When I think of research......

First, I would like to thank everyone in this course for all of your words of encouragement, ideas, and help along the way.  I would also like to say thank you to the professor for your helpful insight and knowledge that helped me throughout this class.

I have learned that research is more than just reading and deciphering through literature reviews, articles, and books.  When I first started this class, I thought that it wouldn’t be different from constructing a well written research paper based off of the things you learned.  Looking back, I can see that my prior understanding of research was very vague.  With that being sad, I can honestly say that I have learned that in order to plan, design, and conduct great research, the researcher must first have an understanding of the concepts behind researching.  I have also learned that the passion for a researcher’s topic must take on its own planning and designing.  The hardest part of researching for me was the planning and designing.  I think once those obstacles are tackled, then conducting the research should go smoothly with the exceptions of a few small obstacles.  The challenges I met in my research simulation were narrowing the research question to reflect the independent and dependent variables I wanted to discover in the simulation.  For me, I knew what my goal of the study was but had a hard time narrowing them all down.  I met them by writing down all of my ideas, taking the advice of my instructor, and deciding on the factors that were of greatest importance to me. I feel that early childhood professionals are challenged to teach, learn, and uncover new discovering’s within the field to accomplish what is needed of us.  I have a more in depth respect for the early childhood professionals that have come before me as well as now because the job is never complete.  With some careers, professionals can retire after a certain amount of years.  For early childhood professionals, the passion for children and dedication to their success keeps them striving to advocate and research on behalf of children forever.   

Week 5-Research Around the World

Langu

• What are some of the current international research topics?

I chose to research early childhood in Australia.  This site is equivalent to the NAEYC as it informs people of the issues and trends related to the children in Australia.  Upon surfing the site, I saw that their current research topics aren’t too far from the issues that we in the U.S. are researching.  They are reforming their educational system because they have discovered that education and childcare go hand and hand. According to their most recent article, “we now have research-based evidence that care and learning are fundamentally entwined and a much better understanding of the importance of qualifications for early childhood teachers and other staff.  Australia’s early childhood education and care sector is at the beginning of a vital reform process.”(www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org) Language is another issue that is being researched in Australia.  “Language is important – it shapes the way we understand things; old terms are discarded and new terms open new possibilities. For example a change as subtle as ‘disabled’ to ‘people living with disabilities’ opens up huge potential and empowers people to look at themselves – and others – differently.”(www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org)

• What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

I have learned that other areas in the world are also standing up for the rights and their beliefs concerning early childhood issues.  I have also learned that many of the issues have been discovered through researched based experiments.  What I found most remarkable about the issues and researches is that although early childhood educators are all over the world, many of the same issues, concerns, and trends are found to hold true across the world.

• What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

I found this website to include a ton of information related to the early childhood field.  The website had topics on inclusion, diversity, children’s rights, a Code of Ethics, journals, articles, and a magazine.  I think it is great to know that many topics can be found and addressed in some form here on their site. 

 Reference:

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org-earlychildhoodnews-earlychildhoodewsarchives%20.april/, 2011

Rage is important – it shapes the way we understand

things; old terms are discarded and new terms open new

possibilities. For example a change as subtle as ‘disabled’ to

‘people living with disabilities’ opens up huge potential and

Language is important – it shapes the way we understand

things; old terms are discarded and new terms open new

possibilities. For example a change as subtle as ‘disabled’ to

‘people living with disabilities’ opens up huge potential and

empowers people to look at themselves – and others – differently.

empowers people to look at themselves – and others – differently.

Option # 2

Wow, if I could make a major positive contribution to children and families through research, I would research healthcare and childhood illnesses.  I would seek out to find a cure for leukemia and children with rare cancer diseases. I feel that children are the strongest little people in the world and they handle illnesses with a very positive attitude.  Their strength is mind blowing to me as well as heartbreaking.  Each year 22000 children die from leukemia.  Leukemia, which makes up 25% of childhood cancer, affects the bone marrow and is curable with the right type of treatment. This disease is normally diagnosed in children ages 2 to 6 years old.  Even when a proper cure is diagnosed for the child, the maintenance of this disease last a lifetime. 

I would be making a positive contribution to the children and families affected by childhood leukemia and other childhood cancers with a cure.  This disease can help families spend less time in and out of hospitals and more time enjoying life together.  Most importantly, this will save the lives of children who die each year due to these types of diseases.

References:

http://www.chop.edu/service/oncology/cancers-explained/leukemia-diagnosis-and-treatment.html

My Personal Research Journey

My chosen topic for the simulation is: How has the “No Child Left behind Act” impacted the early childhood field since its implementation?  I chose this topic because I want to uncover the effects that this policy has had on the children that attend public schools.  I have heard many different comments, ideas, and suggestions surrounding this policy and felt it would be a great topic to research more about.  I am anticipating limited information available for this subject which is why I’ve chosen to learn about the ways the policy has impacted the early childhood field as a whole versus limiting my topic to one specific area or idea.  In doing so, I am hopeful that I will have a better chance at finding enough material to complete this research topic as well as, uncover the intent and effect that this policy has had on the early childhood field.

