Foundations of Teaching Early Childhood Development

The aim of this course is to increase knowledge among early childhood educators, paraprofessionals and caregivers about theories and policies related to early childhood care and education. This is particularly relevant in the South African context, where community members implemented early learning centres, often home-based or in other sites like church halls.

The aim of this course is to increase knowledge among early childhood educators, paraprofessionals and caregivers about theories and policies related to early childhood care and education. This is particularly relevant in the South African context, where community members implemented early learning centres, often home-based or in other sites like church halls.

This short course aims to equip you with this foundational knowledge so that you can successfully teach and assess the birth to 4 years age group.

Susan Greyling graduated from UNISA with her Master’s degree in Educational Management and is currently busy with her doctorate in Educational Management. Susan is an Early Childhood Education lecturer in the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). She is the Programme Leader for the Diploma in Grade R Teaching, and coordinates the design and delivery of the work integrated learning modules for distance learning. She has accumulated years of experience within the training and development field of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and is primarily focused within academia and adult facilitation. Her research interests include early childhood education as well as educational management.

BASIC REQUIREMENTSTo successfully access and complete this course, you will be required to have a registered email account, access to a computer/laptop/tablet and stable internet connection. You will be required to be familiar with using a computer as you may need to be able to read and download documents in Adobe PDF Reader, view Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, and read and create documents in Microsoft Word.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTSOur online short learning programmes may require additional software applications. These additional software applications requirements will be communicated to you in this information pack and/or on the website course page. UNi4 Online does not provide any additional software applications required for online short learning programmes.

Please note: Google, YouTube and Vimeo may be used in our online course delivery. If any of these services are blocked in your jurisdiction, you may have difficult in accessing our course content.

Our online short learning programmes are broken into self-paced manageable modules designed to be interactive and engaging:

• The programme is available to be viewed on smart devices and includes mobile, tablets and personal computers.
• Relevant case studies, articles and recommended reading are part of supplementary resources available.
• Apply and evaluate what you have learned in each module with the self-grading quizzes and assignment submissions.
• View a range of introductory course videos by your Subject Matter Expert.
• Scheduled live webinars are included with the Online Academic Tutor.
• Network, collaborate and interact with your fellow participants and Online Academic Tutor via the discussion forum.

Upon successful completion of this online short learning programme, you will be awarded with a UNi4 Online Certificate of Completion.

This short course aims to equip you with this foundational knowledge so that you can successfully teach and assess the birth to 4 years age group.

• MODULE 0 | Orientation Week 1
  • Navigating the Virtual Learning Environment
• MODULE 1 | History of pre-primary schools: Week 2
  • Discuss the history of pre-primary schools internationally and in South Africa; in birth-4-years sites/centres internationally and in South Africa
  • Explore how the early-childhood teacher can facilitate learning in an integrated, interactive manner from birth-4 years
  • Reflect on the definition of ECD in White paper 5
• MODULE 2 | Theories and models to stimulate young children: Week 3
  • Discuss the theories of Early Childhood Education
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of contemporary models of Early Childhood Education
• MODULE 3 | Know your ECCE policies: Week 4
  • Explore the Early Childhood Care and Education policies
  • Discuss children’s rights
• MODULE 4 | Observation and assessment birth-4 years: Week 5
  • Describe the concepts Observation and Assessment
  • Demonstrate the importance of appropriate assessment strategies for birth-4 years
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of organising and reporting assessment data

• MODULE 5 | Play at the ECCE site for birth-4-year curriculum: Week 6
  • Demonstrate informed knowledge and insight on play and the purposes of play for birth-4 years
  • Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of play behaviours
  • Understand the ability to critically evaluate the value of play in- and outside the ECCE site
• MODULE 6 | Meaningful involvement of relevant stakeholders in ECCE: Week 7
  • Discuss how to involve parents and the community as essential stakeholders in the young child’s educational development
  • Understand the necessity of continuous communication and meaningful involvement with the relevant stakeholders, such as parents, family members and the community
  • Describe how to accommodate volunteers and paraprofessionals in the birth-4-year playroom
• MODULE 7 | Feeding young children: Week 8
  • Explore the importance of feeding young children
• MODULE 8 | Milestones of the young child: Week 9
  • Demonstrate understanding and use of milestones for the young child
• MODULE 9 | Wrap-up Week 10
  • Synthesise your learning journey experience
  • Evaluate the course