Transformative learning involves changing perspectives or frames of reference by critically reflecting on personal assumptions, biases and beliefs and then consciously making and implementing plans that bring about new ways of defining and interpreting beliefs, habits of mind, or points of view. This course provides an overview of transformative learning theory and challenges learners to reflect on how an online education environment might be conducive to
transformative learning. Participants will explore approaches for implementing these theories in online environments whereby the learner is regarded as being actively engaged through critical reflection and discourse to question assumptions, expectations, and context. The course emphasizes the role of the online instructor as facilitator who builds an open environment for meaningful dialogue and reflection.
This course challenges educators to evaluate the needs of individual students in the diverse population within the Caribbean context. It specifically examines pertinent issues related to equity and diversity within the Caribbean educational systems such as second language learners, sexual orientation, and special needs, as well as contemporary topics such as race, gender, culture, and religion. Focus is placed on improving student achievement through differentiated curriculum and instruction. Some approaches explored will include teaching for understanding, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making; as well as best practices associated with accommodating different teaching and learning styles. Three instructional approaches to teaching in a diverse setting are explored: differentiation, Universal Design for Learning, and culturally responsive instruction. Students will explore digital methods to modify, extend, and differentiate instruction to positively impact student learning and engagement based on individual student needs.
Social media has become an important part of our private and professional lives and as such, it presents new challenges and powerful learning opportunities for students and educators at all levels. Although the world of social media has been, to a large extent, dominated by the two social media giants— Facebook and Twitter - new entries into the social platform space are expanding rapidly. Learning how to interact on various social media platforms is crucial to survive and thrive in this age of digital communication. In this course, students will explore key issues in social media technologies and their application to the educational environment. Topics may include the value of social media for distributed education, current and future trends in social software, delivering content using specific applications (blogs, wikis, podcasts, webcasts, etc.), the impact of social media tools to transform teaching and learning, and issues of course design to support learner engagement and online social media use in distributed and mobile environments. Students will conduct literature-based research to explore these topics, and propose future implementations of social media that have the purpose of promoting and sustaining student engagement.
The course will cover the history and development of early childhood education in the Caribbean, as well the importance of promoting children’s sensory, motor, social and emotional development from conception through middle childhood. The emphasis will be placed on child development theories, including domains and stages of learning, and promoting appropriate behaviours in children. The course will also emphasize the importance of children’s play for development and learning.
This course presents an overview of the knowledge and skills that are needed to develop and present an appropriate curriculum and the learning environment for young children from birth to age 8. The course will examine the teacher's role in facilitating learning and supporting development of the child. This course will introduce participants to learning through play which is the central principle of learning at the early childhood level. It will look at integrated learning and explore observation and assessment strategies. This course also seeks to emphasize the role that the teacher-child relationship plays in child development in all domains of learning. The course also seeks to highlight the critical importance of keeping records on students’ profile.
Participants will visit an early childhood institution for 2 days and be introduced to positive interaction strategies to promote young children's development and facilitate learning both indoor and outdoor as well as observe the importance of children's play for development and learning.
This course will provide the foundation information for promoting health, safety and nutrition for our young children. Health, safety and nutrition are fundamental issues for early childhood development and as such every early childhood practitioner should know the factors that influence the wellbeing of the child. It explores the provision of healthy practices, the value of a balanced nutrition to enhance children’s growth, development and learning; and the need for a safe environment for children to learn. The course introduces some of the approaches and activities for creating healthy environments for children to work, play and rest and identifies some of the local health, nutrition and safety entities which can be contacted for guidance and assistance.
The course will provide an overview of how the early childhood practitioner works with families and the communities in the education, care and development of the child. Community resources and advocacy for children will be explored. This course will explore school, parent and community working relationship. The course will also introduce participants to the family unit and the parents’ role in being the primary educator. The importance of the contribution of the parents and the wider community, and the home/school relationship will be highlighted.
This practicum is for two days and the participant will look at roles and responsibilities of early childhood administrators in the management of early childhood institutions by shadowing a Principal of such institution. Participants will be exposed to the principles and practices related to the management of the financial, human and physical resources.
