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Early Childhood Education
People from a variety of backgrounds
enter into the PACE Early Childhood Education program in order to
complete a degree that gives them a university education with an
emphasis on childhood development. It is an attractive option for
those wanting to enhance their career working with young children,
either in a daycare setting, federal programs or in another environment.
Scheduled one night per week for several weeks, the courses fit
into busy schedules. Taking one topic at a time allows students
to focus on learning a topic thoroughly before moving on to the
next. The program takes you through Illinois state certification,
as well, resulting in graduates with better job access and career
mobility in the teaching fields.
The Early Childhood Education program is also offered on the campuses of Parkland College in Champaign and Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, as well as the Decatur campus. The Parkland and LLCC faculty coordinator is Karl Radnitzer, who may be reached at kradnitzer@millikin.edu or by phone (217) 420-6785.
Please look through the Early Childhood
Education section for detailed information about this program, or
call (217) 420-6778 for answers to your questions.
Overview
Candidates desiring teacher certification in Early Childhood Education
(Illinois type-04: 0 - grade 3) participate in a curriculum that
includes:
- a broad background in early childhood education
- methods classes offering instruction and assessment strategies
for teaching young children
- other professional education classes providing theory and experiences
concerning school, teachers, and learning
- understanding of the needs of young children with special needs
Mission
To prepare beginning teachers whose knowledge, skills
and dispositions promote a lifetime commitment to excellence in
teaching and learning.
Vision
When we prepare teachers who are journeying toward
excellence, those future teachers will direct their own students
toward excellence, thus continuing a cycle of learning and teaching.
Teacher Education
Unit Guidelines:
- The professional
educator engages in active learning. The teacher-learner
constructs knowledge, creates learning experiences that engage
all students and make the content meaningful, and values reflection.
- The professional educator creates communities of learning. The
teacher-learner understands individuals and can provide learning
opportunities that support development of all students; the teacher-learner
creates effective environments that value and appreciate diversity
and fosters critical thinking, active inquiry, collaboration and
supportive interaction.
- The professional
educator facilitates learning for others. The teacher-learner
understands and/or designs instructional planning, instructional
strategies, and various assessment strategies and uses them to
encourage authentic learning and continuous development.
- The professional
educator collaborates with others. The teacher-learner
understands the role of the community and understands education
as a profession, while demonstrating a willingness to give and
receive help.
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