Name: Early Childhood Development Program Name of Learning Institution: Aurora College
Location: The program is based at the Fort Smith Campus but is offered as a distance learning course with students enrolled from across the north.
Program Description: The Early Childhood Development Program is designed to train students to work with children from infancy to the age of six, with an emphasis placed on the preschool years.
The Program is a distant learning program that involves on-line discussion, lectures, practical training, and opportunities to develop teaching materials and guidance skills and design, deliver and/or evaluate programs and services in the community.
Principles of the Program include:
Addressing the needs of children pre-natal to six years of age; Enhancing child, family and community development;
Supporting the role of parents/guardians by being family centred; Stressing wellness and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle;
Following a holistic approach to foster a healthy environment for children and families;
Community-based and community-sponsored early childhood development; Offering an introduction to the services available in the community, region and territory;
Adhering to culturally appropriate traditions guided by Aboriginal perspectives; Stressing practical application of classroom theory; and
Developing and relying on community support systems for the student. Upon successful completion of the program the student will be able to:
Recognize and describe normal patterns of growth and development in infants, toddlers, preschoolers and young school-age children.
- 97 - Lutra Associates Ltd. Plan safe and appropriate living and playing environments for children in group care.
Set up and maintain a secure, healthy home daycare environment for young children.
Develop and practice the skills necessary for the operation and management of home child care.
Understand and implement GNWT legislation and standards for family home care, including First Aid and CPR.
Be knowledgeable of basic child health and safety practices and promote them. Support healthy children by identifying, developing and designing appropriate programs and services.
Recognize that traditional knowledge, language and values are important for the growth and development of healthy children.
Understand the skills for working with families and building strong centre-home ties.
Be knowledgeable of needs identification and intervention techniques. Learn about the various agencies, their roles, responsibilities and the partnerships which exist at the local, regional, territorial, national and international levels.
Develop appropriate communication skills (facilitation, counselling, report and letter writing) and use problem-solving strategies.
Delivery Method: Distance.
One instructor coordinates distance learning courses as well as does some instruction. Other instructors are contracted.
The Aurora College campus in Inuvik recently offered an onsite, eight-week introductory course in Early Childhood Development. The introductory course is a pilot funded through a division of GNWT Education, Culture and
Employment. Other short-term programming has been available in the past in Yellowknife and Aklavik.
Courses are offered by telephone in the evenings. All students receive the text books and a binder of all the information they need to complete the course. The
- 98 - Lutra Associates Ltd. binder is written in plain language and includes instructions and suggestions, particularly for students working in isolation in small communities. An
instructor and tutor are available at every session. The tutor checks in with each student once a week. In 2010/11, the Introduction to Early Childhood and
Learning Through Play courses were offered as a morning and evening course. Courses are offered on a rotation basis over six years. The Aurora College
Coordinator keeps a list of all students and can remind individuals when a required course is scheduled.
Lessons/Best Practices Relevant to the NWT:
A Proposal to integrate Aboriginal language & culture into the Aurora College Early Childhood Program prepared by Sarah Wright in 2007, found that the principles of the program are
strong but the curriculum and approach need to be revised to ensure that these principles are met specifically with respect to adhering to Aboriginal perspectives, stressing practical application of classroom theory, and community support systems for students. The 2007 document also identified the need to address technological issues associated with distance learning, and strengthen linkages and transferability of courses with other programs (e.g. TEP, ALCIP, Nursing), redefine the role of adult educators and community learning centres, strengthen linkage in the communities.
Compliance with Occupational or Other Standards: Compliance with occupational standards not documented.
Students who successfully complete the program receive an Early Childhood Development Certificate and are eligible to work in child care settings. Opportunities for Future Employment:
Students who successfully complete the Early Childhood Development Certificate can potentially find work as assistants in child care centres, nursery schools, playgroups, or as operators of their own daycare homes, or seek employment with Bands, Hamlets, Municipalities, Regional Health and Social Services, health-related fields, Aboriginal organizations, community agencies or the Government of the Northwest Territories. Working titles include child care worker, child care teacher, family daycare provider,
- 99 - Lutra Associates Ltd. nursery teacher, special needs worker, kindergarten assistant or aide, child life worker, early childhood worker, and more.
Program Length: Various – start and end dates throughout the academic year.
