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early
childhood
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educatiol
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learning
labs
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FALL 1974
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The workshops, seminars, luncheons, and self-instructional
courses designed for the Early Childhood Education (ECE)
component of Education 402 are intended to introduce
students to the fundamental principles and critical
issues of the profession. The responsibility for continu-
ing the education process will be shared by students,
through self-directed study, and by Faculty, through the
provision of academic support during Education 405 and
Education 404.
CI PA
The ECE Learning Labs are open to any student interested in
the topics. Prior to the beginning of Education 402,
students enrolled in the Specific Minor in ECE will be
registered for the labs pppriate to
their individii1.
ndOther students may sign-up at the ECE Material
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Centre in the Faculty of Education Building
Copies of the readings for seminars will be available at -.
the ECE Materials Centre for four days prior to their
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scheduled meeting times. Limited funds require that such
materials be on loan only and be collected at the conclusion
of each session for loan to others attending later seminars.
Students should complete the appropriate readings prior
to attending a seminar.
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Answers to questions not anticipated in this announcement
may be obtained from Dr. Roger Gehlbach, Room 102, Building
1, Faculty of Education. Telephone: 291-3627.
r--ORIENTATION - OCTOBER 29th, 1974-
A special orientation meeting for students
in
the ECE
Specific Minor will be held from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in Room
CC 6100, immediately following the 1:30 seminar.
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Nit LLI
Understanding Intelligence.. The concept of intelligence
is inextricably entwined with every aspect of teaching
and learning. The purpose of this seminar is to expose
for further study the critical issues that surround the
concept, including (1) Definitions, (2) Intelligence
and I.Q., (3) I.Q. change. A seminar, with readings
available at the ECE Materials Centre.
Date: November 18 (tfo
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: L. Prock
Intellectual Development. Early childhood is considered
to span the ages of 3 to 8 years. Many theorists,
most notably Jean Piaget, have proposed that development
over this period takes place in relatively discrete
stages. As such theories have gained acceptance,
educators have found it difficult to understand the
implications for school and pre-school programs. A
seminar,.with readings available at the ECE Materials
Centre.
Date: November
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100 ?
Leader: L. Baker
Creativity. It is easy to get the impression that crea-
tive activities in the classroom are intended to help
children to develop emotionally. While this may be true,
it does not comprise the entire objective. In the world
at large, "creative" activities include advertising
design, mechanical invention, medical research and
architecture, all of which require highly disciplined
thinking.. This lab will focus on the role of the school
in the development of a broad range of creative abilitities.
A seminar, with readings available at the ECE Materials
Centre.
Date: November 26
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: R. Crumlin
R. Gehibach
Promoting Children's Thinking in the Primary G
Intelligent behavior might be thought of as a rather
general educational objective. This learning lab will
focus on the forms that thoughtful behavior takes as a
child grows. A seminar, with readings available at the
ECE Materials Centre.
Date: November 27
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: 8-. Was&erji,gnn
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ERSONAL AND SOCIAL PROCESSE
The School and the Home. This lab is devoted to the
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development of children as "whole people", their sex-
role identification, morals and values. What is the
place of the teacher and the school in that development?
Implicit in the provision of public education is the
assumption that some kinds of learning are better done
outside the home? What are they? A seminar, with
condensed readings available at the ECE Materials Centre.
Date: October 30
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: J. Ellis
PROCESSES
Language Development. This lab will be concerned with
general features of children's language as it develops
from very early levels to fluent speech. A seminar,
with readings available at the ECE Materials Centre.
Date: November 12
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: L. Baker
Oral Language and Written Language. This lab concerns the
relationship between children's development of oral
language abilities and their r3adiness to acquire skills
with written language in reading and composition. A
self-instructional course, the materials available at
the ECE Materials Centre.
Talking to Children. Children, especially young children,
often misunderstand what their teachers are saying.
The reasons for this may be several. The point, however,
is that it is the teacher's responsibility to talk and
write in a way that children can understand. Techniques
for improving one's ability in verbal instruction will
be featured, with a brief presentation of what has been
learned from instructional research. A workshop.
