Child Care Worker

Overview

Love working with children and want to learn techniques for supporting their development? Our Child Care Worker course provides practical advice to prepare you for your role as an educator of young children. Learn the principles of providing ultimate learning environments, developing engaging curricula for various developmental stages, meeting children’s social-emotional needs and interests, and communicating and interacting with parents and staff professionally. This course covers the historical influences on early childhood education as well as quality standards for programs and types of curriculum methods. It also includes learning strategies and guidance to enhance physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and creativity development.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Recognize the historical influences on early childhood education, as well as assessment methods and evaluations for quality standards
• Identify the basics of the early education domains, how to support learning and play and the concepts of different types of curriculum
• List the basics of learning theories and teaching strategies
• Recall how to provide effective learning environments for children while connecting with families and communities
• Recognize issues in early childhood education and how to advocate for young children, as well as discovering various career options in the field 

The Job Outlook

Employment of childcare workers is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Parents will continue to need assistance during working hours to care for their children. Because the number of children requiring childcare is expected to grow, demand for childcare workers is expected to grow as well.

Languages

English

Course Access Time

6 months

Instructor

This class supported by an Educational Mentor. Our educational mentors have worked or are working in the subject they mentor. Educational Mentors reviews student work, student progress, and interacts with students as needed. They respond to any questions or concerns you might have, as well as encouraging and motivating you to succeed.

Requirements

Internet Connection

• Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections

*Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

*While our courses are accessible through multiple mobile learning platforms, some courses may include a CD or DVD with the Textbook, so you may need access to a computer with CD-ROM or DVD Drive.

PC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1

• Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
  • Cookies MUST be enabled
  • Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• Kindle Reader App is needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
• Adobe PDF Reader
• QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player

MAC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Mac OS x 10 or higher  with Windows
• Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers- Google Chrome is highly recommended
  • Cookies MUST be enabled
  • Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)

• Kindle Reader App is
  
  
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  Lesson 1
  Child Care Worker Module 1
  Historical Influence on Early Care and Education
  
  • Learning from the Past
  • Public Schooling in America
  • The Kindergarten Movement
  • Nursery School Movements
  • Early Twentieth Century Schooling
  • Brown vs. Board of Education
  • Mid-Twentieth Century Schooling
  • Establishment of Head Start
  • Universal Pre-K
  
  Child Care Worker Module 2
  Quality Standards for Early Childhood Programs
  
  • Dual Approach to Setting Standards
  • National and State Standards
  • Standards and Accountability
  • Developmentally Appropriate Practice
  • Early Learning Standards
  • State Funded Programs
  • Methods of Assessment
  • Evaluation for Educators
  • Measure Outcomes with Observation
  
  Child Care Worker Module 3
  Understanding the Development of Young Children
  
  • The Study of Child Development
  • Developmental Domains
  • The Physical Domain
  • Gross Motor Development
  • The Cognitive Domain
  • Three Types of Knowledge
  • The Affective Domain
  • Emotional Development
  • Social Development
  • Moral Development
  
  Child Care Worker Module 4
  Contemporary Curriculum Approaches
  
  • Curriculum Development
  • Curriculum Models for Developmentally Appropriate Practices
  • Learning Environments and Pedagogy
  • Montessori Method
  • Reggio Emilia Approach
  • Direct Instruction
  • High/Scope Approach
  • Creative Curriculum
  • Project Approach
  
  Child Care Worker Module 5
  Supporting Play and Learning during Early Childhood
  
  • The Importance of Play
  • Characteristics of Play
  • Classical Theories of Play
  • Contemporary Theories of Play
  • Symbolic Play
  • Constructive Play
  • Games with Rules
  • Teacher’s Role in Supporting Play
  
  Child Care Worker Module 6
  Exploring Learning Theories and Teaching Strategies
  
  • Intentional Teaching
  • Constructivist Theory
  • Socio-Cultural Theory
  • Behaviorist Theory
  • Multiple Intelligences Theory
  • Learning Styles Theory
  • Information Processing Theory
  • Teacher Centered Teaching Strategies
  • Learner Centered Teaching Strategies
  
  Child Care Worker Module 7
  Effective Learning Environments for Young Children
  
  • Thinking Expansively About Environments
  • Quality Learning Environments
  • Physical Learning Environment
  • Temporal Learning Environment
  • Interpersonal Learning Environment
  • National and State Regulations and Standards
  • State Quality Rating
  • Accreditation Standards
  • Environmental Rating Scales
  
  Child Care Worker Module 8
  Connecting with Families and Communities
  
  • The Adults in Children’s Lives
  • Bioecological Theory of Human Development
  • Parents as Partners
  • Home-School Partnerships
  • Tips, Strategies and Plans for Caregivers and Teachers
  • Teachers, Caregivers and the Community
  • Community Within School or Center
  • Collaboration and Communication
  
  Child Care Worker Module 9
  Issues and Advocacy in Early Childhood Education
  
  • Social Issues in the ECE Realm
  • Advocating for Young Children
  • Technology and Young Children
  • Pros and Cons of Technology Use in Classroom
  • The Obesity Epidemic
  • Nutrition and Exercise
  • Poverty and Young Children
  • Cultural Diversity
  
  Child Care Worker Module 10
  Discovering Careers in Early Childhood Education
  
  • Why Teach Young Children?
  • Early Care and Education as a Profession
  • Professionalism
  • Career Options
  • Unusual Career Choices
  • Dispositions and Their Importance
  • Men as Teachers of Young Children
  • Why Men Are Needed in the Classroom

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