Teaching and learning with SECD

Emis Akbari is a Professor at George Brown College in the School of Early Childhood and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE at the University of Toronto. In this video, she describes the value of using SECD resources, the range of learning opportunities, and student engagement.

 SECD Instructor and Student Licenses

Each year, more post-secondary institutions adopt this SECD ‘living textbook’ as part of their ECE curriculum, making it available to instructors and students alike.

First, a college or university must hold an SECD Projection License.

Projection License

  • Two-year renewable subscription
  • Accessible with username and password
  • Instructor use only; allows for projection of the resource in face-to-face settings
  • Can be shared amongst colleagues in the same institution, but only allows for one instructor to be logged in at a time
  • Depending on the size of the program, one or multiple projection licenses may be required

For students to access the resource (as in cases of required text), student licenses must be obtained.

Student License

  • Provided in the form of an activation code.
  • Activation codes can be provided in an online digital platform (i.e., Campus eBookstore, Kivuto), a digital spreadsheet or in physical cardstock folders (which require shipping).
  • Single user per activation code.
  • License is current for two years from the code’s activation date (unused codes can be used for future cohorts of students).
  • If 20 or more student licenses are purchased, instructor is provided with a projection license at no cost and an individualized shell within SECD’s learning management system for the college or institution.

If colleges wish to make certain videos from the SECD resource available to students outside of class, but do not wish to order student licenses, a selection of embedded videos can be purchased.

 Embedded Videos

  • To purchase, users must first hold an SECD projection license.
  • Videos (chosen by you) are embedded in a password-protected online learning management system on your end.
  • Requires collaboration between our IT department and yours.

It is important to note that students should not purchase SECD resources from the SECD website. It is not set up to handle large numbers of individual student orders. Also, each college is set up with an individualized shell with the custom SECD product(s) they want to use. Purchases made on our website will not admit the student into this shell and the incorrect product may be purchased.

Depending on the time of year and method by which you choose to adopt the SECD resource, we can usually set this up relatively quickly. Giving us a four-week lead time would be optimal. It is important that Projection Licenses and Student Licenses are set up well before classes begin.

Please contact sales@scienceofecd.com with any questions.

If you are teaching in a college or university and are interested in considering SECD as a textbook or teaching resource, please contact us at secd@rrc.ca for 30 day guest access. Please send your name, email address, organization and indicate the resource you would like to review.

"Since 2008 I have used SECD to support the teaching of my graduate courses on the psychological foundations of early development and education. For the masters and doctoral students I teach, I have supplemented the SECD resource with empirical research articles, current events and lectures.

The “living” aspect of the text has meant that research methods and findings have been continuously updated over the years as the science has evolved. The expert videos of scientists discussing their research, and the videos of families, communities and practitioners in daily life with young children are a highlight for me and for students.

The five domains in the resource fit the ecological framework of early development that I use to organize my course. The links to related research readings and websites, personal stories, local and international communities of practice have enriched my teaching and have provided students with unlimited topics and research evidence for group discussions. It’s been a fantastic resource."

– Janette Pelletier, PhD, Professor Emerita, Applied Psychology and Human Development, Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, OISE, University of Toronto.

Red River College University of Toronto AKDN - Aga Khan Development Network