learning. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). ISBN: 978-1938113390
- Fantozzi, V.B. (2022). Digital Tools for Learning, Creating, and Thinking. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). ISBN: 9781952331046
How will the course appear on my transcript?
You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course.
The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered
for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken
during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online
or that you completed it at your own pace.
Consult the table on our How Enroll Anytime Courses Work page for a current listing of Enroll Anytime Registration Dates and the semester
information that will appear on a UND transcript.
Why Take Online Classes at UND?
Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:
- Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
- Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
- Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.
Flexible 100% Online Course
You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.
Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.
