Clemmer College offering new emergent inquiry minor for educators

Published 4:04 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2020

JOHNSON CITY – Within the field of education, an approach called emergent inquiry supports teaching and learning by encouraging teachers to build educational experiences based on their observations of children. Teachers present questions and listen to the ideas of their students, and after observing the children as they play, educational activities, studies and long-term projects are developed based on these observations.

This fall, undergraduate students at East Tennessee State University will have the opportunity to enroll in a new emergent inquiry degree program offered by the Department of Early Childhood Education in the Clemmer College.

The 18-credit hour program will be taught exclusively online. Courses will include history and theory of early childhood emergent inquiry; observing with intention from an emergent inquiry perspective; understanding, creating and using documentation; Reggio-inspired early learning environments; working with families and the community; and multi-symbolic representation with young children.

“In addition to our current students, we also encourage those studying in education programs at community colleges to enroll in our emergent inquiry minor, especially those who plan to transfer to ETSU,” said Dr. Jane Broderick, professor of early childhood education.

Broderick is co-author of the forthcoming book, From Children’s Interests to Children’s Thinking: Using a Cycle of Inquiry to Plan Curriculum, that will be published in June by NAEYC.

She added that the Clemmer College also offers a graduate certificate in emergent inquiry for those who already hold a degree. For more information, contact Broderick at broderic@etsu.edu.