Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma at Bow valley

Program Description

You can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. The 16-month (full-time) Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Diploma program (formerly referred to as the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma) prepares you to provide quality child care in a wide variety of settings and plan emergent play experiences for the children in your care. You will gain knowledge in child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning that will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centered learning experiences.

Innovative learning lab and practicum project

The Early Childhood Education and Development learning lab combines classroom space with interactive children’s learning centres that include an artist studio, a reading centre, a dramatic play centre, and a sensory motor centre. This innovative and engaging environment supports the transition of theory to practice as students have an opportunity to engage with children in the lab space.

Practicum project

Learners have the opportunity to participate in the practicum project. You will take your practicum in our lab classroom, be mentored by Bow Valley College ECED instructors, and will work alongside educators, children, and parents from the YWCA at Bow Valley College Child Care Centre. This practicum focuses on emergent, child-centred, and play-based curriculum. You will focus on building strong and healthy relationships with the children and with all parties involved in the practicum experience. You will be involved in observing, documenting, and planning the curriculum to meet children’s individual needs, interests, and development. By focusing on the belief that children, by nature, are unique and competent, we join children in their learning by encouraging exploration and creative expressions in richly designed environments that you create.

Award-winning curriculum

• Program Excellence Award – Association of Canadian Community Colleges, 2010
• Innovation of the Year – League for Innovation in the Community College, 2009

International practicum

You can put your knowledge into practice in an overseas community working with community schools and agencies. In June 2012 and May 2013, learners went to rural Uganda. In 2014, learners went to Jamaica, and in 2015, 2016, and 2018, they went to Guyana, South America.