PRACTICAL Way to Effective ECE Teaching

Hands-on learning enables students (prospect teachers) to reap the most benefits from their courses so as to better prepare themselves for teaching in early childhood education.

Here are some of the benefits of hands-on learning:

1. Greater retention of programme material

According to study, students are able to remember three and a half times more than just listening intently in lecture room.

2. Access to materials used on a job in real-time

Touching and working with the materials enable the students to get a feel of the materials and process. Furthermore, when it comes to early childhood education, students need to know how to demonstrate the skills to children.

3. Simulated learning in a friendly environment

Students will feel motivated to learn as much as possible, especially when given a challenging task.

4. Development of critical thinking skills

Instead of just relying on memory and attention, students will develop critical thinking skills when handling the materials and achieving the goals in hands-on learning activities.

At Institut CECE, we organize class activities so as to ensure they are familiar with the overall process.

Diploma students of Institut CECE enjoying themselves in paper-making activity during one of their Science classes.

Menu and cuisines prepared by students of Institut CECE during a class activity.

Further reading:

• Further Study: Trained & Qualified Early Childhood Educators?
• Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (1)
• Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (2)
• Kids.Play n Learn: Green n Grow

Preparing for a Career in Early Childhood Education

Do you love working with children? Do you desire to strengthen individuals, families and community? Are you an energetic person? Do you have natural leadership skills?

If yes, you may want to consider a career in Early Childhood Education.

When planning for a career in Early Childhood Education, you need to start at the beginning and decide which path you would want to take.

This planning shall not be taken lightly as every action you take will greatly influence the children you will be dealing with. You will be directly involved in shaping the lives of children – from health, emotional well-being to intellectual growth – all of which can affect their later success in school, work and life.

A proper training, for example, pursuing higher education in Early Childhood Education, is advisable as this training ground will provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills that you need to study children, dealing with children, understanding their mind and feelings, and bringing the best out of them.

A typical college course may cover the following modules (or equivalent):

• Adult Supervision: Mentoring in a Collaborative Learning Setting
• Children & Literature
• Culture & Diversity in Early Childhood Education
• Infant & Child Development
• Introducing Young Children to Visual Arts
• Introduction to Early Childhood Education
• Music and Movement with Young Children
• Principles & Practices in Early Childhood Education
• The Child, the Family & the Community

Through the training, you will gain much more than just a stepping stone to a career in Early Childhood Education. You will find that your life will be enriched at the same time. Furthermore, these skills are applicable across different areas of life:

• Ability to create appropriate learning environments for children
• Ability to promote healthy development in children
• Active listening with patience and empathy
• Aware of cultural differences and special needs of children
• Developing collaboration with parents
• Enhancing speaking and presentation skills
• Increased self-confidence and self-understanding
• Teamwork and leadership
• Understanding of how children learn
• Understanding the different stages of child development

Is Early Childhood Education for you?

Further reading:

• Careers.Fun n Professional: It’s So Much Fun in Nurturing Preschoolers
• Further Study: Trained & Qualified Early Childhood Educators?
• Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (1)
• Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (2)

Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (2)

Now, we will be continuing the journey from where we left off previously at Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (1)

Effective training in early childhood studies is the stepping stone for well-trained early childhood educators.

Here, students learn through thematic integrated child-centred methodology and put theories into practice through assignments, projects, tutorials and extra-curricular activities. With a steady set of skills, a well-trained early childhood educator can adopt any language in teaching.

“Till today, I am still adopting the thematic, integrated and child-centred approach that the institute focuses on, which is effective in providing children with a balanced and holistic way of learning. The amazing thing is that I was also able to apply the approach when I was working as an ECE reliever in New Zealand!” – Low I-Juen (Trainer)

Further to this, the training not only focuses on in-class learning but also on out-of-class learning. Students also learn how to develop lesson plan for early childhood classes.

“Although Institut CECE is small, but the experience gained from here is larger than life. I learned techniques and skills needed to be a teacher, principles and theories needed to understand children, form passion and commitment needed to work with children all thanks to Institut CECE for without them, I would not be where I am today.” ~ Soo Chea Erng (Final year student)

Educating children is never an easy task and shouldn’t be taken lightly. With the correct perspective on learning and teaching, early childhood educators will be able to create a positive environment for the children’s upbringing, nurturing them into achievers.

“My journey for this diploma has indeed changed my perspective on learning and teaching and it has also prepared me for the responsibility to make changes in children’s life through early childhood education.

Packed with activities and talks, lectures and tutorials, assignments and projects, along with a team of very dedicated lecturers and staff, my life at Institut CECE became memorable.” ~ Soo Chea Erng (Final year student)

This is what life is like at Institut CECE (The Institute of Childhood Education-Studies and Community Education).

Institut CECE, Always in the Service of Children

Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (1)

Previously, we were brought into the world of the importance of training in early childhood education (ECE) in article Further Study: Trained & Qualified Early Childhood Educators?

In this chapter, we will journey upon a fun-and-professional training available in Malaysia.

A place where you can put theories into practice…

A place where you will experience experiential learning…

A place whereby it is purpose-built for early childhood studies…

A place where you will be trained by lecturers with at least 15 years experience in teaching children and adults alike and with at least a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies…

A place where you will learn how to implement the National Pre-school Curriculum (Malaysia) through the thematic integrated child-centered methodology…

A place for Learning + Training…

Further Study: Trained & Qualified Early Childhood Educators?

Many do not realize the importance of training in early childhood education (ECE).

To some, it is just a stepping stone while finding a better paid job in another field. To others, it is to pass time and earn extra pocket money while awaiting their public exam results (O-level or A-level) or when their children have already grown up.

Becoming an early childhood educator is not as easy and relaxing as many think. In reality, it requires a huge heart and passion to understand and deal with child’s development – physical, cognitive, social-emotional, language and moral.

A look into the job scope of an early childhood educator reveals that he/she needs to:

Thus, a higher education in ECE is as important as any other degree. It is not a “waste of resource” as some perceived because the knowledge and skills gained during the training are applicable in all areas of life – as educators, parents, siblings, relatives etc.

With the appropriate training and qualification in ECE, an early childhood educator will thus be able to provide appropriate skills to nurture our future – our child into great achiever while at the same time, ease parents’ mind - that their child is in the care of professionally trained personnel.

Here is an additional reading: Why Trained and Qualified Early Childhood Educators?