An Early Childhood Education Faculty Community of Practice: A Model for Guiding Change

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Published: Jun 14, 2024

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Beverlie Dietze
Okanagan College Emerita
Deidre Craig
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Monique Goerzen
University of the Fraser Valley
Linda O'Donoghue
Bow Valley College
Tammie Hachey-Bell
New Brunswick Community College

Abstract

The term community of practice has different meanings to different users. While one group may envisage the term used for a group who come together for monthly meetings, another might view it as a professional learning model.  The community of practice model that was created and used with early childhood education faculty from across Canada is outlined. The model used guided collaboration among faculty as they increased their knowledge about outdoor pedagogy, developed skills for facilitating the development of curriculum, and applied knowledge and theory to an outdoor environment. This paper identifies the four key themes that evolved in the community of practice and how each theme contributed to the development of a model for guiding change in college environments and in contributing to faculty engaging in new ways of teaching and learning with students. This paper concludes with “lessons learned” about the impact of learning and changing practices of educators in college environments. 


Keywords: Early Childhood Education; Community of Practice, Faculty, Outdoor Pedagogy; Curricula

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2024): Research and Practice
Section
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Deidre Craig, Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Deidre Craig is a faculty member in Early Childhood Education at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, is a Certified Child Life Specialist, and is completing an Advanced Certificate in Adult Teaching and Learning. Deidre has worked alongside children, youth, families, and adult learners in British Columbia and Saskatchewan for more than 30 years in community counselling agencies, elementary schools, regional colleges, and a children's hospital. She is passionate about play and actively practices and models outdoor pedagogy with students and faculty as she shifts her teaching and learning outdoors.

Monique Goerzen, University of the Fraser Valley

Monique Goerzen is an associate professor at University of the Fraser Valley, in British Columbia.  Monique has worked in a variety of educational settings, from a parent-participation preschool, a grade one classroom in Behchoko, Northwest Territories, a community agency with Ktunaxa Nation, to mentoring early childhood education students in practicum. 

Linda O'Donoghue, Bow Valley College

Linda O'Donoghue is an instructor in the Early Childhood Education and Development program at Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta. She holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Special Needs Education, a Bachelor's degree with Distinction in Child and Youth Care Studies, and a Master's degree in Education specializing in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning.  Linda has worked in a variety of settings including preschools, childcare centres, after school care programs, and elementary schools. 

 

Tammie Hachey-Bell, New Brunswick Community College

Tammie Hachey-Bell is an instructor in the Early Childhood Education program at New Brunswick Community College.  Tammie holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and a Master’s in Adult Education. Tammie has worked in various settings, including early learning centers, community programs with young families, elementary schools, university, instructor development programs and facilitating professional development with early learning centers in the NB early learning and childcare curriculum framework.