Dear early childhood education (ECE) teachers, providers of early childhood education, and representatives of educational institutions,
we have just opened an online educational program for ECE teachers, which was developed through the collaboration of university educators and ECE teachers from the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia, participating in the international project DEveloping the COgnitivE Potential of Preschoolers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (from now on referred to as “DECODE”).
The aim of the online educational program titled Enhancing Teachers’ Competencies to Support Cognitive Development (Cognitive Development of Children in Preschool) is to contribute to high-quality early childhood education by introducing a comprehensive approach to supporting the cognitive development of children in ECE, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The primary goal is to enhance the development of key competencies for all children, thereby preventing educational disadvantages and low levels of essential skill development.
The educational program equips ECE teachers with methodological support in utilizing educational strategies for balanced social, emotional and cognitive development of children (not only) from disadvantaged environments. This is achieved by combining theory with practice. The theoretical section, which includes educational texts and presentations, is followed by a set of practical examples. These examples come from the activities of kindergartens involved in the international DECODE project and are supplemented with comments from ECE teachers who implemented the project in their kindergarten.
The educational program is designed primarily for all ECE teachers who wish to develop their professional competencies. It can also be utilized by higher and secondary educational institutions with early childhood education programmes.
The program is open and free of charge.
CONTENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The educational program includes an introductory webinar, educational texts, presentations with reflective questions, videos showcasing best practices from kindergartens, and a final test.
PROGRAM SCOPE
50 hours
PROGRAM CONTENT
- Child cognitive development
- Child personality development
- Current approaches to child development
- Assessment of learning outcomes
- Thinking – examples of best practices
- Memory – examples of best practices
- Attention – examples of best practices
- Language – examples of best practices
- Perception – examples of best practices
- Final test
TARGET AUDIENCE
- ECE teachers, aiming to enhance their professional development with a focus on child-centered methods
- Providers of ECE (universities, CPD providers, associations, and organizations)
- Students in ECE programs at the secondary and tertiary levels and employees in ECE institutions
CONDITIONS FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION
- Attendance at all educational sessions.
- Successful completion of the final test.
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate.
More information about the project outputs (including the possibility of registering for the teacher training program) can be found on the official project website www.decode.raabe.cz.