Week 8: When I think of Research....

I have gained some valuable insights about research while studying this course. Starting off in research was an intimidating experience for me. I once thought of research as simply locating information on any topic. It's not that simple! However, conducting good research involves planning, accessing and using available (reliable) resources, detecting biases and using mixed methods approaches to increase the validity of a research study. I now view research as an effective tool that is used to understand, explain and make sense of life experiences. I've learned some important things about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood. I've learned that all research designs don't use the same data collection methods. Following the Code of Ethics in research is a huge responsibility of the researcher. Some weeks were easier than others. I faced several challenges in this course. The biggest challenge for me was being specific enough when stating my hypothesis. Another challenge for me was that this was the 1st major research study that I conducted. I was able to overcome these challenges by accepting any feedback provided by my professor. The textbook served as an essential guide to doing a successful research study. I also appreciate the support and encouragement from my lovely colleagues. I don't know where I'd be without them! Although this is my 1st research course, my perceptions of being an early childhood professional have changed. Research is such a huge part of the early childhood field. As a result of conducting studies, EC Professionals are able to gain new understandings and make life-changing decisions that will make early childhood programs and learning more successful. I hope to be a more critical consumer of early childhood research!

Week 5: Research Around The World

I explored the Early Childhood Australia website (http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org/au/). Current international research topics include school readiness and children's transitions, child health and child obesity and inclusion. This website addresses a wide variety of issues related to the early childhood field. This website also gives information about language & literacy, music & movement, creative arts, children & behavior and learning environments. As I explored the website, The Code of Ethics was one of the first topics to appear at the top of the page. Australia has developed several editions of the code of ethics. I also learned that the following values and processes are considered central to the Code of Ethics:

• respect
• democracy
• honesty
• integrity
• justice
• courage
• inclusivity
• social and cultural responsiveness
• education

References
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

Effects of Research on Children and Families

I don't think research is worth anything if it does not have any positive effects on children and families. I read an article titled The Effects of Marriage and Divorce on Families and Children. After completing his research, Gordon Berlin made several conclusions.

1. Children who grow up in an intact, two-parent family with both biological parents present do better on a wide range of outcomes than children who grow up in a single-parent family.
2. Evidence suggest that marital education, family counseling and related services can improve middle-class couples communication and problem solving skills, resulting initially in greater marital satisfaction and, in some cases, reduced divorce, although these effects appear to fade over time.

References
Gordon, G (2004). The Effects of Marriage and Divorce on Families and Children. Retrieved from
www.mdrc.org/publications/386/testimony.html

Week 2: My Personal Research Journey

Hello Colleagues! As a substitute teacher and future preschool teacher, I have had the amazing opportunity to work with students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. I have chosen to do further research on childhood poverty. Childhood poverty has a huge effect on a child's development and education. I have come face-to-face with poverty in the classroom. Consequently, it has had a long lasting effect on my relationships with children and their families. This is a sensitive issue that requires my immediate attention and action. I know there is so much that I can do to help alleviate the devastating effects of poverty in a child's journey to being a life long learner. I am still in the process of constructing the research chart. I'm sure this will be a roller coaster of professional development and new understandings in the course of building research competencies. I am also in the process of finding resources that I can share with all of you.  I welcome and appreciate any advice and insights any of you may have relating to childhood poverty.

EDUC 6162- Week 8: Final Blog Activity

I've had the time of my career exploring U.S. websites and International websites in the early childhood field. Although I haven't received a response from the 2 early childhood professionals, I spent a great deal of time exploring several websites, especially the NACCRRA (The National Association for Child Care Resources & Referrals Agency). I also enjoyed listening to the podcasts featuring the EC Professionals. They addressed goals, efforts and solutions for issues such as poverty, hunger, water instability, literacy, abuse and child rights.


As a result of learning about the international early childhood field, I have gained 3 amazing insights.
1. I share similar goals with the E.C. Professionals featured in the podcasts.
2. I have already donated over $50 to the Feed The Children Foundation.
3. I was able to learn about the efforts that activists took to ensure clean water for all children.


One goal that I am currently pursuing is developing a fundraiser to increase awareness of the importance of literacy for all!


The best part of  sharing my blog experiences is having the support of my colleagues and other early childhood professionals. I don't know where I'd be without my wonderful colleagues!

Week 7: Blog Activity

After visiting and exploring the UNESCO website, I have gained 3 new insights/ideas about issues related to international early childhood education that relate to my professional goals. Literacy begins in the first few years of life. When toddlers are able to recognize symbols such as the McDonalds logo, children are learning to read. Therefore, literacy is significant to early childhood. UNESCO shares important information about literacy. I learned that 1 in 5 adults is not literate and about two-thirds of them are women while 67.4 million children are out of school.

 1. However, UNESCO has been dedicated to improving global literacy by keeping literacy high on national, regional, and international agendas. I admire how UNESCO tries to promote literacy for all.


2. I also discovered that UNESCO advocates for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programmes that attend to health, nutrition, security and learning and which provide for children’s holistic development. This goal is related to the effective practices and programs course that I studied some time ago.

3. I have learned that UNESCO has a goal of finding solutions to increase inclusive education. This is so important because 75 million children are currently excluded from education for several reasons including poverty, disability, inequity, child labor and speaking a minority language. One of UNESCO's main goals is to develop the full potential of every individual.





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

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

At the beginning of this course, I chose to explore the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). Amazingly, this organization is currently known as Child Care Aware. I actually like the new name because it captures my attention as a future child care provider. This organization/website has a new area called "ChildCare Aware Training Academy." There are at least 5 additional topics that are highlighted in this new area. They include Getting Started, Business Plans, Management Plans, Training Program Planning and Resources. I chose to search and explore the area of Program Planning. Program planning helps child care providers choose and create lesson plans and fun activities that will nurture children's development. This area offers tips on planning a curriculum that focuses on all areas of child development. The areas of child development include cognitive/intellectual, language/literacy, social, emotional, physical, cultural, and approaches to learning. I did not find any information on this website that directly relates to the issues that I studied this week. However, I get more excited each time I visit this website. There's always something new to learn. Exploring this organization is assisting me with a wealth of knowledge and resources to increase equity and excellence in the early childhood field. Having access to these educational organizations is a constant revelation that no child should be left behind........regardless of their varying needs and abilities!