Early Childhood Professional Development Network (ECPDN)

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In September 1991, a three-year grant was awarded to the Educational Television Endowment of South Carolina to demonstrated and evaluate the effectiveness of training clusters of Head Start Classroom Teaching teams through the use of satellite technology and interactive learning.

The project targets geographical areas where Head Start centers are scattered or isolated, making conventional training strategies inappropriate and costly. Located primarily in remote and rural areas, selected programs include those on Native American reservations, in Alaskan villages; in Puerto Rico, and those involved with migrant programs. The focus of the demonstration is the Head Start classroom teaching team: a teacher, teacher assistant, parent volunteer, and the education coordinator.

At the local level, this project involves representatives from Head Start, from public television, from post secondary institutions, and experts from thee early childhood education community to create partnerships for the expansion of the distance-learning experience through the medium of television.

Assisted by trained facilitators, clusters of teaching teams participate in live weekly two-hour interactive seminars delivered via satellite to sites across the country. During the broadcasts, participants may telephone toll-free to the studio to talk with other colleagues across the country and with presenters in the studio about a particular issue or question. During the broadcast and at any time during the week facilitators and participants may also fax materials to the studio and project staff.

Following the seminar, each participant experiences, as a member of a small group of 8-10 trainees from various programs and sites, a one-hour telephone discussion session, guided by a highly knowledgeable discussion session, guided by a highly knowledgeable and experienced early childhood professional. These sessions are grouped by team role (teachers with teachers, assistants, volunteers with volunteers) and provide participants with a change to discuss issues, as well as weekly reading and activity assignments, with colleagues across the country.

The weekly television seminars cover basic principles of child growth and development and special topics and issues of concern to early childhood professionals with a national Curriculum Advisory group closely monitoring the development of the training. The program content reflects:

• The Head Start Program Performance Standards;
  
• The Head Start Multicultural Principles;
  
• Principles of child development;
  
• The National Association for the Education of Young Children's Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through age 8; and
  
• The six competency goals and thirteen functional areas of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

Each two-hour seminar includes short 5-7 minute pre taped segments which are filmed in various Head Start classrooms. Upon successful completion of each semester of the training, college credit is available for those who desire it and who qualify for it.

ECPDN training:

• Meets the 120-hour requirement for the CDA;
  
• Brings the most current early childhood education information and training to Head Start classroom teams in isolated or remote areas;
  
• Minimizes travel time and costs by using local training sites;
• Enables participants to interact personally with some of the most well-known early childhood education professionals; and
  
• Provides high quality training with consistent standards and content to all Head Start teaching teams without geographic restrictions.

The CDA Home Visitor credential may only earned through the DA. A Spanish/English bilingual specialization is also available.

The program has been well received and participants are reporting changes in their work practices and in the way they interact with children and parents.

Registration is closed for the remainder of the demonstration. However, for other information, contact: Carolyn S. Dorrell, Project Director ECPDN 2712 Millwood Avenue Columbia, SC 29205 (803) 737-3545; Fax (803) 737-9947

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