1.1: Philosophy, History & Tenets

This module aims to examine historical and current beliefs, attitudes and practices about

teaching and learning and the role of the teacher in early childhood education. A teacher

identity is important and therefore, students need to engage in critical reflections about their

personal values, its stated purpose and the knowledge that informs their pedagogy and

practice. This includes knowing the rights of individual children and learning the teachers’

code of ethics. As students reflect on their teaching philosophy, it is crucial to note that different theoretical approaches provide different answers to which the  programme

is based

2.1: Human Growth & Development of Young Children
This module is designed to introduce the students to the major theories and research in
child development from birth to 8 years. It studies the human journey from infancy to middle
childhood, and the critical issues accompanying each stage in this journey. Growth and
development in the various domains (such as physical, intellectual, emotional and social) will
be traced and discussed. This knowledge will assist students understand children’s
behaviour so that they can respond to their needs appropriately. With that knowledge,
students will learn to plan developmentally and culturally appropriate environments and
experiences to nurture and support children’s learning.

2.2: Understand Children’s Play & Development
This module aims to explore and extend the power of play in children’s learning.
Theoretical perspectives, analyzing the different genres of play and understanding the
inclusion of play in the curriculum will be further explored in this module for participants
to gain an insight on the importance of play in children’s developmental milestones.
Participants will explore issues and assumptions about play in preschool learning. This will
enhance their understanding and awareness of their role as facilitators of play.

2.3: Observations & Planning

This module is an introduction to all aspects of observation and planning as well as child
study. It emphasizes the importance of observing young children in order to understand and
plan developmentally and culturally appropriate programs to meet their individual interests,
needs and abilities. Students will be introduced to various methods of observation, with
emphasis on observational strategies such as anecdotal record, photographic
documentation with narrative and work sample with narrative, etc. Students will also learn
to construct lesson plans based on observations of young children. Students will gain
exposure in a childhood environment. This includes hands-on experience in child observations and planning as part of the learning journey

2.4: Implementation, Assessment & Evaluation

This module will introduce students to the different methods of assessing and evaluating
young children’s development. Students will examine and discuss the different methods,
and select methods which are suitable for use with young children.
They will also learn the
importance of introducing timely and appropriate intervention programmes to meet the
needs of young children in their critical years. Students will gain exposure in a childhood
environment. This includes hands-on experience in implementation, assessment, and
evaluation as part of the learning journey.

3.1: Promoting Positive Behaviors

This module is designed to help students identify different types of children’s behaviors and
the reasons behind them. It will introduce students to the practice of positive guidance and
also presents knowledge of the natural stages of child development. The course provides a
guide to adults as they continue to meet the development needs of children from infancy to early
childhood. It hopes to equip teachers of young children with a broad range of practical, effective
and flexible guidance strategies within the premise of direct communication and assertiveness.

4.1: Early Childhood Special Needs

This module is designed to provide the students with an overview of the field of special
education, specifically pertaining to its place in our current educational system. The course
will consider legal issues as well as other related issues, which impact the education of
students with disabilities. The course will also discuss individual categories of disabilities
along with general instructional considerations therein. This course is further designed to
provide conceptual knowledge regarding special education, individuals with disabilities and
gifts, and the impact of disabilities on the family.

4.2: Designing Environment for Young Children

This module will introduce students to the design process and evaluation of environments
that support high quality programs for children from 0- 8 years old. Through hands-on
experiences students will have opportunities to develop an understanding about their role as
early childhood educators and how they can imbue their learning environment with materials
and activities that will reflect their personal or program values and goals.
This module also focuses on developing a process of designing a developmentally
appropriate learning environment for young children. Students will redesign the space in their
own centre as a result of addressing issues related to how, what, why, and where the
children learn. They will be expected to select, organize, create and evaluate educational materials and environments for children. Care must be given to such factors as the age of
the children in the setting, the knowledge of the individual needs of children, and the
constraints of their specific environments.
This module will cover the setting up of both physical and social learning environment, the
importance of using space, time, people, and materials to create a place that is conducive to
children’s learning and development.

5.1: Language and Literacy
This module will provide a framework for students to work with young children in language
arts. The module will stress the integration of the language arts (listening, speaking,
reading, and writing) with a focus on “whole language”. Topics will include: An exposure to a
wide range of excellent examples of children’s books and develop an ability to evaluate the
quality of children’s books and make appropriate selections for young children; organizing
classroom environment to enhance literacy development; Home-School Connection; and
disabilities that may affect a child’s ability to learn and spoken or written language; stages of
development in children’s reading & writing and ways to support…

5.5: Arts as Meaning Making in Early Childhood

It is designed to create an awareness among student teachers of the importance to
encourage creativity and critical thinking in young children about the arts. Student-teachers
will be taught the actual developmental processes of how young children’s art should
be organized and provided for in order to enhance children’s appreciation in art and craft.
By understanding and providing age-appropriate needs of young children, student-teachers
would be able to use this knowledge to unleash young children’s expression and appreciation
through a variety of art media. Most importantly, at the end of this short course, student￾teachers would hopefully impart a life- long interest in the arts themselves and help …

6.1: Personal Growth & Professional Development:

The Reflective Practitioner
This module focuses on the importance of professional practice in relation to personal growth
and professional development.

The subject outlines the professional framework
underpinning best practices in philosophical and theoretical principles; reflecting the stages in
teachers’ professional growth; and managing personal and professional growth. The subject
provides insight into the professional role of early childhood practitioners to help promote a
positive working environment for staff, parents and children in early childhood settings.

6.2: English Language in Education

This module aims to extend the student’s knowledge of language and culture needed to
inform them of their own teaching practice. It also aims to prepare for more advanced modules
relating to language and literacy, and in part as content to teach young children. It starts by
considering how we use spoken and written language as means of communication within
cultural and social contexts. It examines the patterns of language used to deal with details of
grammar, wording, speech sounds and writing.

7.1: Safety, Health, Hygiene & Nutrition

This module ensures that students come to realize the importance of promoting the health
and well-being of young children, staff and families in childcare and kindergartens. It also
ensures that students are aware of the many good practices that are necessary when
working with children and can apply the concepts to real world experiences.

8.1: Educators in Effective Partnership with Families & the Community

This module prepares teachers with the professional skills and knowledge to work effectively
with children and their families and community agencies. Teachers are in a unique position to
explain community to families, and vice versa.