Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/practical-expertise-viewpoints-of-cda-online-educated-early-childhood-teachers/5027093/
Bridging Research and Practice
Bridging Research and Practice features varied aspects of research related to early childhood education with a reference to previously published research. Each article contains practical strategies for putting the research into action for teachers, administrators, and teacher educators.
To learn more, including how to contribute, visit: ExchangePress.com/research
Apprenticeship has long served as a mechanism to guide the development of practical expertise of a novice under the supervision of a master practitioner. Teachers who have both content knowledge and have gained practical expertise through apprenticeships are able to interpret situations and apply their skills to increase student learning. In a nutshell, teacher education is most effective when it provides content knowledge and practice applying it in a classroom with an expert teacher (apprenticeship).
A review of state child care center licensing requirements for children birth to 5 revealed that an apprenticeship is not mandatory for child care center teachers in any state in the United States. Instead, center directors generally hire child care teachers upon completion of a content knowledge preparation program alone.
The Child Development Associate credential was first designed to include an apprenticeship, much like public school student teaching requirements. ...