Course Orientation
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca 🍁 |
| Course: | Early Learning and Child Care 30 Modules |
| Book: | Course Orientation |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Thursday, 18 September 2025, 3:25 PM |
Description
Created by IMSreader
1. Course Orientation
Course Orientation
Introduction
© Monkey Business/8521382/Fotolia
Congratulations on your successful completion of the prerequisite course, CCS3120!
CCS3130: Early Learning and Child Care 3 is a one-credit course focused on children’s social, emotional, and creative development. This course also addresses how children’s development can be promoted through well-planned and developmentally appropriate play.
In CCS3120 you were introduced to the mnemonic SPICE of Life. You learned about children’s physical, intellectual, and language development. In CCS3130 you will learn about the other developmental areas: social, emotional, and creative.
Assessment
Each session includes learning activities. Your course grade will be determined through these activities. As you progress through this course, you and your teacher will decide the weighting of each session and individual learning activities within each session.
You will also observe and interact with children and child care providers in a child care facility. You will spend approximately 10–12 hours in a child care facility.
Timelines
The time allotted for this course is 25 hours. There are four sessions. Each session will take approximately 4 hours to complete. You may need more time to complete some sessions and less time to complete others.
As you work through the course, you will also spend time developing a course strategies box for the Course Project. You will finish by completing the Course Summary.
Icon Legend
The following icons are included in this course as visual reminders of what you need to do:
Checking In
You will need to contact your teacher.
Checking My Understanding
You will complete an activity to see how well you understand the information presented.
Child Care Facility
You will need to go to a child care facility to complete an activity.
Course Project
You will work on your course project.
Toolkit
The Toolkit is a library of the important documents presented to you throughout the course. Go to the Toolkit at any time to see the following documents and all of the rubrics and checklists:
1.1. Student Expectations
Course Orientation
Student Expectations
In order to earn credit in this course and in the other Early Learning and Child Care courses, you must achieve a mark of not less than 50%. This mark will represent an average of marks achieved for all curriculum outcomes.
You must obtain credit in each of the Early Learning and Child Care courses (CCS3110, CCS3120, CCS3130, CCS3140, and CCS3150) in order to be eligible for the Child Development Assistant Certificate.
To help you keep track of your progress in CCS3130, use the Course Completion Checklist, which is also available in the Toolkit. Download and save the Course Completion Checklist to your computer now, and remember to use it as you work through the course.
Support Expectations
Your teacher is available to support you by doing the following:
- addressing any questions or concerns you have about the course content or the learning activities
- assessing your competency (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) and communicating your progress to you
- supporting you in understanding the terms related to early learning and child care
File Management
You will be asked to save your learning activities and other work in a course folder on your computer.
To create a course folder on your desktop, right-click on your desktop, click on “New,” and then on “Folder.” Name the folder with the appropriate course name. To create sub-folders, double-click to open the folder you just created. Under the “File” menu, click on “New,” and then on “Folder.” Create as many sub-folders as you require, usually one for each session plus one for the summary. Need help? Talk with your teacher or search the Internet for instructions and demonstrations.
You will need to have a discussion with your teacher to determine when and how the work you save in your course folder should be submitted to your teacher.
Preparing to Go to a Child Care Facility
You are required to spend time and to complete some learning activities in a child care facility where you will have access to children aged 0–5 years. If possible, it is recommended that you do all of your work at the same facility. The following is a list of acceptable types of child care facilities:
- licensed child care (day care) centre
- licensed preschool (sometimes called a nursery school or playschool)
- approved family day home agency
- licensed out of school care program with children aged five years old
Important: A kindergarten program will not fulfill the requirements of this course because of the kindergarten program structure.
Read and discuss with your teacher the Protocol for Working with Children and Child Care Providers, which is also available in the Toolkit.
Because children are the most vulnerable members of society, a current (dated within six months) Criminal Record Check is usually required in order to work, volunteer, or observe children in a child care facility. Contact your local police department to find out how to apply for a Criminal Record Check.
1.2. Certification and Careers
Course Orientation
Certification and Careers
Child Development Assistant Certification
A Child Development Assistant Certificate is issued by Alberta Children and Youth Services and entitles you to work at a licensed preschool program, out-of-school care program, day care program, or approved family day home agency.