Generally one fall course begins in September and completes by Christmas; the second course begins mid-January and ends the beginning of May. Aurora College indicates that on average students take three years to complete the program. Other information indicates that completion time averages from five to six years.
Admissions: Based on the program's eligibility requirements, the applicant's assessment results, and whether or not they display a genuine interest in young children. The ability to communicate with other adults and children and the ability to work as part of a team are also important.
If students have already completed the first year or part of a first year of an early childhood program elsewhere, courses may have transferability into this program. Applicants with good Aboriginal language and English language skills are given preference. An interview with the Program Coordinator to explore the applicant's interest in working with children may be required. A general medical certificate of fitness is required. A one-page written statement giving reasons for wanting to study Early Childhood Development must be submitted. Two letters of recommendation, one from an educator and one from a member of the community attesting to the applicant's honesty, reliability, and suitability, are required.
Based on a school transcript, course outlines, and an interview, students can be evaluated for advanced standing.
Completion Requirements:
For certificate completion, students registered in the Program before September 2005 must successfully complete the eight core courses; 14 additional credits; and First Aid and CPR-C. For certificate completion, students registering in the program on or after September 2005 must successfully complete the eight core courses and five additional courses, for a credit total of 38, and First Aid and CPR-C. Overall, the certificate consists
- 100 - Lutra Associates Ltd. of 13 courses, including a communications or English course and two practicum
placements.
Curriculum Overview: (see course descriptions pages 155-158)
Program material is based on content from Yukon College which in turn comes from Grant McEwan. A
016-110 Health, Safety and Nutrition
016-111 Child Growth and Development I
016-112 Introduction to Early Childhood
016-113 Field Placement I
016-114 Integration Seminar
016-115 Understanding Self-Esteem
016-121 Human Growth and Development II
016-122 Learning Through Play
016-108 Special Topics
016-116 Early Childhood Communication Skills
016-123 Field Placement II
016-124 Integration Seminar II
016-125 Building Self-Esteem
Program Evaluation:
No formal evaluation has been completed although a discussion of the program was undertaken by Sarah Wright (2007). The program is funded by GNWT Education, Culture and Employment in the amount of $240,000 annually. Activity reports are submitted annually.
What is known about the Program is:
The number of program graduates varies each year. Between 2004-2010, 16 students graduated with ECD certificates (an average of 4 per year).
- 101 - Lutra Associates Ltd. The average annual enrolment is 35 students.
In 2005/06, there were 82 part time registrants from 17 communities; 36 in Child Growth and Development, and 35 in Health Safety and Nutrition.
In 2006/07, there were 75 part-time registrants.
In 2008-09, the Aurora College Early Childhood Education Training Program had 68 registrations and 55 successful course completions by students from 14
communities.
In 2010/11, there were 72 registrants and 20 withdrawals/cancellations/
incompletes. 72% of registrants had Aboriginal ancestry. All were women. All were employed prior to and following the program. 32% were self-sponsored and the rest were sponsored by a Band, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation or an association. A further 24 students attended workshops.
There are currently 168 students who have taken two or more courses. Attrition is estimated at 26%.
95% of students have English as a second language and/or low English literacy skills.
75% of students have Grade 12 or equivalent education. Issues associated with the Program relate to:
Lack of adequate numbers of trained early childhood practitioners. Competencies of graduates.
Length of time required to graduate and the extent to which this contributes to program attrition rates.
Limited Aboriginal language and cultural content.
Lack of access to technology or appropriate technology (e.g. adequate band width).
Lack of access to on-the-ground/community-based face to face support (e.g. involvement of community-based Aurora College Community Learning Centres).
Uncertain application of prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR). Strength of applicants’ foundational skills (e.g. literacy).
- 102 - Lutra Associates Ltd. Uncertain connections with other early childhood development training such as family literacy training institutes run by the NWT Literacy Council.
Lack of linkages with other education programs such as the Teacher Education Program (TEP) and the Aboriginal Language Instructors Certification Program (ALCIP).
There is interest in some quarters in an apprenticeship approach to the Program.
Brief Program History: Since 1998, Education, Culture and Employment has funded the College to deliver Early Childhood Development training. The Early Childhood
Development Program curriculum was adopted from Yukon College in 2004 after a four-year working relationship. Yukon College's program, in turn, shares a similar history as both Aurora and Yukon College adopted standardized Early Childhood Development curriculum from Alberta in the 1980s.
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