Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my Blog!


Thursday, March 30, 2017

"Assignment 4: Blog: Sharing Your Thoughts"

Optimizing Brain Development

            Optimizing brain development for young children is imperative.  That is, positive early experiences forge the foundations for lifelong learning and behavior. And, to maximizing the development of each child, a rich nurturing environment is required (Diamond & Hopson, 1998; Fischer & Rose, 1998).  The developmental stage of a child’s brain is a crucial part of their early years.  During this time of growing children experience social-emotional, cognitive and physical development as well as build positive relationships with their parent, peers, and caregivers. 

Building a partnership with families can become an essential message for early childhood professionals to help a supportive, positive social change towards their child’s school readiness and achievement.  This topic optimizing brain development for young children is critical to me because an early childhood professionals can play a fundamental role in developing the foundation of young a child’s developmentally appropriate practices; as well as contribute to a child’s success in early education throughout life.

Reference

Diamond, M., & Hopson, J. (1998). Magic trees of the mind: How to nurture your child’s intelligence, creativity, and healthy emotions from birth through adolescence. New York: Dutton.

Optimizing Early Brain and Motor Development Through Movement

"Discussion 3: Optimizing Brain Development"

The importance of early childhood development is a vital message that I feel is essential for stakeholders to hear, as well as the role of children receiving the appropriate early interventions from family and caregivers.  The social-emotional and physical development needed for young children sets the foundation of brain development on healthy development and learning.  Early childhood professionals must advocate brain research and brain development to increase high-quality achievements for all children.  SECA believes that the information that has emerged from the scientific research needs to be accurately and systematically made available to childcare professionals, parents, and legislators, as well as, to the general population as quickly and efficiently as possible (SECA, 2001).

            There are important some goals and plans for dissemination of brain development information that can improve high-quality learning for young children to have a positive outcome of education such as enlightening their social-emotional, cognitively and physically skills. Brain cell connections are established as the growing child experiences the surrounding world and forms attachments to parents, families, and caregivers (SECA, 2001).  Developing and understanding strategies to support or enhance a young child’s awareness of potential obstacles can help with optimizing brain development.  Therefore, can prevent any stress or lack thereof feeling overwhelmed during early childhood learning brain developing.


Reference

Southern Early Childhood Association. (2001). Brain development and its implications for early childhood programs. Retrieved from http://www.southernearlychildhood.org/upload/pdf/Brain_Research__Its_Implications.pdf




Friday, September 9, 2016

"Discussion 2: Connecting to History and Theory"

I have always had love the little people, who like to call toddlers.  It gives me joy watching them learn to become independent.  Pursuing a graduate degree in education allow me to help motivate children to develop and grow.  Therefore, I believe a well-planned curriculum can provide passion in building a sense of developmental skills toward motivating young children to learn.  It is also important to promote a healthy learning environment that provides a positive academic outcome.  Historically viewed as supporting the education of young children; today it is recognized that the care and education of young children are inseparable (Public Early Childhood Education, Laureate Education (Producer). (2015d).

Young children developing a healthy educational skill will help them to succeed in life.  Education will be very beneficial throughout adulthood.  As well as, contribute to their social/emotional skills to help with a young child’s individual personality.  The Early childhood educational program will also improve their communication skills with a continuous high-quality curriculum.  The program must provide different ways of challenging their social, emotional, cognitive and physical developmentally appropriate skills; such as developing and examine theoretical models of early child growth, development, and learning (Research/Academia, Laureate Education (Producer). (2015d).


Reference


Laureate Education (Producer). (2015d). Early childhood education history and theory [Interactive media]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Discussion 1: What Does It Mean to Be an Early Childhood Professional?

Caring and compassion are essential in the early childhood profession; as well as of having the necessary awareness and skills needed to become an active professional.  It is also imperative to recognize the importance of developing a high-quality program that will enhance developmentally appropriate practice to create continue learning.  In fact, early childhood professionals continually observe a child’s play and interaction in a physical environment and others, we learn about each child’s interests, abilities, and developmental progress (Accessing EC research, naeyc.org).  Therefore, young children can learn the fundamentals of a healthy early childhood educational social and emotional skills. 

