ECE209 - Human Rights and Social Justice in Early Learning and Care

Outline information
Semester
Schools offering this subject
Last revision date 2024-03-11 00:30:00.58
Last review date 2024-03-11 00:30:00.58

Subject Title
Human Rights and Social Justice in Early Learning and Care

Subject Description
This course invites students on a journey in human rights, social issues, equity, and social justice. Students will engage in critical and reflective thinking to notice and disrupt inequities to learn about human rights, including children's rights. The roles of educators in an ecosystem of relations, for the wellbeing of children living in a complex and pluralistic society, honouring diversity in all its forms will be examined.

Credit Status
ECE 209 is an Early Childhood Education Diploma Program prescribed subject.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this subject, the student will be able to:

1. Describe human rights and child rights and their applicability in early learning and care practice.
2. Examine inequities in Canada and Rights of Indigenous Peoples to honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis ways of being in relationships with children, families, communities, and colleagues.
3. Articulate professional responsibilities in supporting the wellbeing of children through the protection of human rights diversities for all marginalized peoples.
4. Explain the complex and interrelated factors that influence personal values, and interpersonal relationships in diverse pluralistic contexts while supporting social justice and systemic change.
5. Apply intercultural communication skills to support relationships of reciprocity and care that honour diversity.
6. Analyze intersectional forms of racism in Canada and the implications for children, families, educators, and communities to dismantle structural and systemic racism.




ECE VOCATIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES
 
This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
 
As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the ability to:
 

  • Create learning contexts to enable, build and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families and communities that value and respect social, cultural and linguistic diversity including Indigenous peoples' worldviews and Francophone identity.
  • Co-create, facilitate and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and childcare programs and pedagogical approaches to support children's learning, holistic development and well-being following children's capabilities, interests, ideas and experiences. 
  • Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families and communities in a range of early years and childcare settings.
  • Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking and healthy development and well-being.
  • Use observation strategies to identify children's strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources.
  • Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities and children's service agencies to meet legal and ethical standards of the early years sector. 
  • Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on one's own role in early years and childcare settings.
  • Identify, report and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies and procedures.
  • Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, inter-disciplinary professionals, authorities and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and childcare programs and services.
  • Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators.

Essential Employability Skills

    •  Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken and visual form that fulfils the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.

    •  Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.

    •  Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.

    •  Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

    •  Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.

    •  Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.