Explore the historical roots of early childhood education in Canada, the evolving pedagogical approaches, and the societal shifts that have shaped the field. Gain insights into the policies and regulations that impact young children and inform our approaches to emphasize creative, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive early learning and child care settings. Learn about the professional standards and ethical considerations needed to foster positive learning experiences for young children. Through a holistic exploration of these topics, emerge well-equipped to embark on your journey in early childhood education.

Examine child development through a multicultural lens, focusing on fundamental theories, milestones, and influences on growth. Explore diverse cultural perspectives to develop skills for fostering collaborative relationships with families and communities, ultimately enhancing early childhood development and care.

The course prepares learners to adopt holistic strategies to respond to emerging issues in the early childhood education field. Recognizing the importance of a nurturing environment, learners explore topics related to the wellbeing of children, families, and educators, which may include promoting healthy lifestyles, developing trauma awareness, and following licensing, health and safety guidelines. Upon successfully completing this course, learners will develop approaches to supporting children by maintaining a healthy and meaningful relationship with families and communities.

This introductory practicum course provides learners with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge to experience gained in authentic early learning settings. In the practicum experience, learners build responsive relationships within the early childhood community. Learners observe and work with young children, using developmentally appropriate care, play, and learning practices. Learners document their observations and reflections throughout the course to demonstrate their growth and understanding of the material. Additionally, learners adhere to ethical and regulatory guidelines and demonstrate compliance in their practice.

This first-year composition course introduces learners to academic writing and critical thinking. They read and analyze sociopolitical, cultural, and gender issues in texts with an emphasis on experiences of people whose voices were historically silenced, particularly those of Indigenous communities in Canada. Learners develop strategies to communicate their own ideas and integrate them with those of others by quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing source material. Learners present their written assignments professionally according to APA formatting guidelines.

Through practice and reflection, learners nuture personal and professional relationships using interpersonal communication skills. With a focus on other-oriented communication, learners demonstrate how inequities and power dynamics influence relationships.

Through multiple worldviews, including Indigenous perspectives, explore the concepts of how play shapes the developing child, including how both indoor and outdoor environments, as well as urban and rural settings, serve as catalysts for sparking creativity, instilling a sense of wonder, and cultivating joy in childhood experiences. Use evidence-based techniques to build and expand on play by nurturing inquisitiveness, encouraging risk-taking, and fostering problem-solving. Become a partner in play through planning play spaces that incorporate a variety of materials, including natural materials and loose parts, to stimulate children's curiosity and growth.

Explore multiple perspectives and world views on theory and strategies for supporting children's social and emotional development. Discover how using a socio-cultural lens can serve a respectful and cooperative practice of relationships. Techniques are offered to support responsive environments and child guidance.

This second semester practicum course prepares learners to apply play-based skills and early childhood development theories to their practice under the guidance of a practicum instructor and a designated mentor. Adhering to early childhood research and the guidelines from Alberta's Early Learning Framework, learners critically consider aspects of their role as an early childhood educator, a co-learner, a co-researcher, and a co-imaginer, including observing, documenting, planning learning experiences, working with families, building relationships, maintaining health, safety, and nutrition standards.

This practicum provides a combination of practical experience in an early childhood setting and weekly integrated seminars. Learners must complete 200 practicum hours and 45 hours of seminar in addition to practicum experiential learning activities to meet the requirement for Provincial certification purposes.

This course provides an introduction to the diverse Indigenous Nations of Canada, while looking at the effects of colonialism in both historical and contemporary times, and from multiple perspectives. This course will orient learners to the current goals and challenges of Indigenous communities in Canada today. Learners are encouraged to situate themselves in Truth and Reconciliation and the Calls to Action, especially as they relate to their chosen field of work.

Children express themselves in infinite ways; their innate curiosity and wonder become possibilities for remarkable learning and development, including an enhanced sense of self. Gain practical insights into translating research findings, worldviews, and inclusive practices into effective teaching strategies and interactions. Acquire skills to mindfully create dynamic and stimulating settings using a variety of both traditional and innovative resources to inspire curiosity, exploration, and imaginative thinking. Be an architect of both indoor and outdoor environments where creative expressions thrive.

This course addresses the goals and essential components of programs for school aged children. In addition, the course also explores the historical and social influences of such programs in Canada. Learners examine the role of school age caregivers while evaluating their own personal qualities and philosophy for working in early learning and child care.

Investigate literacy-rich environments and the importance of engaging children, families, and community partners, in facilitating meaningful literacy experiences. Use quality literature and scaffolding strategies to stimulate interest and enhance literacy development. Apply theoretical insights, practical applications, and reflective practices to emerge from this course with a nuanced understanding of language, literacy, and communication in the early years, ready to promote holistic, inclusive, and culturally responsive literacy development with young children.

Learners apply outdoor pedagogical theories to practice, under the supervision of the college practicum supervisor and a designated workplace mentor. The theories include land-based learning through the lens of Indigenous perspectives. This practicum focuses on observation and documentation, reflective practice, and emergent curriculum within the context of outdoor pedagogy. In addition, learners reflect on their observation and create documentation, which makes learning visible for children, educators, families, and communities. The practicum is a combination of practical experience at a community work site and integrated class seminars.

In this course, learners explore how families are integrated within larger social systems; how patterns of social power and inequality shape Canadian families; as well as how and why the family is critical to the socialization process. The course culminates in the critical assessment of issues affecting families in Canada.

This course addresses the development of appropriate strategies and skills to provide quality care for infants and toddlers. The course examines the central role of the caregiver, daily routines, and the importance of effective communication. Focus falls on infant and toddler development and emerging practice.
Pre-requisite: ELCC1999
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS)

Discover how inclusion is experienced and practiced in the early years, through examining diverse cultural, historical, and rights-based perspectives. Develop plans that adapt to individual strengths and differences, employing strategies and resources to foster inclusive care, play, and learning experiences in early learning and child care settings.

This course focuses on leadership and collaborative skills for frontline early childhood professionals. Learners identify personal leadership strengths, distinguish between different leadership styles, and integrate teamwork skills into their practices. Additionally, they examine the challenges and benefits of working with families and utilize various strategies to promote effective partnerships within a community. They will develop a critical awareness of diverse family structures and engage positively with colleagues, families, and community.

Explore critical issues in early childhood education and development in today's diverse and rapidly changing society, including children's rights, policy, government systems, and educator working conditions. Engage in theoretical discussions, practical applications, and reflective exercises to investigate the complexities impacting children, families, educators, and programs, while learning to navigate the systems that shape them.

In the final practicum placement, learners have the opportunity to further develop their reflective teaching practices. This practicum focuses on reflective learning and topics include the mighty learner and connecting with the child, family and community. Learners have the opportunity to research a topic of their choice pertaining to keeping their passion alive for early childhood education. This capstone course demonstrates their understanding of the program objectives.

Learners work 14-16 hours each week for 15 weeks for their practicum hours and attend the 3 hour integration seminar each week.

Prerequisite: ELCC2998
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS)
Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA