Students in the Early Childhood Education program at St. Clair College are about to get a hands-on crash course about education and culture during a trip to Urbania, Italy.
The annual trip is tailored to future educators, introducing them to the "MOF" Method – also known as the Finish Organizational Model, which aims to help educators rediscover the joy of learning and teaching, combat the fragmentation of knowledge, streamline the school experience and support leaders with competency-based learning programs.
The nine-day trip will be packed with hands-on exposure to the Italian education system, where innovative teaching models are explored, in collaboration with Centro Studi Italiani and Istituto Omnicomprensivo Della Rovere.
"I expect to gain a broader understanding of early childhood education from an international perspective, particularly how different cultural values and teaching approaches influence child development and learning," said Natalie Mills, an ECE student at St. Clair College. "I'm also hoping to deepen my knowledge of play-based learning and how it is implemented in Italian early learning environments."
Mills – one of nine St. Clair College students going to Italy – is especially looking forward to hands-on experiences, such as visiting early childhood education centres, observing educators in practice, and engaging directly with different teaching methods.
"Being immersed in another country's education system will allow us to connect theory to real-world practice in a meaningful way," Mills said. "The opportunity to see how educators interact with children in Italy and to compare it with what we've learned in Canada is especially exciting."
Classmate Grace Sylvester said she's excited to learn about pedagogy and Italy's rich history at the same time.
"Italy is the father of quite a few amazing pedagogical theories, so I can't wait to see how they lead their education," Sylvester said. "I'm expecting to be immersed in history and be able to see how this works in classrooms firsthand. I'm especially excited about the food and the culture – it's such a beautiful place with such a grand history and I can't wait to see it and walk where history has stood."
The curriculum for students will include pre-school observation days, in-class activities, numerous ‘meet the experts' sessions, on-site collaborative training and dining and cultural enrichment with local students and teachers.
By the end of the program students will have explored many Italian educational practices and will be equipped to develop their own educational identity rooted in empathy, innovation, and intercultural sensitivity.
The students will also attend conversational Italian classes and have an opportunity to visit Rome, Italy at the end of the trip.
"Participating in an experiential learning opportunity in Italy enables students to broaden their perspectives beyond Windsor and Canada, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in a variety of cultures, languages, customs, and traditions," said Biagio Lattuca, the Chair of the School of Community Studies. "This transformative experience fosters open-mindedness, which is an essential trait in our interconnected world."
Lattuca said the trip also inspires students by introducing them to diverse early childhood education models, including those developed by Maria Montessori and Antonella Accili, who introduced the Montessori model in Italy.
"Observing these high-quality programs in action ignites their enthusiasm and encourages them to incorporate innovative practices into their future roles working with children," Lattuca said. "These experiences not only enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills but also set St. Clair College apart from other early childhood education programs."
Students left for Italy on March 21 and return at the end of the month.
They are financially supported by the CIBPA Scholarship and by St. Clair Alumni.
"I think this is a unique and valuable opportunity for students in the ECE program to expand their perspectives, build confidence, and grow both personally and professionally," said Mills.
"Experiences like this can have a lasting impact on how we approach our future careers as educators."
