Creating Learning Environments for Early Childhood Education, Erickson, Fall 2025

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S12
Instructor:	Mallory Erickson, M.Ed.
Location:	Online. Remote Asynchronous (fully online without scheduled meeting times.)
Dates and Times:	Oct 06 - Nov 29, 2025
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	$1,195

Course Description

This course is designed to help students explore early childhood environments and curriculum that will enhance the learning and development of young children. It focuses on creating healthy, safe, and emotionally supportive environments that facilitate and promote learning in a variety of areas - literacy, math, science, art, music, play, etc.

Audience: PreK-12 educators who have a Bachelor's degree

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

1. Discuss the importance of an emotionally supportive and equitable classroom environment.
2. Establish a context for learning through play-based curriculum.
3. Design an effective learning environment.
4. Explain the importance of dramatic play, manipulative, sensory, block and building, literacy, science, math, art, and music centers.

Course Objectives:

1. Describe the appropriate materials needed and placement of each learning center.
2. Integrate technology into the classroom, focusing on age appropriateness.
3. Explain the value of outdoor environments.
4. Discuss the challenges when creating space for families, teachers, and sharing space.

Course Schedule

Week 1: The Importance of Establishing a Learning Environment

Read chapters 1 and 2

Discussion board

Online Exam

Week 2: Establishing a Context for Learning and a Play-Based Curriculum

Read chapters 3 and 4

Discussion board

Online Exam

Week 3: Effective Environments, Design Considerations, and Literacy Centers

Read chapter 5, 6 and 10

Discussion board

Online Exam

Week 4: Developing Manipulative, Sensory, Science, and Math Centers

Read chapters 8, 11 and 12

Discussion board

Online Exam

Assignment #1

Week 5: Developing Block, Building, and Dramatic Play Centers

Read chapters 7 and 9

Discussion board

Online Exam

Week 6: Developing Art and Music Centers

Read chapters 13 and 14

Discussion board

Online Exam

Week 7: Integrating Technology and Special Interest Centers

Read chapter 15 and 16

Discussion board

Online Exam

Week 8: Creating Outdoor Environments, Space for Families and Teachers, and Meeting Environmental Challenges

Read chapters 17, 18 and 19

Discussion board

Online Exam

Assignment #2

Required Texts

Required Texts are not included in the course tuition.

Bullard, J. (2016). Creating environments for learning (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

For additional course information

Mallory Erickson

(802) 345-0423

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325

Register Now!