Early Childhood Education (ECE) is also available by distance education, online through the College’s Office of Distributed Learning (DL). Program descriptions, objectives, graduation requirements and the list of courses may be found on the Early Childhood Education full-time program pages.
A Learner Course Plan for ECE course completion is developed with each student, based on an assessment of any previous ECE or related training they may already have, and any PLAR credits received. Learner Course Plans are available at
http://dls.cna.nl.ca/ece/course_plans.htm
Distance students register each semester from a list of course offerings. These offerings, and other important information about ECE by Distance, are posted on the DL website at:
http://dls.cna.nl.ca/ece. Students may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis. Since programs at the College are normally reviewed on a five-year cycle, students who go beyond the five-year time frame for completion by distance may be required to complete additional or revised courses before being deemed eligible to graduate.
Several courses in ECE by Distance require students to be currently working/volunteering directly with children in an approved early childhood setting, for a minimum of 15 hours per week for the semester
. Each semester, all ECE distance students must submit a Learner Status for Course Registration form, which includes information on employment status.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
All entrance requirements listed on the Early Childhood Education full-time program pages must be met: both the academic requirements and the ECE program documentation requirements. Further information on obtaining ECE program documentation may be found at:
http://dls.cna.nl.ca/ece.
In order to register for certain courses by distance education, please note the employment/volunteer requirement as stated above.
To participate in courses, students must have an internet-ready computer system. General internet/computer knowledge (e.g. e-mail, ability to save files, install programs, and related applications) would be a valuable asset.
To be employed in the field of early childhood education and to successfully fulfill field placement requirements, students must be able to lift and move children, materials and equipment (up to 50 pounds) on a consistent basis. As well, physical effort, strength and endurance is required in the supervision and care of children, e.g., maintaining balance, kneeling and bending, pushing and pulling strollers and carts, and moving quickly to assist children in emergency situations.
NOTE regarding certified criminal records check or criminal records screening certificate and the vulnerable sector records check
Applicants currently working in a regulated child care service:
An applicant must submit the Confirmation of Learner Status for Course Registration which is available at:
http://dls.cna.nl.ca/ece/PDFs/Confirmation_of_Learner_Status_form.pdf. The form must be dated no more than three months prior to the first scheduled day of classes.
Applicants must also submit a current copy of the following program documentation:
- Clear certified criminal records check (issued by RCMP) or clear criminal records screening certificate (issued by RNC) to include all jurisdictions in which the applicant has lived in the past 10 years
- Clear vulnerable sector records check (issued by RCMP/RNC) to include all jurisdictions in which the applicant has lived in the past 10 years, and
- Current record of immunization
Please note: Prior to the start of a field placement, students must submit to Student Services, a current copy of at least an emergency level (one day) diploma/certificate in first aid and CPR dealing with children. A list of approved first aid training providers can be found on the Workplace NL website http://www.workplacenl.ca/prevention/Prev_ApprovedFirstAidTrainingProviders.whscc
Once admitted into the program, a student who does not enroll in courses for six months or more, must re-submit a current copy of all of the above required ECE program documentation.
Applicants not working in a regulated child care service:
An applicant must submit the Confirmation of Learner Status for Course Registration which is available at:
http://dls.cna.nl.ca/ece/PDFs/Confirmation_of_Learner_Status_form.pdf. The form must be dated no more than three months prior to the first scheduled day of classes.
Applicants must also submit a current copy of the following program documentation which must be dated
no more than three months prior to the first scheduled day of classes:
- Clear certified criminal records check (issued by RCMP) or clear criminal records screening certificate (issued by RNC) to include all jurisdictions in which the applicant has lived in the past 10 years
- Clear vulnerable sector records check (issued by RCMP/RNC) to include all jurisdictions in which the applicant has lived in the past 10 years, and
- Current record of immunization
Please note: Prior to the start of a field placement, students must submit to Student Services, a current copy of at least an emergency level (one day) diploma/certificate in first aid and CPR dealing with children. A list of approved first aid training providers can be found on the Workplace NL website http://www.workplacenl.ca/prevention/Prev_ApprovedFirstAidTrainingProviders.whscc
Once admitted into the program, a student who does not enroll in courses for six months or more, must re-submit a current copy of all of the above required ECE program documentation.
FIELD PLACEMENT
Students in the Diploma program will be required to complete four Field Placements. A minimum of 4 weeks must be completed at a CNA demonstration child care centre, over a maximum of two Field Placement courses. Field Placement courses are planned in conjunction with the ECE Program Manager.
Students in the Certificate program will be required to complete two Field Placements. A minimum of 4 weeks must be completed at a CNA demonstration child care centre, over a maximum of the two Field Placement courses. Field Placement courses are planned in conjunction with the ECE Program Manager.
Please note: Prior to the start of a field placement, students must submit to Student Services, a current copy of at least an emergency level (one day) diploma/certificate in first aid and CPR dealing with children. A list of approved first aid training providers can be found on the Workplace NL website http://www.workplacenl.ca/prevention/Prev_ApprovedFirstAidTrainingProviders.whscc
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT AND RECOGNITION (PLAR)
Students will be given every opportunity to receive credit for past learning experience through a comprehensive systematic process of evaluation. Once enrolled and active in the program, students will be permitted to submit PLAR applications for any courses in the program for which they believe they have already acquired the appropriate level of knowledge and skills, except Field Placements II, III and IV. Please refer to the ECE webpage at
http://dls.cna.nl.ca/ece/plar.htm for further information.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of the Diploma program will be prepared for employment with organizations providing early learning & child care, or self-employment in the child care field. With relevant work experience, they will be able to develop programs for and/or supervise in child care services in communities throughout the province.
Graduates of the Certificate program will be prepared for employment with organizations providing early learning & child care, or self-employment in the child care field in communities throughout the province.
CERTIFICATION
The Diploma program graduate is awarded a Diploma of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Education from the College. This parchment indicates successful completion of two years of post-secondary education, combining theory and practical experience in the care, education, and guidance of children, as well as best practices in developmentally appropriate programming and environments. Completion of this program is one of the steps towards provincial Child Care Services (CCS) Certification through the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL). Currently, the Early Childhood Education Diploma is eligible for Level II CCS Certification for infant, preschool and school-age children.
The Certificate program graduate is awarded a Certificate of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Education from the College. This parchment indicates successful completion of one year of post-secondary education, combining theory and practical experience in the care, education, and guidance of children. Completion of this program is one of the steps towards provincial CCS Certification through AECENL. Currently, the Early Childhood Education Certificate is eligible for Level I CCS Certification for preschool and school-age children.
LOCATION
ECE by Distance is available province-wide with on-campus Field Placements currently held at the Prince Philip Drive, Corner Brook, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay Campuses.
Courses with a work/Volunteer Requirement
Several courses require students to be currently working/volunteering directly with children in an early childhood setting, for a minimum of 15 hours per week for the semester. Please see the list of these courses below.
Please note that this is not the full list of courses for the Diploma or Certificate program. For the complete listing of courses required for the Diploma and Certificate programs, please see the Early Childhood Education full-time program pages.
