Course

Working with Families in Early Childhood Education

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Early Childhood Education
Course Code
ECED 2315
Credits
1.50
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
30
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Online
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course explores current issues and policies affecting children and their families from historical, cultural and feminist perspectives. Through the sharing of critical incidents, students are encouraged to examine and enhance their skills in communicating with and supporting families.
Course Content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  1. Early childhood educators work cooperatively with children and family members as listener, communicator, supporter, facilitator, guide and problem solver. The development of effective skills for relating interpersonally is essential to a reflective practitioner.
  2. Early childhood educators recognize key elements about the nature of families: families are diverse in patterns and structure; families have strengths; families are a unique system within the context of other systems; and families are constantly changing.
  3. In the role of early childhood educator, one facilitates collaboration with families at all levels of service provision.
  4. Understanding and valuing diversity means that all children and families are encouraged to develop their full potential and are appreciated for their individual gifts and abilities, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, age, and social class.
  5. Early childhood education has a long, rich tradition of parent involvement. The early childhood educator is knowledgeable about the history and philosophy of working in partnership with families.
Learning Activities

Lecture

Class Discussion

Audio-visual Aids

In-class Exercises

 

Means of Assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College evaluation policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.

 

Test or Reports of the Readings

Interview Report

Resources Research Report

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Demonstrate Professional Accountability and Skills:

  1. Understand the assumptions, practices and skills embedded in the history and philosophy of working in partnership with families,
  2. Professional Skills - works cooperatively with children and family members as listener, communicator, supporter, facilitator, guide and problem solver. Develops effective interpersonal skills,
  3. Reflect on professional role,
  4. Examines own values, beliefs and attitudes in regard to working with families,
  5. Shows a willingness to accept and work with apparent differences.
  6. Appreciates limitations of self and of role.

Demonstrate Professional Relationships:

  1. Consider relationship between individual development and family dynamics.
  2. Family Systems understands and recognizes key elements about the nature of families: families are diverse in patterns and structure; families have strengths; families are a unique system within the context of other systems; and families are constantly changing.
  3. Think critically about families in context:
  • examines families from macro and micro perspectives
  • articulates impact of gender, culture and socio economics on families
  • identifies potential impact of abuse issues within families
  • identifies potential impact of stress issues on families, e.g., abuse, addictions, mental health, family breakdown
  • recognizes the impact of social networks on families and young children
  • respects diversity

Partnerships and Recognize Inclusive Practices:

  1. Inclusion - believes in the equality of all people regardless of ability, ethnicity, sex, culture or temperament.
  2. Inclusion - promotes opportunities for children and families of different abilities, ethnicity, gender, culture, age, and temperament to grow together in an environment of mutual respect.
Textbook Materials

T.B.A.

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for ECED 2315
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN SOCI 206 (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC ECCL 175 (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR HSWR 106 (3)
Emily Carr University of Art & Design (EC) No credit
Northern Lights College (NLC) No credit
Okanagan College (OC) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ECE 224 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU ECEC 1st (1)

Course Offerings

Summer 2024