Early Childhood Recommended Practice Modules (RPMs) are developed for early care and education, early intervention, and early childhood special education faculty and professional development providers to use within their coursework and trainings. These modules are designed to support the implementation of the DEC Recommended Practices.
Modules
Explore free interactive, multimedia modules and lessons focused on a specific DEC Recommended Practices topic area.
Introduction
This five-minute introductory module will guide your navigation through the controls and features of the lessons.
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Introduction to the ModulesModule 1: Interaction
This module will help you learn to support children's learning and development through quality adult-child and child-child interactions.
- Lesson 1 provides a summary of the research on interaction by Dr. Jeanette McCollum.
- In Lesson 2 and Lesson 3, nonverbal and verbal cues, behaviors and interests of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will be described. You will learn how observing children's behavior is critical in helping you interpret and provide responsive interaction with children. You will also practice using observation of a child's behavior to identify and interpret the child's interests, abilities, and emotions by watching and thinking about several video illustrations.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on interaction.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Explain what is meant by sensitive and responsive interactions to support children's development in language, cognitive and emotional competence
- Observe, interpret and respond contingently to support children's learning and development in language, cognitive and emotional competence
Module 2: Transition
This module will help you support the transitions of children with disabilities and their families between and among services, supports, and programs.
- In Lesson 1, the research on transition practices is summarized by Dr. Beth Rous.
- Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 explain program transition practices that can support a child's successful adjustment and positive outcomes and share a variety of planned and timely strategies to support children's successful adjustment and positive outcomes for both the child and family.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on transition.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Explain what are program transition practices that can support a child's successful adjustment and positive outcomes
- Use a variety of planned and timely strategies to support children's successful adjustment and positive outcomes for both the child and family
Module 3: Environment
In this module you will learn the components of a child's natural and inclusive environment and why attending to the environment is crucial for children with disabilities.
- In Lesson 1, Dr. Lori Meyer and Tricia Catalino define environment and summarize the research on environmental practices.
- Lesson 2 uses many examples to provide information on the components of the environment.
- In Lesson 3, you will learn how to observe the child's level of participation in an activity and identify how it could be increased. You will also learn how to modify or adapt the environment, and how to use assistive technology to support child learning.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on learning environments.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Recognize the physical, temporal, and social environment
- Identify when modifications should be made to make the environment more inclusive
- Make modifications to environments based on what is presented in this module
Module 4: Teaming and Collaboration
In this module you will learn the components of teaming and collaboration and why teaming and collaboration amongst practitioners and families is crucial for children with disabilities.
- In Lesson 1, Chelsea Guillen summarizes the research on teaming and collaboration practices.
- Lesson 2 uses many examples and activities to present strategies on how to best to support families as full team members and work effectively as a team.
- Lesson 3 focuses on building the capacity of all team members.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on teaming and collaboration.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Explain what are practices that can support teaming and collaboration
- Collaborate with other practitioners and support families as full team members
Module 5: Family
This module will help you learn to support children's learning and development through quality adult-child and child-child interactions. Completion of this module will enable you to explain what family-centered practices are, describe how to build the capacity of families, and strategies for building trusting partnerships with families.
- In Lesson 1, Dr. Carol Trivette summarizes the research on family practices.
- Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 share strategies on how to treat families with respect, involve them in decision-making, help them to increase their confidence and competence, and encourage effective collaboration with other professionals. Much of this work is accomplished with examples and activities.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on engaging and supporting families.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Explain what are family-centered practices, describe how to build the capacity of families, and build trusting partnerships with families
- Use strategies that build relationships with families and include opportunities to build the capacity of families
Module 6: Instruction
This module will help you understand practices that support instruction.
- In Lesson 1, Dr. Ilene Schwartz shares information about what the research says about instructional practices and why the practices are important for children with and without disabilities.
- Lesson 2 uses many video examples to help define instructional practices, including the five common characteristics across all types of instructional practices. The four phases of learning are also covered.
- In Lesson 3, The four phases of learning are visited again with a scenario with a dual language family.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on using instructional practices.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Explain what are instructional practices, describe how they support children's learning outcomes
- Use strategies that are intentional, systematic that can support the four phases of learning
Module 7: Assessment
This module will help you understand practices that support assessment.
- In Lesson 1, Dr. Jane Squires shares information about what the research says about assessment practices and why the practices are important.
- Lesson 2 defines assessment, describes the purposes of assessment, and explains the legal requirements of assessment as it pertains to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- The primary focus of Lesson 3 is learning how to use assessment to monitor child progress and evaluate child outcomes.
- In Voices from the Field, practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on using assessment practices.
Learning Objectives
Completion of this module will enable you to:
- Explain what assessment practices are, and describe how they support children's short-term and long-term goals
- Describe key assessment principles to make optimal data-driven decisions related to intervention practices
Instructor Area
Access learning guides for faculty and professional development providers.
Instructor AreaResource Library
Search a library of audio clips, handouts, and activities related to DEC Recommended Practices.
Resource LibraryAbout the RPMs
These modules support learners in:
- Understanding and practicing using the DEC Recommended Practices in a risk-free environment
- Gaining confidence and competence in using the DEC Recommended Practices within their real-world practice
These free interactive, multimedia modules can be easily accessed, downloaded, and embedded in your coursework and professional development sessions. Each module contains several lessons. You are free to embed only the content you need and are not obligated to include a module in its entirety.
If you have questions about using the RPMs in your curricula or require SCORM-ready lessons to embed in your LMS, contact: rpm@unc.edu
These modules and resources are based on the work by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC). The contents of the site were developed under grant #H326P120002 from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.