Hear From an ECE Grad
Takiya speaks to her positive campus experience and her time at Vancouver Career College.
The development years in a child's education are among the most important. Early childhood educators have a profound impact on a child's success in early development and learning.
At Vancouver Career College, our 72-week diploma program teaches students how to plan, organize, and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years old. Take classes in language and literature, music and movement, drama and creative expression, and much more.
Graduates of the ECE program go on to lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical, and emotional growth; ensuring their needs of security and well-being are met.
Before graduating, students of the ECE program will have obtained real-world experience working with young children in a series of five and six-week practicum placements. (Must be completed in British Columbia)
The Early Childhood Education diploma program (including completion of infant toddler and special needs training) meet the academic requirements necessary to apply to the Early Childhood Educator Registry for provincial certification as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE), Infant Toddler Educator (ITE) and Special Needs Educator (SNE) in British Columbia.
Academic Requirements for Admissions:
OR
Administrative Requirements for Admissions:
This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.
Takiya speaks to her positive campus experience and her time at Vancouver Career College.
During this module, students will have the opportunity to debrief on their earlier practicum and observation experiences and review the application and development of skills and core concepts learned throughout the program. Basic centre administration will be covered including budgeting, scheduling, centre structure, and organization, as well as other management skills.
A guest speaker (licensing officer) is normally scheduled for this course.
In addition to learning career-oriented skills, students learn how to get a job in their chosen profession. Our Employment Services department will assist the graduate in resume writing, as well as preparing for job interviews. Our staff is sensitive to current job market trends and the needs of employers in each local market. Our graduates receive guidance and training to use career tools that help job seekers build a better resume and cover letter, manage an online portfolio, hone interviewing skills, and develop a personal brand online. Students will have the use of a computer lab which has unlimited Internet access, as well as job search resources. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques and to carry out mock interviews. This course also looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview:
-How people find jobs
-Employer expectations
-Presenting an enthusiastic attitude
-Focusing on the right job and the hidden job market
-Transferrable skills
-Thank you letters
-Effective telemarketing
-Handling objections, self-confidence, and self-esteem
-Individual counselling and coaching
This module will detail the history of the ECE environment in British Columbia including an overview of the licensing agency and acts and regulations responsible for child care facilities and child care facility staff. Students complete assignments to build practical understanding of licensing, staff qualifications, educator/child ratio and activities.
As the course is aptly named, several important regulations, philosophies, and common themes are introduced here and are reinforced throughout the program as well:
A six-week integrated community based practicum, supervised by a Certified Infant Toddler Educator (Sponsor Teacher) with additional observation and evaluation by ECE Faculty from the College. This laboratory course provides the student with opportunities for the development and implementation of comprehensive projects that demonstrate advanced professional knowledge and practice.
This module will develop practitioner skills necessary to provide a positive, safe, and nurturing environment. Strategies for guidance, discipline, and conflict will be examined through in-class work and observation assignments.
The course includes a two-day observation for the assignment ‘Guidance Observation’. Students are eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) certificate after successful completion of this course; this will enable a student to elect to work in the field while completing their ECE education.
A six-week integrated community based practicum, supervised by a Certified Special Needs Educator with additional observation and evaluation by ECE Faculty from the College. This laboratory course provides the student with opportunities for the development and implementation of comprehensive projects that demonstrate advanced professional knowledge and practice.
The focus of this module is on the development and implementation of age - and stage - appropriate activities. Students will learn how to set learning objectives and design and evaluate activities and lessons.
Ideally this course is studied in the early phase of the program, as the skills learned apply to assignments and study of various subject areas of curriculum covered in the ECE program.
This course is a broad-based introduction to using a personal computer. It teaches the fundamentals of an operating system and the most popular application software including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. You will also learn about the Internet, Web browsers, electronic mail and antivirus software. The course is based on the Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft Office 2016 and a variety of popular software programs for the Internet-related and security-related applications.
Extensive hands-on exercises throughout the course will allow you to practise and reinforce the skills you acquire, while progress check questions at the end of every module will give you the opportunity to test your knowledge of the presented material.
This module will address proactive measures for reactive methods of addressing illness prevention, disease transmission, abuse, and childhood behaviours such as bullying. Assignments may include practical application such as menu evaluations, shopping assignments, and Occupational Health & Safety Regulation applications, as well as topics related to nutrition, healthy eating programs, and the Canada Food Guide. Students will also take a one-day Emergency Child Care First Aid and CPR program through external certification. Students also will be trained in FoodSafe™ - Level I certification (8 hours). Students should note that some of the training covered in this course will require more than five hours of class time on specific days in the schedule.
Students are eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) certificate after successful completion of this course; this will enable a student to elect to work in the field while completing their ECE education.
In this 2-week, 60-hour observation practicum, students will study one child’s speech and language development in a licensed childcare centre for children who are between the ages of 2.5 years and 5 years of age. Following the assignment guidelines, students will use several observation methods to capture this specific child’s developing speech and language. Using the information gathered from these observations the students plan three developmentally appropriate speech and language activities that would enhance this child’s speech and language abilities. Implementation of these activities is optional. Throughout these two weeks, students are to attend two 2.5 hour practicum seminars.
This module is an in-depth study of all aspects of child development from infancy to early childhood. Students will look at theories of human development and how these theories affect the practices of early childhood educators. The purpose of this module is to give students thorough background knowledge of child growth and development. As a result of this module, students will be able to identify the unique developmental needs of children and cater their early childhood programs to meet those needs.
Students are eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) certificate after successful completion of this course; this will enable a student to elect to work in the field while completing their ECE education
Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stress management and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume and learn how to write effective cover letters.
Expectations, documentation, policies and procedures highlight this module as preparation for practicum placements. Students meet with Sponsor Supervisors at their placement site to build comfort level and discuss facility procedures, practicum assignments and other requirements. Students also have the opportunity to outline personal goals and objectives and how they expect to achieve them. There is also an open and supportive forum to discuss potential fears and concerns students may have as they anticipate their first ECE practicum experience.
This course is included in the practicum hours as approved by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Professional responsibilities and the roles of Early Childhood Educators will be explored. The hierarchy and communication among family-based team members as well as the role of staffing will be addressed. Students will also learn about legal and ethical practice issues, the role of confidentiality, acceptable behaviours and standards of care.
Special topics will include practices of ECE for immigrant and refugee children in BC, application of the Code of Ethics, and the function of the Child Care Resource & Referral Program in communities across BC.
This module deals with physical, social and emotional growth through a variety of structure, music and movement programs. Students record and describe the ways in which children are exposed to music and how it can be utilized to set atmosphere, ease transitions and waiting periods, and guide and redirect behaviour.
This course also introduces resources from organizations such as LEAP BC™, that promote healthy child development through physical movement while integrating activity and play with literacy and education during engagement with young children in programs like Move™ and Hop™.
The creation of environments that support, nurture and care for children in a safe manner is the theme of this module. Students complete observation assignments to examine how to bring learning experiences to the outdoors.
The course includes a two-day observation practicum on play environments.