Continuing Professional DevelopmentThe education staff can participate in a wide range of activities that complement and build on competencies for promoting the growth and development of young children. Many of these activities will enhance skills strengthened by using this guide.
College Courses
Expand your horizons! Community colleges and state and private universities offer a variety of beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in child development, human development, psychology, and early childhood education. These courses offer detailed information on important concepts such as developmental stages in children, developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum and assessment, and observation skills. Often institutions offer information about current research findings on the growth and development of young children. Courses can be taken for credit or audited and can be designed specifically for your Head Start program.
Continuing EducationLearning does not occur only at educational institutions. Like children, adults learn in everyday situations, settings, and organizations. Community organizations such as the Red Cross, health agencies, local libraries, museums, Head Start in-service programs, local chapters of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) (national number: 800-424-2460 or 202-232-8777), and county extension agencies offer workshops and courses related to child growth and development, respecting and reflecting diversity, and supporting parents. These classes address a wide range of issues, including child safety, first aid, children's literature, and children's science activities, that can help education staff provide developmentally appropriate experiences for young children.
CDA Program
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential recognizes training and the demonstration of key competencies in the field of early childhood education. For information on this credentialing program for early childhood professionals, contact the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition at 800-424-4310. Or you can write the Council at 2460 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-3575
Computer ResourcesYou can have the world at your fingertips! If your fingers are on a computer keyboard and you have the equipment to communicate online, there is no limit to what you can learn. Communicating by computer will present you with terms such as the following:
Bulletin Board System (BBS): An electronic message center accessible through computer-aided communication lines
Electronic (E-mail) address: E-mail is a communications vehicle that you can use to access the Internet; an individual's E-mail address consists of letter@domain.domain; the domain indicates location and use (e.g., maine.edu=Maine educational organizations).
Gopher: Internet information server organized by menu; items selected can link you to other sites
Home page: Used in a variety of ways, it is the first screen displayed when you access a particular site on the World Wide Web and usually provides information or access to other sites
Internet: International communication network accessed by computer modem
LISTSERV: Electronic mailing list of discussion groups set up to provide information on specific topics
World Wide Web (WWW): Internet browsing and searching system using hypertext links to other sites
Head Start Bulletin Board
To access the National Head Start Bulletin Board System (BBS), you need a computer, a modem, and a communications software program. This BBS allows you to share information and exchange ideas and questions with the Head Start Bureau, members of the Head Start Training/ Technical Assistance Network, the regional offices, the Head Start Teaching Centers, and colleagues in other Head Start programs. To access the Head Start BBS, dial: 800-477-8278.
Internet
The Internet, the worldwide system of computer networks, offers access to thousands of databases, discussion groups, and files on every imaginable topic, including early childhood education. In the future, the Internet may be accessible on the Head Start BBS. To use the Internet at this time, however, you need to establish an account with an Internet service provider. If you have access to state, regional, or community computing networks (Free Nets) or if you are a student at a university or college that has an account, you may be able to access the Internet free of charge. Otherwise, you can set up an account with a commercial Internet service provider, who will charge a flat monthly fee or according to actual online use. Some of the services available through the Internet include:
To subscribe to a discussion group, send an E-mail to the LISTSERV address of the group you want to join. Leave the subject line blank and include the following command in the body of the message by specifying these items: LISTSERV NAME in UPPERCASE and your first and last name in lowercase. Do not use any punctuation or leave spaces between each item.
- E-Mail. Electronic mail is a computer-aided method of communication whereby one individual sends an online message to another one. The Internet networks, which connect professionals all over the world, can be used with E-mail. Type an Internet address, and then send your messages or files electronically. E-mail allows you to collaborate, exchange information, and share experience and knowledge with others interested in early childhood education.
- LISTSER Vs. You can also use E-mail to connect with groups of people at one time. Electronic mailing lists of organized discussion groups, LISTSERVs, allow you to share information on particular topics. Joining a discussion group on early childhood education is easy, inexpensive, and fun. It is a way for adults to learn how to effectively facilitate children's learning, to compare notes on interacting effectively with children, and to receive help finding resources on particular topics.
SUBSC1UBE LISTSERV NAME first name last nameAfter you send the message, the LISTSERV automatically reads your registration and displays further instructions.
Currently, dozens of discussion groups concerned with children's issues are on the Internet. Below is a sample of LISTSERVs relevant to early childhood educators.
LISTSERV
NAMEAddress Topic ECEOL-L LISTSERV@maine.maine.edu Early Childhood Education Online ECENET-L LISTSERV @vmd.cso.uiuc.edu Early Childhood Education/Young Children (0-8) REGGIO-L LISTSERV@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu Reggio Emilia Preschool gopher://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu
- Gopher sites. A gopher connects you to the Internet resources. It uses a menu system to display what is available. By pointing and clicking on menu items, you can access text documents and databases all over the world. You can also use key words to search for information. For example, you can use a gopher to link the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education (ERIC/EECE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for valuable childhood information. To do this, type the following gopher address:.
To explore databases and information services on the Web, you need browser software programs such as Mosaic or Netscape and either a special phone-line connection or access to a Web browser through your online system. The browser allows you to electronically scan to see what else is available.
- World Wide Web (WWW) sites. Each WWW site has a specific address that you must enter if you are to use any resources on the Internet. Once you link to a WWW site, a home page usually displays. Many groups, organizations, companies, and individuals have set up colorful, graphics-oriented home pages that list available resources and information for a specific site on the Web.
Once you access a home page, click on highlighted text or graphics to view documents and files. Some home pages that provide information on early childhood education include:
Children's Literature Web Guide:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/index.html
Eric Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education:
http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/ericeece.html
Intercultural E-Mail Classroom Connections:
http://www.stolaf.edu/network/iecc
National Association for the Education of Young Children:
http://www.naeyc.org/naeyc/
National Head Start Association:
http://www.nhsa.org/
Regardless of the online computer resource you choose to explore, a wealth of early childhood information is available to you. Online computer resources are especially valuable to busy educators because they present timely information in an easy-to-use format. For more detailed information about going online, refer to A to Z: The Early Childhood Educator's Guide to the Internet, which is listed in the Resources section.Peer Coaching/Peer Partners
At the conclusion of their training, participants can develop individual action plans to use their child development knowledge now and in the future. They can also plan to further increase their knowledge base about the young child. To facilitate this effort, all participants would benefit from selecting a partner to help implement their newly acquired skills on the job.
Using each other's action plans as a starting point (Handout C-1: Action Plan), the peer coaches/peer partners can schedule regular meetings to review how well their action plans are being implemented. They can discuss any obstacles in using the plans as developed and brainstorm solutions. If needed, the trainer, supervisor, or another more experienced peer can be consulted for input.
In addition, the peer partners should track their progress in applying knowledge of child development when working with children. If acceptable to both participants, the pairs can observe each other, take notes, and provide feedback on their observations. These observations should remain confidential and be used only by the peer partners to coach each other.