As an early childhood professional, we must be able to work in a diverse environment.  They must support various ways of providing the needs for different characteristics of diverse learning for young children and their families.  Professionals also assist with challenges children face during the early years of their life.  A child’s skills are strengthening with a well-planned curriculum that young children can help a positive outcome.  Being an early childhood professional, provide quality care and education for young children, as well as recognizing and improving the educational environment for children to achieve.  As a result, of a culture already installed was greatly intensified toward new levels of monitoring and regulation (Stearns, p. 48, 2009).



Reference

National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2005a). Accessing EC research. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/resources/research/accessing

Stearns, P. N. (2009). Analyzing the role of culture in shaping American childhood: A twentieth-century case. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 6(1), 34–52.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

“Professional Hopes and Goals”

I hope to make available to every child the opportunity to experience other diverse backgrounds by interacting with other children to learning their individuals’ ethnicities.  It is also important to create an environment where children can gain a sense of well-being and learn a young child’s diversities traditional upbringing.  Consequently, working with young children and their families, learning more about their culturally diverse backgrounds will help me meet the needs of every child becoming successful in the classroom. 



A goal that I would like to set for an early childhood with issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to gain a better understanding of children and families of a diverse culture to help the to learn how to adjust to diversity and equality.  Children will learn to become successful with their various strengths, abilities, interests and cultural practices if they understand and better supported by professionals.  Louise Derman-Sparks, “and I think that a lot of the knowledge we've learned from the work in early childhood education around diversity and equity issues, particularly sort of the developmental issues--art can also be useful to people in other aspects of social justice work (Laureate Education, 2011)”.  As a result, of professionals building a child’s knowledge in the classroom mainly that will provide benefits for teaching them about their cultural histories.  

To my dear instructor and colleagues, we have been working together and gained a lot of educational experiences in this course.  I would like to take this time to thank you all for the opportunities that we’ve shared in this class.  I wish you all the best and send my blessing with your endeavors.


Reference

Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Diversity and equity work: Lessons learned [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Saturday, February 20, 2016

“Welcoming Families From Around the World”

The name of “your” family’s country of origin
Belize - County           BH – FIPS Code        Belmopan – Capitol
Five ways in which I would prepare myself to become culturally responsive towards the family in the scenario are:  being able to create a personalized interaction with personalities in their families; continuous cultivate and use language of greetings and the main expressions in the family primary language; always attempt to provide accommodations needed for each person; educate myself about each family member’s dynamics of identity and how they feel about the history of diverse groups.
Optimistically, these preparations will benefit both me and the family by discovering some regions.  Therefore, the information will help move frontward in becoming familiar with and appreciating diversity in each person.  As well as understanding, reviewing, chatting with others will provide the capabilities of additional cultural groups that I can redesign our setting of orientation. As a result, my provision of and reply to society that we help will be more suitable and efficient. 

Belize and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the UN, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Reference
"Belize - U.S. Department of State." Insert Name of Site in Italics. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014   http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1955.htm

Saturday, February 13, 2016

"The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression"


Unfortunately, just about everyone has experienced bias, prejudice, and /or oppression.  Society as a whole are sometimes are afraid to address these issues because of the destruction it may cause.  People may become victims of stereotyping which leaves me sorrowful.  According to Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, “internalized oppression is a feeling or belief that the negative messages are true”.  People are often biased against others outside of their social group, showing prejudice (emotional bias), stereotypes (cognitive bias), and discrimination (behavioral bias).  Therefore, it is vital to creating an educational environment that reflects the diversity of different groups to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity.  “Invisibility erases identity and experience; visibility affirms reality” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).



Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Saturday, January 30, 2016

"Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions"



There are many people who sexual preference differ from others.  An intimate relationship involves physical attraction between people both the same sex and the opposite sex.  Love is the attraction that connects two people.  Nearly all relationships encounters are prone to microaggressions; unfortunately, in this humanity, racism continues to pestilence the world about same-sex relationships.  Therefore, it would be significant to understand the historical and present societal definition of different forms of sexual orientation. 

It is disastrous, that in today’s culture people with a homosexual or bisexual orientation have been denounced whether intentional or unintentional behavior.  Nevertheless, lesbian, gay and bisexual people will deal with bias, discrimination and violence in today’s society and, in some cases, in their some families, schools and communities.  It is imperative to comprehend that people are sensitive to their cultural briefs and value diverse cultural.  No one is born racist but no one born into this society is immune to its distortions, interwoven into all aspects of life (Margles, S & Margles, R.M., 2010).


