Early Years Professional Development Centre

What's in a Name? Indigenous? Aboriginal?

This brief module is an editorial comment about the way we determine specific words that have a powerful impact. It is not meant to be a module for certification credit, but is for increased understanding, learning and enlightenment.

This article has been written by the editorial team at the Early Years Professional Development Centre to address thoughts and feelings about the terminology used in the content in this category - Aboriginal or Indigenous. We understand the power of words and respect the impact our chosen words can have. We review the history and context of commonly and previously used terms.

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A Sense of Belonging: Supporting Healthy Child Development in Aboriginal Families

Author: Best Start Resource Centre

4 ECE Hours

Learning Bundle: $24

Learning Continuum: Foundation

If you enroll in this option, you will receive access to all 4 modules of the Sense of Belonging document​

1. Understanding Aboriginals’ Realities

2. Aboriginal Child Wellness

3. Understanding and Respecting Aboriginal Parenting

4. Approaches and Practice that Supports Aboriginal Parenting

These modules can also be enrolled in separately below.

Cultural Competence: A Goal Or A Beginning?

Author: Judith Colbert, PHD

1 ECE Hour

Module 4 of 4 (Diversity Series)

Learning Continuum: Enhanced

In the twenty-first century, societies are becoming increasingly varied. As an educator, it is likely that you encounter children from a wide variety of cultures and are called on to interact effectively with children and parents who communicate best in languages other than English. People who interact well with diverse individuals and groups are often said to have “cultural competence.”  In this module, we will explore ideas associated with cultural competence, safety and humility in relation to education, in an effort to characterize what is needed – and how it feels - to relate effectively with people from varied cultural backgrounds.

Quality Indicators in Programs for Children from Diverse Cultures

Author: Judith Colbert, PHD

1 ECE Hour

Learning Continuum: Enhanced

This module is about “quality.” On its own, that statement has relatively little meaning. Quality is difficult to define and means different things to different people. You will look first at the context in which programming is being offered, and then focus on ten established professional benchmarks of quality in early care and education to determine whether they continue to signal high quality care in settings serving diverse populations. If they don’t, you will have an opportunity to challenge those benchmarks and look at alternate ways of achieving quality.