Experiential Learning Requirements

Experiential Learning “supports students in gaining hands-on learning that helps them transition to employment”^[1] Experiential Learning can take the form of co-operative education, degree work placement, clinical/field placement, fieldwork/simulation labs, capstone/applied research projects, and service-learning.

ECE Field Placement Framework

The Early Childhood Education Curriculum offers students a blend of courses and practical work with children. Students will be able to relate their learning in class to their placement work.

• There are 3 field placements that all students will need to complete at a ‘C’ Grade to be successful. Students are placed in appropriate agencies so that they can be with children of the same age and stage that they will be focusing on in class.
• In 2nd semester students will work with children in either an Infant or Toddler setting. The 3rd and 4th semesters will offer experiences with preschool/school-age children in various community settings.
• Each field placement has a field manual that outlines essential competencies and elements of performance that will need to be consistently and successfully accomplished to move forward in the program. Refer to the Model Route for pre-requisites and co-requisites to field placement. 
• The ECE program represents standards that govern our Professional field of Early Childhood Education. It includes standards that are established by the Ministry of Education in the program Vocational Learning Outcomes and Essential Employability Skills and the College of ECE Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Failure to abide by any of these standards could result in termination of field placement and course failure.
• Field Placement experiences/agencies are arranged and organized by our Field Placement Coordinator. Students are not to seek out their own field placements and cannot be changed. Students who refuse to attend the assigned placement will not be assigned another placement. Students will have to take the course again when the course is offered, subject to the availability of placements. If students are terminated or quit Field Placement, they will receive an automatic ‘F’ Grade.
• Students who do not meet the minimum standard of acceptable and appropriate behavior, and/or have breached our Student Code of Conduct and/or the Disruptive Student Behavior policy may be considered ineligible for Field Placement.  
• All students must respect confidentiality and never disclose any information regarding the Agency, its RECE/Teachers and Employees or Children and their Families. Any breach in confidentiality and professional behaviour is a direct contravention of the College of Early Childhood Education Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. https://www.college-ece.ca/en/Documents/Code_and_Standards_2017.pdf
• Human Rights & Dispute Resolution Statement Centennial College is committed to providing a learning environment free from intimidation, harassment, and discrimination in which the rights and dignity of all individuals are acknowledged and respected. Students should report discrimination and/or harassment in their placement immediately to their Agency Field Supervisor and/or College Field Supervisor. Harassment, Discrimination and Violence Prevention Procedures.

ECE Field Placement Expectations

1. Students will be assigned to different agencies for each of their three field placement courses, in order to have a variety of experiences working with different childcare settings.
2. We recognize that travel time can be challenging for students for a variety of reasons, including transportation, child care, etc. We, therefore, encourage students to prepare for all such factors in advance of placement. All students must be prepared to travel for up to two hours and that start times can occur as early as 7:00 am until 6:00 pm which are child care hours of operation. This could also include a split shift, which represents our current ECE Child Care/Community Framework. During your field placement, you will be required to complete opening and closing shifts, following the lead of your agency supervising RECE/Teacher.
3. Some field agencies may require students to attend a mandatory orientation or information session prior to beginning placement. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the agency and attend this session or forfeit their placement for the semester.
4. Disclosure / Conflict of Interest – Students must disclose to the Agency Field Supervisor and College Field Supervisor any previous or current contacts they have had with Field Placement agency personnel and/or clients prior to their placement or immediately upon discovery of this information. Employment – students are not allowed to do their field placement position at a place where they work or where their children are in care (such as their childs school) as this is a conflict of interest.
5. All students will need to provide current and updated documents that are required by our agencies to begin each field placement. (Police Reference Check, Medical Form, First-Aid and CPR Certification Level C, Co-op work permit.) Some agencies may also have additional forms that will need to be completed by the student and our Field Placement Coordinator prior to starting field in a timely manner.

Required Field Placement Documents (updated Fall 2024)

• If you are not cleared by the first week of semester 2, you are required to contact your Student Success advisor directly and may not be eligible to complete your placement in your preferred term.

6. Students With Disabilities Statement; In compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Legislation (www.ohrc.on.ca) and Centennial College Accommodation Policy (www.centennialcollege.ca), students with disabilities shall be given reasonable accommodation to facilitate their learning. It is important to note that accommodation should not result in a diminishing of standards, but applies to the supports students need to achieve and demonstrate the Program Vocational Learning Outcomes. If you are a student registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) and require accommodation, please book an appointment with CALCS to prepare a field placement plan 2 months prior to the beginning of field placement. When you have your ISP profile, be sure to share this with our ECE Field Placement Coordinator, so they can ensure that you are assigned to a field placement agency that can make the accommodations needed. As well, you are encouraged to share your ISP profile with your Faculty Field Supervisor prior to beginning field in order to support your accommodation effectively.

7. The details of the expectations related to field practicum will be discussed in weeks 1 and 2 of your field placement course as well as in your 2nd and 3rd-semester seminar classes and 4th-semester Advocacy course as well as in the field practicum manual. You are responsible for achieving the requirements identified in the manual and following the policies. Ask questions and seek help if you are unclear about the expectations.

8. Students will be assigned a Faculty Field Supervisor who will support them through the placement, visit the agency, offer feedback about skill development and evaluate their performance. Agency RECE/Teachers will offer ongoing direction and feedback to the student and rate the students’ performance at mid-term and final. The final field placement grade is assigned by the Faculty Field Supervisor. Your grade will be an evaluation based on the agency supervising RECE/Teacher’s rating of your practice (work), your written evidence of practice (work), and the College Faculty Supervisor’s visits/meetings with you and observations of your performance/practice (work). Misrepresenting placement hours and/or other grades/rating scores/ and/or signatures is a serious contravention of Centennial’s Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy and will result in a failing grade for field placement.

9. In the event of a work-related injury or illness, please follow the following procedures:

• • Immediately report all work-related injuries and illnesses to the Agency Field Supervisor, College Field Supervisor and Field Placement Coordinator.
  • Assist in the completion of all related accident reports/required forms needed by the College.
  • Cooperate with, and provide relevant information to, the College, WSIB and Work Placement Employer.

10. It is a mandatory responsibility to professionally complete Parental Permission Forms for all assignment related observations of the children. These permission forms will need to be included with each assignment parental permission forms prior to your documented observations. Failure to do so will result in failed competencies and assignments.

11. Students who fail field placement must sign a Learning Contract that reviews their goals for success and the program standards prior to beginning the same field placement for the second time. Students who fail field placement a second time will be ineligible to enroll in any ECE Field Placement courses unless they meet with the Academic Chair and receive approval for enrolment. Students who fail their final field placement two (2) times must meet with the Coordinator and the Chair to review the situation after 1 year of Program Suspension.