Starting Out With Computer Savy Teachers
Project Description:
UMass Boston developed three undergraduate early childhood courses in WebCT? for on-line delivery in Fall 06 and Spring 07. The target audience is non traditional students, who will be enrolling in the undergraduate early childhood licensure degree program. These students are often working in childcare programs including Head Starts or are paraprofessionals in the public schools. They are working full-time, juggling family commitments, and working toward licensure in early childhood education. Most come from Boston, Somerville, Quincy and other urban areas; they represent wide range of the diversity on UMass Boston campus.
The need for and the delivery of early childhood teacher training is at major crossroads. The increasing requirements for degrees in childcare including Head Start Programs, and the increasing the number of full-day kindergarten and preschool classrooms in public schools are putting increasing demands on the delivery of early childhood teacher preparation courses. In addition, these potential teachers are often lacking needed computer skills.
By offering some courses on-line, the students will be able to continue their responsibilities: working, nurturing their families and continuing their education. As the courses are developed, delivered and evaluated, the faculty will share what they have learned through their professional organization Massachusetts Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (MAECTE), the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE), and through the current participants in the Building Careers grants (twenty Massachusetts colleges managing early childhood tuition assistant from grants from Department of Early Education and Care.) On-line courses will be made available for viewing by faculty from other institutions.
The on-line format will be used to help students learn technology by linking with Massachusetts Recommended PreK-12 Instructional Technology Standards, reflect on the uses of technology in their coursework and their jobs, and develop a deeper understanding of the complications of working with technology. Helping early childhood educators become computer savvy will provide young children with greater support with learning with computers in the context of early childhood classrooms.
Keyword(s):
Develop 3 online early Childhood courses
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