In constructing the research chart, I have found this chart to be helpful with organizing thoughts, new found words and its meaning. I feel that this chart is one I would like to keep on hand when performing any type of research study.  The chart gave me a chance to identify words and meanings, chose a specific topic to focus on, and reflect on the outcome.

I have found that really great resources can be found within the previously taken course material.  Therefore, if anyone is looking for resources some great resources, you can revisit some of your previously studied articles.  If anyone has any advice, resources, or insight that might help me with this course and the research process, please share with me.  If I can be of help to anyone, please let me know also.  I regularly check my e-mail.

Final Blog for the Course

The first thing I’ve learned from the international podcast is that poverty affects many children all around the world and there are many educators committed to helping children who are dealing with it.  This helped to contribute to my global understanding of poverty personally and professionally.  Often times, I have looked at poverty as an isolated issue when in fact countries around the world are suffering severely from poverty.  In some countries, what I view as poverty here in my state is nothing compared to the living conditions of other children around the world.

The second thing I’ve learned from the international podcast is how the many educators and advocates such as Susan Lyon and Delfena Mitchell have devoted their life to making change in the early education field.  This has helped me to truly understand the type of commitment that is needed to embrace the EC field.  These people have encouraged me to stay devoted to the EC field and know that I too have something that I can contribute to the field professionally and personally.

The third thing that these international blogs have taught me is that the level of issues and trends in the EC field vary from state to state, country to country.  However, many of the issues and trends are related and linked from one issue to the next.  Therefore, by addressing any of the issues, I can help to improve the level of impact on children and their families.

The one goal I have for international awareness is to stay current on the issues around the world.  I would like to improve things on a more global level as my career expands.  I feel that it is easy to stay within your comfort zone which for me is my surrounding area.  Now that I am aware of the issues that are happening around the world, I have to stay current with the issues and begin to advocate for change globally.

Sharing International Contacts-Part 3

From the podcast, I have been listening to episode 2 with Deevia Bhana and her work in South Africa.  She discusses sexuality and the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa amongst the young people.  Ms. Bhana discusses the lack of research and education about HIV/AIDS and sex as it affects very young children.  She states that the Early Childhood years are a great time to provide children with information involving gender and sexuality.  Her theory is that educators and pediatricians should work together to help educate children.

At least three new ideas or insights you gained about issues related to international early childhood education that relates to your professional goals:

1.       On the very first page, the first new insight I learned is that 10.5 million children around the world die from preventable diseases. 

2.      I learned that UNESCO has come up with two effective strategies for handling the needs in the early childhood field.  Their strategy is phasing and partnership.  Phasing suggests that over time, the education sector will respond to the early childhood needs.  Partnership suggests that recruiting family support will help the early childhood field obtain recognition of their needs.

3.      The third insight I’ve learned is that “there are no universally agreed criteria for quantifying ECCE quality but useful factors to consider include pedagogy materials, personnel training, service setting and parental education and involvement. Learning materials should be quantitatively, culturally and developmentally adequate and focus on child-centered interaction.”

 (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood

Sharing Web Sources-Week 6

I clicked on the link Early Head Start.  This link leads to another website called http://www.ehsnrc.org/ also known as the Early Head Start National Resource Center.   I research the section entitled what’s new.  In this area, I found information about a newly developed manual that is based off research concerning the quality of care for early learning programs.  I also found news about webinars on various child care topics.  I also discovered other research based programs that are working to help low-income families in different states.

  I followed the e-newsletter for March 2011.  This newsletter discussed the issues of poverty early on in a child’s life.  The new information I found out was” Economic models of child development focus on what money can buy. They view families with greater economic resources as being better able to purchase or produce important “inputs” into their young children’s development (e.g., nutritious meals; enriched home learning environments and child care settings outside the home; and safe and stimulating neighborhood environments), and higher-quality schools and post-secondary education for older children. The cost of the inputs and family income constraints are therefore the key considerations for understanding poverty’s effects on children.” (http://www.zerotothree.org/, 2010)

Yes this website continues to work on the issues of equity and issues within the early childcare field through research based programs and webinars.  What I like most about this website is that it understands and is committed to constantly finding ways to improve the early childcare field.  The additional insights I’ve learned about this blog assignment is that money or the lack thereof effects and determines the majority of people’s life from birth through adult hood.  Without early intervention for families and children who suffer from poverty, the world will continue to suffer from crime, mental health issues, and lack of nutrition.