About

Course Information

The Orientation Course consists of 18 sessions. Each session will take approximately 3 hours to complete including reading, watching videos and completing exercises and tests.

Session 1: The Importance of Early Childhood Educators

The purpose of this orientation session is to provide an overview and examination of the role of an early childhood educator and reinforce the importance and purpose of providing quality care for children.

Learning Objectives:

Describe expectations for successful completion of this course leading to certification as a Level 1 - Early Childhood Educator
Describe ethical conduct as an early childhood educator
Describe quality care
Differentiate between support functions and primary care responsibilities
List some of the qualities of an early childhood educator

Session 2: Respecting Cultural Diversity

Children attending child care programs come from diverse backgrounds, so it is important to consider culture when working with children and their families. This session will increase cultural awareness and provide strategies for developing an inclusive environment.

Learning Objectives:

Increase cultural awareness
Expand cultural knowledge
Examine and develop cultural skills
Identify cultural practices in your community

Session 3: Indigenous Peoples of Canada

The purpose of this session is to provide important information about the Indigenous peoples of Canada and explain why it is important to support the cultural identity of Indigenous children.

Learning Objectives:

Define terms relating to Indigenous peoples of Canada
Describe aspects of Indigenous history and cultural identity
Describe Indigenous practices
Describe cultural protocol for approaching Knowledge Keepers and Elders

Session 4: Communicating Effectively

Effective communication is essential to building relationships with children and their families. The skills presented in the session will help you communicate effectively.

Learning Objectives:

Describe principles of communication and the communication process
Describe barriers to and methods of developing effective communication, as well as the effects of body language, cultural influences, and ethics on communicative processes
Assess personal communication skills
Define active listening
List barriers to effective listening
Describe the benefits and steps of active listening
Practice listening skills associated with identifying messages within communications
Identify the feelings behind body language and words
Describe responses that facilitate positive communications

Session 5: Intentionally Observing Children

Intentionally observing children is an essential component of providing quality child care. Knowing how to observe and document observations properly will also help to prevent/manage behavioural problems and improve understanding of each child's own strengths and capacities.

Learning Objectives:

Explain the importance of observing children and documenting observations of child behaviour
Describe ways that child care professionals can be prepared to engage in intentional observations in child care settings
Understand the difference between observations and inferences
Examine the effects of culture, experiences, traditions, personal history, and biases when recording and interpreting children's behaviours

Session 6: Physical Development

Physical development is the first of five areas of children's development this course will review (physical, cognitive, creative, social and emotional development). This session examines some of the factors that may influence physical growth and motor development in children from birth to 12 years of age. Knowing how physical development can be positively influenced will help to plan ways of promoting physical development in child care settings.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the difference between gross and fine motor abilities
Describe different stages of physical development
Design activities that promote physical development for children birth to 12 years
List factors that affect a child's physical development
Understand the concept of physical literacy
Define sensory perceptual development, kinaesthetic (movement), and physical growth
Identify motor abilities and physical skills that are promoted through specific activities

Session 7: Cognitive Development

It is important for early childhood educators to understand the importance of promoting cognitive development. Early childhood educators should take every opportunity to explore ways to support children's thinking and enrich the childcare environment to promote learning.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the stages of children's cognitive development
Describe how children play with materials differently at various stages in their development
Describe of how children learn through experiences with their environment
Describe practices that support children's cognitive development and that coincide with child care activities
Explain what and how children might learn from exploring specific toys and materials
Describe different learning styles

Session 8: Language Development

This session focuses on how language develops in the first twelve years. A basic understanding of the principles of how language development happens in children and what children need to develop language skills will help you, as an early childhood educator, to promote children's language development.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the basic principles of language development
Describe the milestones of language development for children from birth to five years
Describe appropriate ways to promote language development
Describe resources that promote language development for children
Plan a learning experience related to language development for a child

Session 9: Social-Emotional Development

It is important for early childhood educators to focus on the importance of meeting children's social and emotional needs. Early childhood educators should take every opportunity to explore the ways that they can support children's social and emotional development to promote learning.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the meaning of social development and emotional development
Describe important developmental tasks which children accomplish at various stages of their social-emotional development
Describe effective caregiving behaviours for different stages of social and emotional development
Describe what children need for healthy social and emotional development
Outline the responsibilities of an early childhood educator that support healthy emotional and social development
Describe ways to express appreciation

Session 10: Creative Development

Creativity is an important aspect in a child's development as a "whole" person. As an early childhood educator, it is important that you understand various aspects of creative development and how to promote creativity in children of all ages.

