Innovative, Research-Based Professional Development for Child & Youth Educators
The Virtual Lab School empowers professionals as they build their knowledge and skills around research-based practices in child and youth care and development. This new approach to professional development and learning incorporates practice-based coaching and also includes:
- Expert Narratives
- Research Based Practices
- Streaming Video
- Reflective Questions
- Downloadable Activities & Resources
or learn more about the VLS below...
Tracks
The VLS offers distinct tracks for center-based professionals including direct-care providers, training and curriculum specialists (coaches), and management personnel, as well as a track for home-based care providers who typically care for mixed-age groups.
Center-based Care Tracks
Direct Care
Coaching & Administration
Family Child Care Track
Courses
The VLS is anchored by 15 Core Content courses that include the 13 Functional Areas of the Child Development Associate competency standards used in early care settings around the world. The Core Content covers research-based developmentally appropriate practices for working with children from birth to age 12 across all the functional roles in child and youth care and education settings.
- Safe Environments
- Healthy Environments
- Learning Environments
- Physical Development
- Cognitive Development
- Creative Expression
- Self and Cultural Understanding
- Social Emotional Development
- Positive Guidance
- Family Engagement
- Program Management
- Professionalism
- Communication and Language Development
- Child Abuse: Prevention
- Child Abuse: Identification and Reporting
Structure
OUR PATH TO
LEARNING
Learn the knowledge and competencies that teachers and caregivers need to be able to support positive outcomes in our children. Evidence-based strategies and topics are aligned with standards leading the child development field.
OUR PATH TO
EXPLORATION
Explore context, examples, critical thinking, and discussions about how these skills develop, the evidence to support them, and the best ways to continue your professional growth.
OUR PATH TO
APPLICATION
Apply tools, activities, and exercises that allow you to strengthen your understanding and excel in everyday interactions with children, parents, and colleagues.
OUR PATH TO
DEMONSTRATION
Demonstrate your skills with interactive assessments designed to reinforce your knowledge and experiences.
Collaborators
Our research-based content and professional development resources are free and available to all, thanks to our collaborators:
The Department of Defense Child Development Virtual Laboratory School was developed by The Ohio State University for the US Department of Defense’s Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth under Grant 2012-48711-20101 of the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture.