Enhancing Fieldwork Supervision During Early Childhood Inclusive Practicum Placements

Opportunity for Collaboration Between Institutes of Higher Education

Authors

  • Sandra Bequette
  • Reagan Murnan
  • Marie Kohart
  • Jennifer Francois
  • Kimberly Wilson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55370/hsdialog.v27i1.1799

Keywords:

Collaboration, Early childhood, field experience, inclusion, Practicum

Abstract

This manuscript outlines a collaborative initiative among four state universities to enhance practicum and field-based experiences for early childhood education (ECE) candidates. Grounded in research highlighting the impact of early childhood experiences, the collaboration addresses challenges in the ECCE workforce by fostering inclusive decision-making and engagement with ECCE partners. Through dialogue and partnership, the initiative aims to ensure comprehensive training and support for future early childhood educators. It highlights the evolution of practicum experiences, emphasizing collaborative relationships between novice teachers, mentor teachers, and university supervisors. Key components include the creation of universal training modules and an open-source platform to house training materials. The manuscript concludes with recommendations for enhancing practicum experiences and addressing workforce challenges, emphasizing ongoing collaboration and partnership in promoting high-quality early childhood education.

Published

2024-11-16