Reference
Margles, S., & Margles, R. M. (2010). Inverting racism's distortions. Our Schools/Our Selves, 19(3), 137--149.  http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=51372248&site=ehost-live&scope=site


Saturday, January 23, 2016

“Perspectives on Diversity and Culture”

Culture is the point that the concepts, senses, beliefs and values people learn as supporters of the society determines human nature.  They also refer to culture as increasing knowledge, experience, religion concepts on the universe, and a group of people of different generations.   Diversity is the understanding of individual being unique and is aware of their individual differences.  Diversity known as individuals or groups of demographic and philosophical differences created of humanity.


Cultural and diversity have different perspectives such as cognitive and language development; cognitive and language development in imperative, since children learn how to express their feelings, their cognitive will development fast.   There are many ways that cultural differences are taught to young children. Everything we do tells children about how we see the world and what we think of others (Levy, 1994).  As a result, of a child’s cognitive skills become well, they will better understand different cultural beliefs.   

The course discusses national, social, and cultural issues, regarding a critical perspective which will provide a better understanding of living.  Some aspects of culture and diversity are mislaid, such as people do being educated.   Some cultures may have concerns with race, ethnicity, age, and gender in a culturally diverse group without knowing about the different culture beliefs. Some people definitions of culture and diversity influences deals with various values, abilities, concerns and reservations.


Reference

Levy, A. (1994). Children's understanding and attitudes about people from other countries. Unpublished master's thesis. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

My Family Culture

“A Major Catastrophe”



*A description of the three items you would choose:

Natural catastrophic events can be volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes.

*How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you:

Major natural catastrophic events have a significant effect on living things that are on the planet.  All God's creatures grow individually in a potentially dangerous zone all over the world.  Several different sites have some contributions for the magnitude of volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Catastrophic damage can develop so rapidly without any warning.

*Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you:

I know that I would feel sad and angry, also, to emotionally challenge if two items would be the only personal things I can keep and had to give up everything.  I would first decide on the needed assessment and provide assistance along with guidance to everyone involved. 

*Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise:

Everything done in life would help to provide the needs of our family culture.  Therefore, everyone will have to gain an understanding of the diversity of cultural groups.  Learn the knowledge of how to support a cultural group as well as being sensitive to their needs. 



Saturday, December 19, 2015

"Blog Assignment: Time Well Spent"



Early childhood education is a deep passion for providing high-quality learning for young children.  In addition to providing an environment that influence children how to interact with each other and experience a program that help children developmental skills is another personal goal.  High-quality early childhood education can promote intellectual, language, physical, social, and emotional development, creating school readiness and building a foundation for later academic and social competence (NAEYC, 2002 ).  Furthermore, being a director having teachers who deeply understands children, can create stimulating receptive curricula, and has strong skills in working with children and families.






It is also a long-term dream of my to become an owner of my very own early childhood development learning center for infants to pre-school children.  Also, provide a high-quality program with a curriculum based on an understanding of child development focusing on nursery school through grade school.  Professionals in early childhood education must have the social and communication skills to interact with children in addition to providing a safe and secure environment that every child can learn.  Likewise, build and maintain a positive relationship with their families to further support successful learning in all areas of cognitive development. 


To my dear instructor and colleagues, we have been working together and gained a lot of educational experiences in this course.  I would like to take this time to thank you all for the opportunities that we’ve shared in this class.  I wish you all the best and send my blessing with your endeavors. 



Reference



Saturday, December 5, 2015

"Blog Assignment: Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally"

Having the importance of an organize community of practice provides professional early intervention and education.  These international organizations must define professional roles relating to the goals that appealed to children and families policies and practices.  Shared Concern or Passion: Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.  http://ectacenter.org/



Here are three examples of international organizations that work for positive social change for children and families:

·         Website: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/

·         Website: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

·         Website: Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved fromhttp://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

There are many organizations that are discovering a “community of practice” shows a deeper knowledge and expertise of helping people gain a better understanding of how practice functions are complexed and interconnected delivered a better care and cultural knowledge and strategies more rapidly.  In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. http://www.savethechildren.org/

I choose these organizations because I believe they could make a difference in early childhood educating.  As well as become an active influence in their life.  Academically, the activities along with social/emotional can impact and open up their eyes to all possibilities to grow.  Job opportunities provide services for early childhood programs that ensure support and programs guaranteeing compliance with federal, state and local agencies and company policies and procedures.  The position would provide skills and experience such as all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law to fulfill these roles. http://www.ilcreations.com/

