Curriculum Orientation
an interactive eLearning course
This project was a concept course created to introduce early childhood education staff to the various curricula that teachers utilize in their pre-school classrooms. Based on my experience as an early childhood program coordinator, and my existing relationship with the administrative team, I identified real learning gaps for staff at Richardson Early Learning Center. I then identified hypothetical solutions to the problem, and designed and developed an eLearning experience to address the performance gaps in a meaningful and engaging way. The course was designed to review content that would be addressed on a deeper level during monthly professional development experiences, and is tailored to the existing curricula and knowledge of the learners.
Audience: Returning and newly hired early childhood educators and staff
Responsibilities: Instructional design, eLearning development, graphic design
Tools Used: Articulate Rise, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Powtoon
Problem and Solution
The problem at Richardson Early Learning Center was the need to introduce early childhood education staff to the diverse curricula used in preschool classrooms. Drawing from my background as an early childhood program coordinator, I recognized the real learning gaps faced by the staff. I formulated hypothetical solutions and proceeded to design and develop an eLearning experience aimed at addressing these performance gaps effectively and engagingly. The course serves as a foundation, providing an overview of content to be explored in-depth during monthly professional development sessions, aligning closely with the learners' existing curricula and knowledge.
Process
The instructional design process began with the identification of learning gaps and the creation of a solution concept. Drawing from my expertise, and by collaborating with an additional subject matter expert, I designed and developed an eLearning experience tailored to the needs of early childhood education staff at Richardson Early Learning Center. The content was structured to provide a fundamental understanding of curricula used in preschool classrooms, setting the stage for more detailed exploration during subsequent professional development sessions. I shared the concept project with staff and educators on the Richardson team to practice evaluation and integration of feedback, until each volunteer learner successfully completed the course and met the learning objectives.
Course Map
Reflection
This eLearning project allowed me to leverage my background as an early childhood program coordinator and establish a collaborative solution for the staff at Richardson Early Learning Center. Recognizing the specific needs of the learners and tailoring the course accordingly was a key success factor. It reinforced the notion that by identifying performance gaps and engaging in a thoughtful instructional design process, we can bridge knowledge deficiencies effectively. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of creating a foundation for ongoing professional development, ensuring that learners are well-prepared for deeper curriculum exploration.