Learning Objectives:

Describe aspects of creative development
Describe the stages that children progress through in creative expression
Describe how children might use specific creative materials at different stages of development
Describe elements in environments that promote creativity
Describe safe materials and activities used in various child care interest centres to promote children's creative development
Describe the feeling of creating
Describe the role of the early childhood educator in promoting creativity in children
Explain the difference between open-ended and close-ended experiences for children
Describe open-ended questions that encourage creative responses from children
Plan an age-appropriate experience that promotes creative development in children

Session 11: Developing Through Play

Play is a critical component of children's development. In this session, you will learn how you can provide and support play experiences that encourage children's development.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the importance and nature of personal play experiences
List five characteristics of children's play
Describe the developmental stages of play
Explain the value of play for children's physical, cognitive, creative and social-emotional development
Describe intrinsically-motivated play
Describe examples of how an early childhood educator can support and enhance play

Session 12: Providing for Play

Play is vital to the emotional, physical and cognitive development of children. It is important for early childhood educators to understand the components of play and how to develop play activities that will enrich and enhance the environments of children.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the components that enhance play
Describe materials that support play activities
Identify the different stages of social play
Describe the importance of observation as a tool to enhance children's program planning
Describe the role of early childhood educators as part of the playing process
Describe principles of inclusion

Session 13: Healthy Eating Environments and Nurturing through Daily Routines

Good nutrition and well-planned routines are essential to children's healthy development. This session will describe how to plan and assess healthy meals and snacks, introduce new foods, and implement effective routines in a child care setting.

Learning Objectives:

Identify appropriate practices for early childhood educators to use in daily routines
Explain how to promote healthy eating for children in child care programs
Evaluate the appropriateness of eating practices
Appraise the value of child care expectations and practices related to resting
Discuss toilet training practices
Review the challenges and importance of implementing appropriate transitions
Observe and assess routines in a child care program

Session 14: Guiding Children's Behaviour

Children grow and develop their abilities best when they can learn self-control while maintaining their self-esteem. As an early childhood educator, you have the opportunity to help children learn to control their behaviour in a positive manner. Helping children develop self-control will also contribute to a positive child care environment for all children.

Learning Objectives:

Differentiate between guidance, discipline, and punishment
Describe effective practices for the prevention of behavioural problems
Describe effective guidelines used to prevent discipline problems, toy/equipment damage, and injury
Describe how to use redirection strategies to avoid problem situations
Describe techniques to help children use problem-solving strategies
Understand the types of bullying and what you can do to prevent them
Describe how standard child guidance practices should be modified when bullying is involved

Session 15: Licensing Legislation and Health/Safety/Supervision

Ensuring the health, safety and well-being of children is part of providing effective supervision and one of the most important roles of early childhood educators. This module will examine some of the components of the Early Learning and Child Care Act and the Early Learning and Child Care Regulation, and the role of the child care licensing staff. It will also explore ways to effectively supervise children.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the legislation governing child care programs in Alberta
Describe the role of the child care licensing staff
List ways to engage in effective supervision of children

Session 16: Together with Families

As an early childhood educator, helping children develop to their full potential means working together with families. Understanding how to create a working relationship with families and overcome any barriers to working with a child's family is crucial to the child's happiness and development while at the child care program.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the stresses facing families and the role of child care in supporting families
Describe supportive and positive caregiver-family relationships
Describe the steps of problem solving and how these may be used with family members
Describe strategies that can improve relationships and communication with parents

Session 17: Child Abuse and Family Violence

Early childhood educators understand the critical importance that children should be nurtured, respected, and protected. Child abuse strikes the very core of our commitment to children. Many early childhood educators may encounter children that have been abused or neglected at some point in their careers. They must learn how to respond to it professionally and in accordance with their legal responsibility.

