Instructor Area
Guides to assist you. Discussion to exchange ideas. Tutorials to orient you.
Learning Guides by Module
- Module 1: Interaction
- Module 2: Transition
- Module 3: Environment
- Module 4: Teaming and Collaboration
- Module 5: Family
- Module 6: Instruction
- Module 7: Assessment
DEC Recommended Practices Crosswalks
These crosswalks facilitate alignment of the DEC Recommended Practices with professional standards presented in the 2012 CEC and 2010 NAEYC Initial Professional Standards, and the 2017 DEC Initial Specialty Set Knowledge and Skill Statements.
- Introduction to the Crosswalks
- Crosswalk for Interaction
- Crosswalk for Transition
- Crosswalk for Environment
- Crosswalk for Teaming and Collaboration
Additional Guidance
Module Organization
In these modules, learners experience a strategy called the PDSA (Plan, Do, Study and Act) cycle that will help them learn about, implement, and make improvements to their use of the DEC Recommended Practices.
The three questions that are central to the PDSA cycle are:
- What are we trying to accomplish?
- How will we know if the change is an improvement?
- What changes can we make to our practice that will result in an improvement?
Each module is organized in the following way:
Plan
In Plan, leaners will consider why we need to focus on interaction practices, and will acquire and apply knowledge on interaction practices via self-guided interactive activities.
Learning Lessons
Identify a challenge, learn about the multiple sources of evidence, strategies, and outcomes that will be monitored. This phase of the learning is divided into five sections:
- Setting the Stage
- Lesson 1: Ask the Expert
- Lesson 2: Gathering Information
- Lesson 3: Taking Action
- Voices from the Field
Do
In Do, learners will have the opportunity to tie it all together in a scenario-based interactive activity. In addition, leaners will have opportunities to try out the practices in either classrooms, practicum placement, or through role-playing activities.
Practice Activities
Carry out the practices to address challenges:
- Scenario-based activity
- Additional activities for carrying out the practices in the classroom
Study
In Study, learners will be introduced to tools and strategies that can help them know if the change is an improvement.
Evaluating Progress
Use measures and tools to help evaluate and track progress.
Act
Then, in Act, leaners will consider what changes they can make that will result in an improvement in their practice. To make optimal use of interactional practices, the Study and Act phases are best used with guidance from you—the instructor, coach, or director.
Developing an Action Plan
Develop an action plan, consider supplemental resources that can help improve implementation, and take the practices back into the classroom.
However, if working self-paced, leaners can still benefit by using the evaluation tools in Study to reflect on their own practice. Then the action plan (and other supplemental resources) in Act help leaners make actual improvements, as well as dive deeper into the practices.