Press Room

Linking Future Leaders
by Carole Massing

Melanie, a student in early childhood development at an Alberta college, finishes homework and clicks to the Linking Future Leaders (LFL) discussion. Last night she posted a comment about males working in child care and she wants to see if anyone has responded.

In class, Kaley reviews new discussion postings on the Linking Future Leaders website with her classmates and instructor. Together, they compile a posting about legislative recognition for early childhood educators in Ontario.

Terri, a licensing officer in Yellowknife, takes part in an online discussion with representatives from professional associations in Alberta and Ontario. Their topic, "How can we raise the profile of our profession," arose from discussions among students on the Linking Future Leaders website.

During the Winter 2002 term, students in early childhood programs at seven colleges in British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon and Ontario participated in the pilot phase of the Linking Future Leaders project. Funded by the Social Development Partnerships Program and operating from Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, LFL connects students, instructors and other professionals in online discussions about professional issues.

Linking Future Leaders benefits students, instructors and the professional community.

. LFL allows students in early childhood education/development programs across Canada to share information and to learn from each other;
. LFL provides a vehicle instructors can use to promote awareness and action about issues in early childhood care and learning;
. LFL links students instructors, and the professional community in a way that supports collaborative action; and
. LFL encourages reflective practice in early childhood education/development.

Students who participated in the pilot project were enthusiastic about their experience. "It forces you to gain more knowledge so you can say what you think about an issue," notes one participant. "I like it because you could see everybody's point of view," comments another. "It made me feel that my opinion counts," "There's a feeling that we're not so isolated," and "It helps to know that you're not the only one dealing with these things," others explain.

Several participating instructors used the word "exciting" to describe the project. "The notion of this project is important and valuable in helping to create a sense of community and allowing for the exchange of ideas among students," says one instructor. "It promotes the use of technology in the field," notes another.

Early childhood education/development programs at English- and French-speaking colleges across Canada are welcome to participate in Linking Future Leaders activities during the 2002/03 academic year. Informed by the pilot project, the website now includes a hosted student discussion, resource links to relevant websites and regular online mini-conferences for professionals who discuss topics such as working conditions, and gender and diversity issues. Instructors can contribute to the mini-conferences and student discussions and to "meet" regularly to confer about the project.

The Linking Future Leaders student discussion is not open to the public, but the website may be accessed at www.hcs.gmcc.ab.ca/ecd/leaders. For more information or to discuss the project, please contact LinkingFutureLeaders@gmcc.ab.ca.

Carole Massing, PhD, teaches at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton and manages the Linking Future Leaders project.