The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario and Red River College have partnered to offer four online workshops. The workshop content (videos, readings, links, games, discussions) is completely online and available to participants over a two-week period. Participants have complete flexibility to work through the materials at times that are most convenient for them. The content is from the Science of Early Child Development (SECD). SECD’s engaging, multimedia resources are used around the world by people who want to learn more about the impact of the early years on lifelong health and well-being.

In the SECD online professional development (PD) workshops, participants access multimedia content and “meet” each other in online discussion groups, over the course of two to three weeks. Participants will have online access to all workshop content (videos, readings, links, games, discussions) over a two-week period and have complete flexibility to work through the materials at times that are most convenient for them. 

A facilitator oversees each workshop by welcoming, orienting and guiding participants. 

Participants explore websites; do short readings; watch videos of experts, children and programs; and play interactive review games. Ultimately, by exploring the engaging content and then sharing ideas and reflecting with other participants in the online learning community, participants can enhance their work with children and families.

Focusing on Play

March 1 - 14, 2018

All Early Childhood Educators know the power and absolute necessity of play. This session will provoke participants to reflect on their current practices, to learn from others and to consider new ways to provide play opportunities and support children’s right to play.

Topics include:

• Risky play
• Active play
• Outdoor play
• The role of play in self-regulation
• The value of play for learning and development
• Setting the stage for play

Participants will watch videos of children playing around the world, hear from experts discussing the topics, do short readings and play interactive review games. Participants will “meet” in online discussions, guided by a facilitator, to hear each other’s ideas, reflect on and apply what they learn.  

Workshop facilitators from Red River College will be in touch with workshop participants to provide access information and orientation, and answer questions, approximately two days before the workshop begins.

Participants can choose the times that are most convenient for them between the period of March 1 - 14, 2018

This is equivalent to a full day workshop or six hours of professional learning. 

The Focusing on Play Workshop is now full.