BP1004: Issues and Trends That Inform Professional Practice: Analyze current early childhood issues and trends to

inform professional practice.

Short Answer Submission Form
Your Name: First and last
Your E-Mail Address: Your email here
Instructions
Write your responses where it reads, “Enter your response here.” Write as much as needed to satisfy the requirements
indicated. Each item contains the Rubric, which will be used to evaluate your responses.

Within each response, be sure to cite the sources used to support your thinking. At the end of the template, you will list
the references you used to support your responses.

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Item 1

Initiatives to expand availability of high quality public pre-K programs are emerging across the United States at both
the state and federal levels. Describe research that supports the expansion of high quality public pre-K programs. (1
paragraph)

Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 1: Changing Regulations and Requirements Impacting Early Childhood Programs
Describe research that Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
supports the expansion of missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
high quality public pre-K incomplete.
programs.
LO1: Describe research and
regulations that inform policy
and practice in early childhood
programs.

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Item 2
Analyze two differing views on higher education requirements for preschool teachers. (2 paragraphs)
Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 1: Changing Regulations and Requirements Impacting Early Childhood Programs
Explain two differing views Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
on higher education missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
requirements for preschool incomplete.
teachers.
LO2: Analyze multiple
perspectives on higher
education requirements for
preschool teachers.

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Item 3
Explain how the changing demographics in the United States may impact the early childhood field. Focus on key skills
that early childhood professionals need to effectively support diverse populations of young children and families. (2–3
paragraphs)

Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 2: Changing Demographics Affecting the Early Childhood Field
Explain how changing Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
demographics in the United missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
States may impact the early incomplete.
childhood field. Focus on key
skills that early childhood
professionals need to
effectively support diverse
populations of young
children and families.
LO1: Explain the impact of
changing demographics on the
early childhood field related to
effectively supporting diverse
populations of young children
and families.

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Item 4

Brain research provides fascinating insights into how young brains grow, develop, and learn. Explain how genes interact
with the environment to affect the development of young children’s brains, and why this is vital information for early
childhood professionals to know. (1–2 paragraphs)

Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 3: Current Research on the Developing Child
Explain how genes interact Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
with the environment to missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
affect the development of incomplete.
young children’s brains and
why this is vital information
for early childhood
professionals to know.

LO1: Explain how current brain

research on how genes interact
with the environment affects the
brain development of young
children.

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LO2: Explain why current brain Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
research on the interaction missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
between genes and incomplete.
environment is important for
early childhood professionals.

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Item 5

Summarize recent research on the effects of maternal depression on young children’s development, including policy
implications and recommended intervention strategies. (1–2 paragraphs)

Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 3: Current Research on the Developing Child
Summarize recent research Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
on the effects of maternal missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
depression on young incomplete.
children’s development,
including policy implications
and recommended
intervention strategies.
LO3: Explain current research
on the effects of maternal
depression as it relates to the
development of young children.

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Item 6

A heightened focus on child safety in recent years has led to increasing restrictions on the ways children are allowed to
play—inside and outdoors. Examples include: limited or no roughhousing and big body play; elimination of some
equipment, such as swings and teeter-totters; and, diminished opportunities for child-directed, unsupervised or minimally
supervised play. Analyze how these restrictions may impact children’s development. (2–3 paragraphs)

Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 4: Debates on Children’s Safety and Effects on Development
Analyze how these Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
restrictions may impact missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
children’s development. incomplete.

LO1: Analyze how increased

safety restrictions on children’s
play may affect their
development.

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Item 7

Consider the concerns and debates related to adults touching children in early childhood settings. Explain how restrictions
on teachers touching children may impact children’s development. (1–2 paragraphs)

Your Response

Rubric

0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 4: Debates on Children’s Safety and Effects on Development
Explain how restrictions on Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
teachers touching children missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
may impact children’s incomplete.
development.
LO2: Analyze the role of touch
in healthy child development.