Date: November 20
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: R. Gehibach
Verbal Language and Non-Verbal Learntng. The place of
verbal language is special in early childhood education,
for it is not only an important means of instruction, but
it is itself an important educational objective. The
interaction of verbal and non-verbal experiences will be
illustrated in a demonstration lesson with some children.
Date:
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: R. Gehlbach
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Pre-School/Kindergarten: Playtime or Schooltime? One of
the ongoing controversies in early education concerns the
amount of "academic" learning in the ECE curriculum. Some
educators prefer that early education be composed of
"enrichment" activities, or experiences designed to
systematically expose the child to the many, varied
aspects of his world. Other educators would place the
emphasis on direct and school-like instruction to ensure
that children learn a specific set of things. Whatever
decision one comes to, one must base it on a point of
view as to just what "childhood" means. A seminar,
with readings available at the ECE Materials Centre.
Date: October 29
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: L. Baker
R. Gehlbach
Determining Learning Objectives. In order to assign
teaching priorities, one needs a list of objectives.
One way to get started on this is to write down what a
child "should" know and be able to do as he passes
certain of life's stages. This learning lab will focus
on making and looking critically at lists of what
children should know or be able to do at the ages of
3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 years. A workshop.
Date: November 4
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: K. Mclnally
Field Trips. Children, teachers, and even parents love
field trips. The value of a field trip, however, is
greatly dependent on good planning. A luncheon presenta-
tion.
Date: November 5
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Time: 12:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: K. Mclnally
Beginning Reading: When? How? Reading is an important
skill. The sooner a child can read the sooner he has
access independently to the wide world of books. When,
therefore, should reading instruction begin? In
kindergarten? Grade 1? Pre-school? How should reading
instruction begin? A seminar, with readings available at
the ECE Materials Centre.
Date: N6vembr-3 ?
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100 ?
Leader: S. O'Connell
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Planning and Instructional Aids. Literally thousands
of books, pamphlets, and instructional guides are
available. The problem is one of knowing what they are
and where they are and how to use them. A representa-
tive from the Association for Childhood Education
International will be featured with Dr. M.S. O'Connell
of the Faculty of Education presenting suggested
materials and materials sources.
Date: November 6
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Time 12:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: S. O'Connell
Parent Involvement. A topic of wide concern in ECE
is the role of parents in the planning, operation, and
evaluation of school and day care programs. A local
parent will present a point of view on this matter.
Date: November 12
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Time: 12:30 p.m..
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: TBA
Children and Books. Books constitute one of the most
important learning resources at almost every level of the
school system. Young children, however, often do not
know how to read. Helping children to utilize books
is an important skill. This lab will help students to
learn how to select, use and recommend children's books.
Date: November 19
Place: CC 6100
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Time: 12:30 p.m.
Leader: S. O'Connell
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LASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Organizing
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an ECE Learning Environment. A great deal
of choice exists for the ECE teacher in the way a
classroom is arranged. This learning lab will focus on
helping students to learn some of the basic do's and
don'ts.
Date: November 5
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Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100
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Leader: M. Waterman
Behaviorism vs. Humansim. The past ten years has seen
the development of great controversies among ECE educa-
tors over the wisdom and/or advisability of controlling
children's bheavior by means of carefully administered
rewards and punishments, often referred to as varieties
of "reinforcement". No one questions that behavior can
be controlled successfully by means of rigorous reinforce-
ment procedures. But many educators question the
"humanity" of doing so. A luncheon address.
Date: November 25 ? Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100 ?
Leader: A. Kaze-
pides
Acceptance of Consequences. There are many approaches to
"disciplining" children's behavior. One of the approaches
gaining prominence over recent years is centered around
children's acceptance of the consequences of what they
do. A luncheon presentation.
Date: December 3
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Time: 12:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100 ?
Leader: TBA
Children's Rights. Do children have any inalienable
rights? A seminar, with readings available at the ECE
Materials
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Centre.
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Date: ?
e-ember---3 ?
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: CC 6100 ?
Leader: S. O'Connell
