Overview Module One
| Site: | RRU Open Educational Resources |
| Course: | Relational Leadership |
| Book: | Overview Module One |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 11 May 2025, 3:52 PM |
Welcome to Module 1: An Ethics of Care
The word care is a familiar and widely used term in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field in British Columbia. However, the idea of care and its implications for an early childhood educator, leader or manager’s practice is interpreted and activated in various contextual ways.As a result, there is tension and, at times, conflicting views about the role of care within the field. This course will examine the idea of care through a Feminist Ethics of Care.
It is vital to consider taken-for-granted terms (words we think everyone understands the same way) alongside a framework, theory, philosophy, etc., to give early-year’s professionals the ability to articulate and discuss practices, ideas, and expansive standpoints. Coming alongside a framework is not meant to define or limit practice but rather give educators, managers, and other professionals within the field of ECE something to stand on and return to working within their diverse and particular contexts.
Consider the following statement from the BC Early Learning Framework (2019) as you move through this section:
“Inclusive learning and care: The principle that children of all abilities, including children with diverse abilities and needs, have equitable access to quality learning and child care and are supported in play and learning along with other children in a regular program. Inclusive learning and care supports the individual strengths and needs of each child, allowing them to meaningfully engage, learn, and contribute to the community and culture of their program. All educators, providers, and parents/caregivers collaborate as a team to meet the needs of children in their programs. The presence and engagement of a diverse group of children provides significant opportunities to learn about, value and celebrate diversity in communities” (British Columbia Ministry of Education, 2019, p. 19)
The estimated time to complete Module One based on content, activities, and assessments is ten hours (10 hours or 600 minutes)References
British Columbia Ministry of Education. (2019). British Columbia Early Learning Framework. Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Children and Family Development, & Early Advisory Group.
West, S. (2022, July 18). Philosophize this! Episode #168 Introduction to an ethics of care [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/sxfbWdShtSo?si=EY3CrgJU6-LmV8DN
Learning outcomes serve as a valuable resource to guide your learning journey and ensure you can maximize your learning experience. The primary purpose of this section is to clearly communicate the intended learning outcomes of Module One: an Ethics of Care.
The learning outcomes for Module One align with the content, activities, and assessments you will encounter throughout Module One, enabling you to track your growth and identify improvement opportunities.
After completing all activities and the reflective assessment within Module One, participants will:
- Develop leadership approaches rooted in an Ethics of Care (and in alignment with ECEBC’s Code of Ethics)
- Understand the role of leadership within interconnected systems
- Cultivate necessary dispositions for ECE leadership within 21st century conditions
- Foster practices and dispositions that co-create the conditions for a centre culture of collectivity, such as openness, curiosity, and collaboration
Module One Activities and Assessment
The activities within Module One include:
- ACTIVITY 1.1 | Self-Reflection on the Discourse of Care - invites you to explore perceptions of care by recalling moments from childhood and recent professional interactions, helping you to contextualize care in ECE leadership and learning environments.
- ACTIVITY 1.2 | An Ethics of Care: Unpacking the Implications - explore an external resource to delve into in-depth considerations, critiques, dialogues, and myths surrounding the implications of care in Early Childhood Education (ECE).
- ACTIVITY 1.3 | Implications of "Care" - reflect on how your understanding of care has evolved, what surprised you, and how this learning will shape your future practice.