Education Internships and Volunteering in a College or University ECE Program

Most certificate, diploma and associate degrees can be completed in one or two years, while university degrees, which are specialized and tend to focus on specific skills or areas of study such a special needs or administration, are four year programs. At the same time, some courses require hands-on learning through volunteering and practicums. Child development classes are an important component for all the programs as well, focusing on stages of development, instruction techniques and classroom management, and these are more effective when the information taught can be observed in person. While personal experience as a parent, sibling or babysitter can be incredibly helpful, it isn't the same as observing a group of children in a preschool or childcare setting. A crucial part of an ECE program is the supervised observation and practicum. Many programs have access to an on-site daycare or preschool, sometimes known as a teaching lab, even while it is a functioning, licensed childcare program.

The first sessions in a classroom are observing children, often with specific assignments of what is to be observed, and assignments based on their findings. Very gradually students are given teaching tasks, from small lessons and circle activities through to planning and leading full lessons and activities independently. All of this is under the direct supervision of licensed ECE staff on site, who are in consultation with the course instructor. Your school will need to check with the local licensing body to ensure that the minimal number of classroom volunteer hours have been clocked, so that you can become licensed in your region. Jonathan Ginsburg Essay and Term Paper Assistance