This course is designed to provide a foundation of technical skill to support all early childhood educators in the field.  The knowledge of practical computer skills will empower Early Learning Educators to support their programs, children and families better.
This course is split into different modules, which students can complete individually. The modules are as follows:

1. Windows Introduction
2. Microsoft Word
3. Microsoft Excel
4. Microsoft PowerPoint
5. Microsoft Outlook
6. Early Learning & Childcare Applications

This course is designed to provide learners will the essential components for a healthy and productive career in the field of early childhood education.  This theory-centric course focuses on how the development and learning of children can be fostered and supported when they can participate in a child-centred and play-based curriculum. The course will connect an educator’s role in creating a supportive and conducive learning environment to the success of their learners.

Communication and composition provide students with a solid grounding in the concepts and strategies of scholarly communication, including written and verbal communication. Students will apply these academic skills to communication-related work in the early learning childcare sector.

This course is designed to support students in correlating information from direct observation with an interpretation of learning and guided reflections. Using a variety of observational methods, the student will develop skills in noticing, recording, understanding and assessing the development of young children. Emphasis is placed on the ethical importance of ensuring the accuracy, sensitivity and privacy concerns of observations and documentation in early childhood settings.

This module is designed to support students in understanding the unique guiding practices related to the childcare profession and prepare students for their first work placement practicum. Additionally, students will gain insight into Alberta’s ELCC Act. Students will also have the opportunity to build on their skills to keep children safe and healthy in the childcare field, including completing their Standard Child Care First Aid & CPR certification and their Food Handler certification.

 This course is designed to support a learner’s exploration of the theoretical framework of play. Learners will develop an understanding of the characteristics of play and how the environment, as well as culture, influences the application of developmentally appropriate educational practices. The course will explore different play experiences, including block play, dramatic play, math and science, music and movement, as well as literacy and the use of technology in the modern early childhood learning space.

This course is designed to reinforce the importance and value of outdoor play in a child’s life. During this course, learners will focus on the relationship between natural and outdoor play to each child’s development, health, learning and thinking. The transition from theory to practice will be reflected in the learner developing an understanding of curriculum building using all four seasons to engage in natural and risky play.  This theoretical application includes ensuring there is a significant connection to a child’s learning and development, and assessing and documenting the appropriateness of outdoor play spaces. 

This course is designed to explore effective guiding strategies for young children and how to make positive impacts on a child’s learning and development. Learners will develop an understanding of challenging behaviours while considering the practical application of skills to mitigate their effects. This course will develop a learner’s ability to form relationships with young children, supporting the development of positive self-esteem as well as an empathetic physical environment. Through a process of reflection, each learner will deepen their understanding of a child’s typical development and life stages. 

This course is designed to introduce theory and research as it applies to the childcare field. Learners will develop an understanding of the history of childcare and modern pedagogical theories as they relate to a child’s development. The course will include a foundation of a child’s development from infancy to adolescence, focusing on physical growth, cognitive development, intelligence, language development, emotional development and moral development. Learners will explore the implementation of optimal contexts for development and come to understand the role of an educator as a co-learner, co-facilitator, and co-researcher.

This course emphasizes programming through the early years, focusing on development, from infancy to school age. Programming will include a variety of practical approaches in Canada. Students will focus on developing a child-centred classroom, as reinforced by theory and the student’s understanding of a young child’s growth and abilities, focusing on the child’s whole learning process. This course will develop practical skills, such as planning the environment, engaging with materials, and ensuring the educator’s role while implementing, guiding, and evaluating activities offered for individual children and groups.

This course is designed to develop an understanding and awareness of the relationship between young children and their families. Through examining Bronfenbrenner’s theory of the ecological model—specifically focusing on the socio-economical influences on a family—learners’ will develop an understanding of the importance of a family’s involvement within the educational development of young children. Learners will also examine the educator’s role and relationship with parents in the parents’ role as primary caregivers. In addition to this connection with families, learners will also develop an awareness and understanding of community agencies that can support families and childhood education.

In this course, student cover the skills needed to land their dream job, including resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, and job search skills.