References

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html


Saturday, November 21, 2015

"Blog Assignment: Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level"



National organizations and federal agencies provide families with assistance and support children with early childhood programs.  State early childhood organizations, institutions, and communities of practice also provide funding to organizations to guarantee that each child can have the opportunity to become aware of all phases of community life.  As a result, professionals and families can collaborate to assist federal, state and local agencies in providing primary teaching and learning skills.  
The communities of practice are supporting children and their families with challenges of developmental skills the reaches children in their community.  Teacher research is increasingly recognized nationally and internationally as a critical part of early childhood professional development and noted for its role in advancing knowledge about teaching and learning (NAEYC, 2015).  ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.  UNICEF works with governments, civil society, communities and other stakeholders to design and implement inter-sectoral evidence based ECD programs and policies that help young children reach their full potential by supporting families and communities, and by increasing access to quality early childhood care and education.

Reference




Saturday, November 7, 2015

"Blog Assignment: Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels"


There are several state organizations of practices that were fascinating to me such as, Improving Teacher Quality with Communities of Practice, Communities of Practice: An NCTE Policy Research Brief, and Cultivating communities of practice.  I chose these particular websites because I thought it would be interesting to see how the districts would create a fun way of learning within the classrooms for young children and teachers.  Understanding professionals’ way of building developmental skills even with challenges can be a positive experience.  

Each one has job opportunities that are relevant to teaching young children an early education that will help throughout adulthood.  As well as providing the main strengths and skills for professionals to become successful with particular key points relevant with valuable visions to get ready for the journey into the future. 


Skills and experience that are needed to competently fulfill each of these roles help promote the equal right of children and support young children full participation in the political, social and economic development of communities.  Their vision will shape the UNICEF intended for children rights which professionals can advocate for children and their families.  The Committee is responsible for determining whether children fully enjoy the rights recognized under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (unicef.org).


Reference

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Blog Assignment – “The Five Stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.”


The “forming” stage takes place when the team first meets each other.  As the team begins to work together, they move into the “storming” stage. This stage is not avoidable; every team – most especially a new team who has never worked together before – goes through this part of developing as a team.  The “norming” may be explicit and carefully recorded for all future members to see and learn.  The “performing” stage magnifies the complete effectiveness of the project.  The “adjourning” stage is important to make sure that everyone organizes a celebration to recognize the team's accomplishments.

I haven’t experienced a closing ritual at this point; we as a group make sure that no one has missed anything vital.  I believe that it’s interesting to think about adjourning with my colleagues to work with my master’s program, as it has been a real connection in completing this program together.  The adjourning stage of teamwork is important because everyone has an essential part to play and a particular role of expertise. Members may have to maintain friendships even if they will no longer be working together (O'Hair, & Wiemann, 2009).

Reference

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Stages of Team Development in Sport - Athlete Assessments. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.athleteassessments.com/articles/Stages_of_Team_Development_in_Sport.html




Saturday, March 28, 2015

“Blog Assignment – Inter-cultural communication”


Primarily, when I communicate, it starts with a beginning and an ending.  As a communicator, my intentions are to send a thought and an emotion to be read by another. When a person received the message, they will be able to interpret the information through a message from a code.  As well as principles, theories, and approaches that serve as filters to effectively communicate with others.

Developing essential skills, I can find information about critical life skills and insights of how I teaching resources will help to improve professional work and personal life.  Individual topics can be overwhelming and difficult to keep them separate from your job time. We spend most of your time at work, so it can be impossible to separate the two from professional and personal life.  Whether or not we realize it, the decisions we make are influenced by what we value and our beliefs and ideas that are important to us.  Each of us is a product of our cultural background, including gender, ethnicity, family, age, religion, profession and other life experiences (Vuckovic, A. 2008).  These values form the choices made in our lives and have us to understand more about the choices we make both for our professional and our personal lives.

Reference

Article: Vuckovic, A. (2008). Inter-cultural communication: A foundation of communicative action. Multicultural Education and Technology Journal, 2(1), 47–59.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

"Blog Assignment - Communicating with different Groups and Cultures"


Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

Yes, I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures.  Living in a culture that is different from my own can be both challenging and pleasurable.  Regardless of what culture you are from it is mutual to go through an adjustment.  In fact, our values and traditions can be very different, as well as our beliefs about several things.  We as individuals experience different principles in growing up.  Understanding cultural differences has to do with recognizing yourself as a cultural being and coming to understand that the way you see the world, organize your behavior and look at children are, to a great extent, influenced by our own culture, which also may have been influenced by your training (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010).