The training required to receive the Child Development Assistant Certificate can be obtained by completing any one of the following three programs:
- Early Learning and Child Care 1–5 (CCS3110, CCS3120, CCS3130, CCS3140, and CCS3150) in high school
- Child Care Orientation Course (funded by Alberta Children and Youth Services) at an Alberta post-secondary college or online
- a three-credit (45-hour) post-secondary course in the field of early learning and child care
If you take the courses in high school, you must submit an application and proof of course completion (e.g., transcripts or teacher recommendation) to the Child Development Branch of Alberta Children and Youth Services in order to obtain a Child Development Assistant Certificate. This application is available on the Alberta Children and Youth Services website.
For more information, read the following requirements for certification as a Child Development Assistant.
Requirements for Certification as a Child Development Assistant
In order to obtain certification as a child development assistant, you must
- demonstrate an understanding of all learning outcomes included in Early Learning and Child Care 1–5 (CCS3110, CCS3120, CCS3130, CCS3140, and CCS3150) or in the Child Care Orientation Course
- complete ALL learning activities included in, and obtain a passing grade in, Early Learning and Child Care 1–5 (CCS3110, CCS3120, CCS3130, CCS3140, and CCS3150) or in the Child Care Orientation Course (At this point, your teacher may provide you with a recommendation for certification as a Child Development Assistant.)
- be at least 16 years old
- complete an Application for Child Care Certification, available from Alberta Children and Youth Services
- submit your completed application and either your teacher’s recommendation or a copy of your high school transcript, which verifies completion of Early Learning and Child Care 1–5 (CCS3110, CCS3120, CCS3130, CCS3140, and CCS3150), to the address provided on the Application for Child Care Certification
Enrolling in a Post-Secondary Early Learning and Child Care Program
If you have successfully completed Early Learning and Child Care 1–5 (CCS3110, CCS3120, CCS3130, CCS3140, and CCS3150), and are planning to continue your studies in Early Learning and Child Care in an Alberta post-secondary program, you are eligible to receive a scholarship worth $2500. The High School Child Care Career Scholarship is sponsored by Alberta Children and Youth Services.
You can get the application for this scholarship from the Alberta Children and Youth Services website. Choose the Programs and Services tab at the top of the page, and then browse to Child Care from either the menu on the left of the page or from the links on the Programs and Services page. Browse to Forms and Guides, and then select High School/Child Care Career Scholarship Application. While on the website, look for other information on professional development funding to achieve higher levels of certification in the future.
Entering the Workforce After High School
A Child Development Assistant Certificate entitles you to work at a licensed preschool program, out-of-school care (OSC) program, day care program, or approved family day home agency. When starting work for the first time at either an out-of-school or day care program, you will be entitled to a $2500 Staff Attraction Incentive Allowance through Alberta Children and Youth Services. Hourly wage top-ups are also available if the child care program is accredited or working toward accreditation.
You will need to apply for these benefits within two months of starting your job, and you will be paid once you have worked for at least 80 hours per month for one year (40 hours per month for OSC programs).
To learn more about the Staff Attraction Incentive or about Alberta Children and Youth Services-sponsored wage top-ups and Professional Development Funding Grants, check out the Forms and Guides page on the Programs and Services tab of the Alberta Children and Youth Services website.
Did You Know?
Many career pathways can begin with the knowledge and skills you will gain by taking Early Learning and Child Care courses. Some of these careers include the following:
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early childhood educator
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early childhood professional
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child care program director
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child development worker
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family support worker
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child counsellor
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family enhancement worker
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family-school liaison
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school teacher
Environmental Impact
Stop! Consider the environment before you print!
Can you think of ways to recycle to reduce computer waste? Here are a few recycling strategies to remember as you complete this course:
- paper reduction and recycling
- toner cartridge recycling
- computer equipment recycling
1.3. Session Overviews
Course Orientation
Session Overviews
Session 1: Social-Emotional Development
In Session 1 you will learn about the importance of meeting children’s social and emotional needs. You will also learn ways for child care providers to encourage and support children’s development of positive self-esteem.
Session 2: Creative Development
In Session 2 you will focus on the importance of creativity as it relates to the development of the whole child. Emphasis is placed on the child care provider’s role in providing an environment that supports and encourages the stages of creative development.
Session 3: Developing Through Play
In Session 3 you will draw on your early memories of play to help identify the characteristics of play. You will also learn how important it is for child care providers to provide and support a variety of play experiences to encourage children’s development.
Session 4: Providing for Play
As you work through Session 4, you will again focus on children’s play. You will consider how child care providers plan and prepare the environment for maximum exploration and learning opportunities to support the development of children. Children’s development is enriched when child care providers understand how to enhance the learning environment with appropriate play spaces, materials, and interaction.
Course Project
While completing Sessions 1–4, you will apply your learning as you build on the strategies box you started in CCS3120. Read about the Course Project now.