Photographer: Fiddler, W. (2023, March 19). [Anishinaabe Baby].
Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Explore teachings, strategies, and resources that guide the inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing in early learning environments.
Participate in the following learning circles:
- All My Relations
- Learning through Indigenous Knowledges
- Children are a Gift
- Indigenous Family and Community
- Land as the First Teacher
- Indigenous Languages and Literacies
We are excited for you to participate in this Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed to empower and support educators, service providers and families to engage with Indigenous knowledges in early learning environments. The course offers a transformative learning experience, weaving together Indigenous worldviews and pedagogies with diverse perspectives. Co-created with community, educator and scholarly voices, this free, fully-online course is accessible to participants seeking to explore ways to enhance their practice and care environments through Indigenous ways of knowing. There are no admission prerequisites.
This course will be modelled on the pedagogical innovation of UBC’s highly successful course, Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education, led by Dr. Jan Hare, Dean and Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), Indigenous Pedagogy, which has engaged over 70,000 learners worldwide.
Quick Info
Length: 6-8 weeks
Course Opens: November 1, 2024
Format: Online
Cost: Free
Optional Certificate: Free*
Course Details
Learning Goals
- Immerse participants in Indigenous knowledges, histories, perspectives, pedagogies, and worldviews to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous ways of knowing in early learning and child care (ELCC) contexts.
- Cultivate culturally responsive approaches in all Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) settings that honour and support Indigenous and non-Indigenous children under six and their families by integrating Indigenous practices and values.
- Implement policy-driven strategies and foster partnerships that build capacity and training in early childhood education rooted in Indigenous knowledge. This aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #12, which advocates for the development of culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Indigenous families.
- Address the urgent need for professional learning and development that empowers ELCC educators and staff to:
- Enhance the quality and relevance of programs and services for all children through Indigenous ways of knowing.
- Incorporate Indigenous perspectives, practices, and values into their care, curriculum and environments.
- Provide accessible and systematic training to address the current gaps in professional development, ensuring ELCC educators and staff are supported with the necessary knowledge, tools, methodologies, and best practices informed by Indigenous knowledge holders, scholarship, pedagogical practices, histories, worldviews, and protocols.
Course Delivery
Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing is a non-credit online course comprising 24 hours of content offered through UBC Canvas Catalog. It is self-paced and offered entirely online with no real-time events. In the course’s initial launch, the 6 learning circles will be released one at a time, week-by-week, after which time the course will be fully open.
This course supports early childhood educators and service providers to fulfill their ongoing professional development requirements while learning and reflecting on Indigenous histories, perspectives, knowledges relevant to their practice. It encourages deeper learning among larger communities of practice, including early childhood educators, kindergarten teachers, service providers, policy makers, administrators, and families dedicated to the advancements of reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenous self-determination.
Cost
Registration for this course is free.
A verified certificate of completion is available with no cost until March 31st, 2025.
Please note that all fees are non-refundable. If you have any questions about refunds, please contact us at: info.pdce@ubc.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UBC MOOC?
MOOCs are internet-based, open-access courses offered free of charge to participants seeking to enhance professional development and skills training opportunities in an area of focus. As a professional development experience, a MOOC brings together a combination of learning tools (e.g., video lectures, online/offline reading, discussion forums, multimodal materials, and forms of assessment) with the flexibility of learning in modes that are self-paced, asynchronous, mobile, and interactive and that can reach urban, remote, and reserve locations. These MOOC features present an opportunity to explore, test, and develop innovative approaches for professional development and training in the ELCC sector on a large scale, focusing on Indigenous knowledge and approaches to improving practice and program and policy development.
This MOOC is a free, non-credit online course offered by the University of British Columbia. This is a self-paced course and no real-time events are scheduled.
What age range is referred to by “early years” or “early learning”?
The terms in this MOOC refers to children from infancy up to 12 years of age.
How do I begin the course?
Once you have registered for the course, you will receive an automated email from noreply@pdce.educ.ubc.ca with instructions to register for an account on Catalog.
Once you have activated your account, you will see Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing listed on your dashboard.
If you do not receive this email, please contact us at info.pdce@ubc.ca.
What is the time commitment?
While this will be unique for each participant, the estimated commitment is approximately 24 hours, or 3-4 asynchronous hours per week. Once you begin the course, you can progress at your own pace.
Verified Certificate
A verified certificate will be available for download from Canvas Catalog upon completion of the course.
When does registration close?
Registration for course opens on November 1, 2024. However, you can still register and begin the course after the start date.
How can I find technical support or answers to content-related questions?
Find answers to Canvas Catalog related FAQs here.
Additional questions regarding Canvas or technology related support may be directed to:
Additional questions regarding content may be directed to:
Register
Participation in this online course is FREE!
Follow the link below to register for the course.