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Item 8

Advances in technology bring many benefits and challenges. Early childhood professionals are often asked about the
appropriate use of technology with young children and the impact of “screen time” on young children’s development
and learning. Explain key findings from research regarding the appropriate use of technology with young children. (1–
2 paragraphs)

Your Response
Enter your response here

Rubric
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
Topic 5: Technology Use in Early Childhood
Explain key findings from Response is Response is vague, Response is clear, accurate, and
research regarding the missing. inaccurate, and/or complete.
appropriate use of incomplete.
technology with young
children.
LO1: Explain research related
to the appropriate use of
technology with young children.

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 References

Provide a citation for each resource you used to write your response to this Assessment. A sample citation is provided
below:
 Bergeron, J. (2023, March 3). How much screen time should kids get? Active for Life. https://activeforlife.com/how-
much-screen-time-should-kids-get/?gclid=CjwKCAjwsKqoBhBPEiwALrrqiL-
wYs8unm6d2TNyQu03URjLDU_h1NigfsolaB3-d8oRdmwUWvmJXBoCBdcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Mastery Rubric
In order to achieve mastery of this Competency, you must achieve a “2” on every rubric row in addition to meeting the
additional expectation indicated in the Mastery Rubric.
MASTERY RUBRIC
Exceeds Expectations: Analyzes Sources to Make Informed Conclusions
LO1: Analyze Responses to the items use information from multiple and relevant sources to demonstrate a
multiple and relevant thorough understanding of current issues and trends that inform professional practice in the early
sources to explain childhood field.
current issues and
trends that inform
 Yes
professional practice  No
in the early
childhood field.

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 Professional Skills Rubric
The faculty Assessor will provide feedback based on the following Professional Skills: Written Communication and
Information Literacy. Although the feedback is here to inform the development of your skills, it is not a barrier to achieving
the Competency— unless the writing is too poor to score the content of the Assessment. Review the rubric and check
your work based on the learning objectives listed. If you are concerned that you will not meet these expectations, reach
out to your Coach, so he or she can work with you to further develop each important professional skill.
It is highly recommended that you use this opportunity to practice each skill (i.e., Written Communication and Information
Literacy) in the context of this Competency Assessment to receive feedback about your current level of proficiency.
Written Communication: Write with clarity, coherence, and purpose. (Questions 1–8)
0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
LO1: Construct complete Sentences are Sentences are incomplete Sentences’ structure effectively
and correct sentences incoherent and and/or include fragments and conveys meaning to the reader.
(AWE 2; Sentence Level impede the reader’s run-on sentences which limit
Skills) access to ideas. the reader’s access to ideas.
LO2: Demonstrate the Multiple inaccuracies Some inaccuracies in grammar Use of grammar and mechanics is
effective use of grammar in grammar and and mechanics limit the straightforward and effectively
and mechanics. (AWE 2; mechanics impede reader’s access to ideas. conveys meaning to the reader.
Sentence Level Skills) the reader’s access to
ideas.
LO3: Create cohesive Paragraphs, or lack of Construction of the main idea Main idea and/or supporting
paragraphs with a clear paragraphs, impede and/or supporting paragraphs paragraphs effectively convey
central idea. (AWE 2; the reader’s access to limit the reader’s access to meaning to the reader.
Paragraph Level Skills) ideas. ideas.
LO4: Use supporting Supporting materials Supporting material is used Supporting material is used to
material to support a are not present. inconsistently or enhance meaning. Writing is
claim. (AWE 2; Use of inappropriately. appropriately paraphrased and
Evidence) uses direct quotes as applicable.

Information Literacy: Apply strategies to evaluate information in order to effectively analyze issues and make
decisions. (Question 3)

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 0 1 2
Not Present Needs Improvement Meets Expectations
LO1: Identify and locate No sources or non- Sources are inconsistently Sources are mostly credible,
credible sources. credible sources are credible, appropriate, and appropriate, and relevant to the
present. relevant to the topic and/or topic and/or assessment.
assessment.

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