Online learning for early childhood education students
Date
2017-08-30
Authors
Mirau, Erin
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Abstract
The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) holds statutory decision making for the Early Childhood Educator Registry – the regulatory body responsible for recognizing post-secondary institutions offering preservice early childhood education (ECE) programs and certifying program graduates in British Columbia. With the end responsibility of ensuring the safety and well being of the children under the care of early childhood educators, MCFD holds a vested interest in exploring possibilities for preservice ECE curriculum and effective modes of delivery for students in the province. With more and more students opting to complete some or all of their preservice education online, this report explores through a hybrid praxis framework 1) how online delivery of preservice ECE courses and/or programs fit within the larger (legislation, policy, etc.) context of higher education, 2) the challenges of delivering preservice early childhood education fully online, and 3) strategies to mitigate the above challenges.
Considering areas of purpose (of the ECE field, and of online education), pedagogy, and practicalities, this report culminates with concrete recommendations for institutions, instructors, and for MCFD as the quality assurance body. Most pertinently, this report recommends consultation and collaboration for the creation of a reflective online learning framework for use in the province, mindful of the unique intersections of early childhood and higher educational pedagogies.