Learning Objectives:

List types of child abuse
Recognize some indicators of child abuse and neglect
Understand the early childhood educator's responsibility in reporting suspected child abuse and his or her role in preventing abuse
Describe the appropriate process for reporting
Describe the effects of domestic/family violence and its impact on children
Describe strategies for supporting children and families in abusive situations

Session 18: Becoming an Early Childhood Educator

This final session of the Child Care Orientation Course allows for the opportunity to reflect on all the information presented in the course and consider how it can be applied when working as an early childhood educator. It is important to understand that this course is only the first step in becoming an early childhood educator and that continuing your education in the field is critical to your effectiveness and success as an early childhood educator.

Learning Objectives:

Describe your role as a member of an early childhood educator team
Identify opportunities for further professional development
Identify networks and organizations that support early childhood educators
Understand the purpose of the Play, Participation and Possibilities: An Early Learning and Child Care Curriculum Framework for Alberta
Describe what the Orientation Course has taught you

Base Corp Learning Systems

Base Corp. Learning Systems is an experienced provider of learning solutions for medium to large-sized organizations. We partner with organizations to design and deliver custom competency-based learning solutions that help people learn. Our team includes highly skilled specialists who design and build customized learning solutions using the latest tools and technology.

Base Corp. Learning Systems is pleased to have been awarded the contract for the Online and Correspondence Delivery of the Child Care Orientation Course. We are working closely with the Government of Alberta to offer a course that meets the needs of students wanting to prepare for a career in the child care field.

Privacy Statement

Overview

It is our intent to give you as much control as possible over your personal information and, in general, you can visit our website without telling us who you are or revealing any information about yourself. There are times, however, when we may need information from you for the purposes of conducting business.

We will let you know, at the point of collection, before we collect information from you and if you choose to give us personal information for the purposes of conducting business we will also let you know how we will use such information. If you tell us that you do not wish to have this information used as a basis for further contact with you, we will respect your wishes. We do keep track of the domains from which people visit us and we analyze this data for trends and statistics, and then we discard it.

Collection and Use of your Personal Information:

Personal information means any information about an identifiable individual, including the name, title, business address or telephone number of a person.

Collection and use of personal information is for several general purposes: to identify and understand your needs regarding current and new services; to personalize your experience on our website; to assemble statistics concerning the use of the services offered on this site; to provide customer services, to confirm your program completion status, and to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Control of your Personal Information

Your personal information will be used only for the Child Care Orientation Course. We will not share that information with third parties without your permission.

Access to your Personal Information

We strive to keep your personal information accurate. We have implemented technology, management processes and policies to maintain customer data accuracy. We will provide you with access to your information, including making reasonable effort to provide you with online access and the opportunity to change your information. To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity, such as a password and user ID, before granting access to your data. Certain areas of this site will limit access to specific individuals through the use of passwords and other personal identifiers.

The most effective way to view and change your personal information is to return to the Web page where you originally submitted your data and follow the instructions on that Web page.

Security of your Personal Information

We are committed to protecting the security of your personal information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. For example, we store the personal information you provide in computer servers with limited access that are located in controlled facilities. When we transmit sensitive information over the internet, we protect it through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.

Use of Cookies

"Cookies" can be used to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is an element of data that a website can send to your browser, which may then store it on your system. Cookies do not read data off your hard disk and can only contain personal information that you provide yourself. We use cookies to track user traffic patterns in order to determine the usefulness of the website to our users. Refusing cookies will not allow for the full functionality or use of this website.

Use of Web Beacons

Our Web pages may contain electronic images known as Web beacons - sometimes called single-pixel gifs - that allow us to count users who have visited those pages. We may include web beacons in promotional e-mail messages or newsletters in order to count how many messages have been opened and acted upon.

Web beacons collect only a limited set of information including a cookie number, time and date of a page view, and a description of the page on which the Web beacon resides. Our Web pages may also contain Web beacons placed there by third parties in order to compile aggregated statistics and to help determine the effectiveness of our joint promotional or advertising campaigns. We prohibit web beacons from being used to access your personal information.

Third Party Sites

This website contains links to other sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites.

Changes to this Statement

We will amend this policy from time to time and, if we make substantial changes to how we use your personal information, we will make that information available by posting notice on this site.