Therefore, when people move to another culture, they naturally convey their background and way of living with them, and this can help adjust to their new atmosphere.  For example, some people may quickly adapt to a different culture while others may struggle considerably.  Then there may be a feeling of misperception and anxiety that may occur in an inexperienced area.  Adjusting to a new culture will become an ongoing progression.  It may be challenging at times, but most people reach a decision that is going through some changes can help them absorb more about themselves and develop a greater confidence in their ability to steer new situations.

Reference

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2010). 50 strategies for communicating and working with diverse families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Blog Assignment - “Communication Experiment of a television show I do not normally watch.”


 "Modern Family “Valentine’s Day 4:  Twisted Sister”

Watch the show with the sound turned off. 

While many gestures, such as smiles throughout the television program, the meaning of the actors were entirely different without the sound.  For example, the three neighbors seem to be very close and appear to be friendly while communicating together.  In fact, they looked be helpful to one another, have fun together be giving hugs, expressing a sense of caring toward each other.  Finally, their nonverbal behavior did show there was a problem during the program.  For example, one actor began to take his head and hold his head and crossing his arms with an irritated expression on his face. 


Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.

In either case sound on or sound off, the television program primary purpose helped me to interpret the understanding.  The writer presented information with the most different outcome with the use of words.  For instance, the three families were comforting each other about issues in their marriage.  There were plans for a special Valentine’s Day trip gone wrong. It was several different issues going on with each family.  My assumptions about the characters and plots were entirely wrong.  I assumed life was pleasant, but it was so much deceit my expectations of the show were totally off because of a lot of deception.   I believe my assumptions would have been more correct if I had watched a show that I knew well.


Reference

Sunday, March 8, 2015

"Blog Assignment Effective Communication"

Senior Pastor Robert Bolden at Central Baptist Church is the most effectively communicate that I praise for all ages, especially young children.  He is an excellent speaker. His delivery skills are impressive, and most importantly the youth at my church can relate and identify with his series.



What is communication?

“Communication competence is the degree to which a communicator’s goals are achieved through efficient and appropriate interaction.”
“Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior (Webster, 1983, p. 266).”






Some professionals develop communication skills and behaviors through years of learning.  In cognitive sense, communication is a learned behavior that comes with the reception and a communication process.  It is also important to communicate useful ability to appreciate the impact of words and actions needed to interact with others.

Effective communication depends on people having integrity, personality, and reality magnitudes of trust.  The amount to which an individual may illustrate circumstances honestly can make an enormous difference to whether or not others in the community can be trusted by others in the community.  Trust among people helps their sense of openness as they take part in a new and unclear responsibilities related to with the transformation.

Parents and professionals are a child’s first teachers in a young child’s life.  Children learn and develop at different stages of life.  Therefore, it is vital to exposes children to the age appropriate interacting of learning.  As well as demonstrating individual characteristics at an age to increase their social and emotional interests.  Developmentally appropriate practice exists during the learning process helping a child to develop and learn effectively in early childhood. 

Reference

Communication Competence Perspective - University of Kentucky. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/commcomp.htm

Monday, December 22, 2014

“Professional Hopes and Goals”

  • One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)
I hope to give the child an opportunity to experience other cultures by interacting with individuals who are different or from other ethnicities.  As well as encouraging a sense of well-being for children with diversities ethnic backgrounds’.  Create an environment where every child can learn.


  • One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length)
One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is working with children and parents of diverse cultures and backgrounds understand their lack of knowledge how to adjust to diversity and equality.  Children accomplish better results when their diverse strengths, abilities, interests, and cultural practices are understood and supported.  Louise Derman-Sparks, “and I think that a lot of the knowledge we've learned from the work in early childhood education around diversity and equity issues, particularly sort of the developmental issues--art can also be useful to people in other aspects of social justice work (Laureate Education, 2011)”.


  • A brief note of thanks to your colleagues
It has been a pleasure to be colleagues for the past eight weeks.  As we move on and pursue our next course, I want to take the time to thank you all for your professional and support during this class.  I wish you all much success in the weeks to come.


Reference


Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Diversity and equity work: Lessons learned [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu