The Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
Diploma in Early Childhood Education
DURATION
42 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Introduction
Facilitating children`s learning through play.
The two-year Early Childhood Education Ontario College Diploma program, delivered in a compressed format over 42 weeks, prepares you to become an educator of children in a variety of early learning settings. Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work with families and other professionals to support children`s learning and development.
This program provides you with the ability to create, implement, and assess play-based curricula while building stimulating child-centered environments.
Benefit from both theoretical and hands-on learning opportunities. You have three field placements during the program that focus on children from birth to age 12. These real-world experiences allow you to integrate theory with professional practice in early learning program settings.
You assist in providing guidance to children while planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. Through your placements, you gain valuable hands-on skills and experience to help you understand the diverse roles, settings, and responsibilities of an Early Childhood Educator.
Upon graduation, you are eligible to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Registration with the CECE is required to be eligible to work as an Early Childhood Educator in Ontario.
Ideal Students
This program is well-suited for students who:
- Have strong observational and analytical skills
- Enjoy working as a member of a team
- Have strong language (oral and written) skills
- Are self-reliant and enjoy challenges
- Are interested in child development and teaching children through play
- Are comfortable using computers and other forms of technology
- Enjoy working with children and their families
- Have effective interpersonal skills
Individuals entering this program must be able to lift children, materials, and equipment (up to 32 kgs). As well, individuals must be able to run/move quickly between areas in the room and outside in order to ensure children`s safety. In addition, educators must constantly observe children to ensure safety and to assess children's abilities, skills, and interests in order to develop meaningful curricula. Entering the program without these abilities may result in unsuccessful field placements and students who fail to successfully complete all placements are not eligible to graduate.
Admissions
Curriculum
Level: 01
- Communications I
- Observation Skills
- Foundations of Early Childhood Education
- Practice Teaching I
- Child Development
- Introduction to Curriculum
- Creative Art Experiences for Children
- Music and Movement Experiences for Children
- Preparation for Practice Teaching
Level: 02
- Communications II
- Health and Wellness for Children
- Psychology of Learning
- Practice Teaching II
- Environments for Young Children
- Introduction to Children with Exceptionalities
- Guiding Children's Behaviour
- Creating an Effective Curriculum
- Seminar for Practice Teaching II
- Choose one from equivalencies:
- General Education Elective
Level: 03
- Children's Literature
- Professional and Administrative Practices in Early Childhood Education
- Assessment of Children's Learning
- Practice Teaching III
- Language and Literacy
- Families and Community
- Math and Science Experiences for Children
- Environments for Kindergarten and School-Age Children
- Seminar for Practice Teaching III
Program Outcome
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Create learning contexts to enable, build, and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families, and communities that value and respect social, cultural, and linguistic diversity including Indigenous peoples` worldviews and Francophone identity
- Co-create, facilitate, and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children`s learning, holistic development, and well-being following children`s capabilities, interests, ideas, and experiences
- Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible, and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families, and communities in a range of early years and childcare settings
- Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate, and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking, and healthy development and well-being
- Use observation strategies to identify children`s strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources
- Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities, and children`s service agencies to meet the legal and ethical standards of the early years sector
- Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures, and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on one`s own role in early years and child care settings
- Identify, report, and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies, and procedures
- Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, interdisciplinary professionals, authorities, and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services
- Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector, and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators
- Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment, and environmental stewardship
Career Opportunities
Graduates may find professional employment opportunities as educators in early learning and care programs (infant, toddler, preschool, school-age), nursery schools, resource and Ontario Early Years Centres, full-day kindergartens, programs run by community health agencies and as home child care advisors. Opportunities in entrepreneurial areas (e.g. marketing of educational toys/books/materials consulting) are emerging.
Graduates are required to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators, to be eligible to apply for jobs within the profession.
Program delivery
Other Delivery Options
- Full-time Online
- Part-time Online