When I Think of Research

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

I have learned the different between “goo research” and “bad research.” Good research does not rely on one specific method but uses different approaches to do research. Bad research is when you limited your sources and depend on one specific resource. Therefore, you do not have numerous resources to gather useful information for the research process.

In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

Regardless of various approaches to the research process, I am able to select a topic and search and review the literature. Therefore, I have learned how to develop questions that can be addressed in the research process. Nevertheless, it is important remember to collect information needed in order to formulate the research design. After the information is collected, it is essential compile the data to process the finding in order to have a research report.

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I have learned to plan ahead in order to conduct research in early childhood. Therefore, I can design a plan that fit the type of research that will be composed. I will conduct the research in a way that respects the confidentiality and privacy of the participants in the study.

What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

I encountered various challenges. I had to learn how to select appropriate topic to research. Also, I had to learn how to gather the important information needed to do a research study. Therefore, I had to read many books and surf the internet to learn how to do a research study of my own.

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

An early childhood professional have various issues and trends that can be addressed through the research process. The professionals can develop various surveys and questionnaires before they begin to work on any research study. Therefore, the different methods will provide them with valuable information for their research study.

Personally, I would like to thank all of my classmates for their valuable thoughts, inputs, and creative ideas implement in the classroom discussions.

Research Around the World

What are some of the current international research topics?

International research topics are looking more into various supporting best practices for young children in the classroom setting. First, some of the best practices are engaging their curiosity and imagination, exploring and discovering various concepts and skills, and learning how to use their problem solving and mastery skills. Next, international research is exploring how to secure learning environment where the children feel safe to transition. Therefore, as early childhood teachers, it is vital to demonstrate support in the classroom for the children to feel secure and safe in the learning process.

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

The new insight that was surprising to me what learning the challenges of balancing praise and correction for early school years children who exhibit opposition and defiant behavior. One of the strategies early childhood teachers used was the school wide positive behavior support system. The teachers communicated clear expectations for behavior they wanted demonstrated in the classroom setting. The teachers also acknowledging good behavior when it was displayed; therefore, it is vital to correct unacceptable behavior. Nevertheless, I learned that it is beneficial for teachers to establish behavior management strategies in the classroom that will create a balanced atmosphere.

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

The international mission for early childhood education is similar to the mission statement of programs here in the United States. Early Childhood in Australia focuses on advocating, ensuring a quality education, social justice and equity in all issues and trends in regards young children care and their families.

Reference

Early Childhood Australia. http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

The research topic would be developmentally appropriate practices for preschool children ages 3-5 years old. This study would make a positive contribution to the well-being of children and their families. The preschool years are a vital time period for learning and development. During preschool years, there are several areas of the development that is the main focus for children. The positive contribution is being able to focus on the different areas of learning and development such as physical, social/emotional, cognitive, language, academic, and intellectual.

In the school setting, it is essential that educators to be  in collaboration with families to ensure that every early childhood education program promotes the child’s learning development and enhances the knowledge of every child being served in the program. The positive contribution to ensure developmental appropriate practices is ensuring that teachers have a great deal of knowledge, skills, and training. Therefore, the early childhood educators must implement the following: First, incorporate play in the learning environment to stimulate cognitive, social, and language growth. It is important to remember that children construct their understanding of various concepts through interaction with others in play. Next, children need to have a rich learning experience in the classroom setting and the home environment. Third, encourage and promote positive social interactions, relationships with the teachers and other peers to form long-lasting friendships. Finally, various research studies are in place to show that preschool children learning experience includes lots of child-initiated, free-choice activities that is supported by 

Your Personal Research Journey

Your Personal Research Journey

The topic that I have chosen for my research stimulation is how diversity impacts and/or influence young children in early childhood programs. Diversity impacts all learners in different ways in the learning environment. Therefore, acceptance is the most important part of supporting diversity in the early childhood programs. It is vital that all students learn to accept and acknowledge the difference in other students in their classroom setting. Through various educational experiences, the students will learn how to appreciate the cultural differences within their classroom setting. In the early childhood programs, the teacher can teach the students to accept diversity by celebrating different cultural background present in the classroom through various learning activities and opportunities.

Through constructing the research chart, I have found it difficult to just focus on just a few keywords for reflection. There are multiple ideas that appear when research a specific topic. I have learned to continue reading various sources to help me learn to research other topics of interest in the field of early childhood education. The more research I do I am learning different perspectives about early childhood education. Nevertheless, my fellow classmates, if you have any ideas and/or thoughts on how to assist with the research process I am open to listen.

Final Blog Assignment

The privilege to learn about international early childhood education was an awesome experience in this course. Therefore, learning information about international early childhood education has added to both my professional and personal experience. The three consequences are the issues and trends of early childhood that is unknown in education, exploring and discovering the overall aspect of early childhood education, and driven to turn the issues and trends into a positive impact on the lives children in early childhood education. Nevertheless, it is vital to me to learn all about the field of early childhood education in order to have a life-long impact on children.

The one goal for the near future is to do more research in the area of international early childhood education on various countries to see the similarities and/or differences from the United States of America. Nevertheless, it is important to know how other countries are implementing their early childhood education programs to benefit the overall developmental growth and progress of the children.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

The Early Childhood Care and Education website provided useful information to benefit professionals in the field of study. The organization discussed various areas in the field of early childhood care and education. The areas are access, quality, investment and financing, and coordination and integration. First, the most important insight is quality in the field of early childhood care and education. Good quality care can stem from educational resources, classroom materials, educational curriculum, teacher training and experience, and parental involvement in the education system. Children having access to the resource that need in the learning environment produce the success in the classroom. Next, access and equity is another insight that is interesting to me in the field of early childhood care and education. Regardless, if children are from an advantage or disadvantage home, they should have the right to a quality education. Therefore, all children should have the same right to education that will benefit their overall academic and developmental learning ability. Third, investment and financing is an insight that is interesting in the field of early childhood care and education. It is essential to improve the quality of care in early childhood education. It is important to make sure that the funding is in place to provide the children with the best quality care and education available in this world. Each insight relates to my professional goals because I am in the field of early childhood education. Therefore, it is essential to have the required resources and materials available for children in the classroom in order to build their knowledge skills. Nevertheless, the funding has to be in place to provide the most appropriate services for the children.

UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/)

Sharing Web Resources

Sharing Web Resources

There were various outside links that I did not get a chance to explore until this week blogspot assignment. This week my while navigating the website it leads me to NAEYC link about young children with disabilities in early childhood programs and their families. This link offered information for teachers engaging with families of children with exceptional (special) needs, and age and developmental techniques and strategies for teachers to share with the parents of the child and other families. Today in early childhood programs, there are an increasing number of young children with disabilities. Nevertheless, it is important that the early childhood educators have taken some required courses in college to better prepare themselves to help meet the needs of young children with exceptional needs in the learning environment. The family plays a major role in making sure that their child receives the best and appropriate services in the learning environment. The teachers can demonstrate some strategies and techniques that can be used with children with disabilities at home that are already being used in the school setting. In the early childhood setting, it is vital to make the appropriate accommodations and modifications in the classroom to make it accessible for learners for all learners and that includes learners with special needs.

The website contains information about the excellence in early care and education because it discusses how a child with special needs should start receiving early intervention services when the disability is already known. Therefore, the strategies and techniques used with the child can help him or her to learn functional academic and developmental concepts and skills introduced in the learning environment. Therefore, when exploring this website I learned that it is essential to support the all the learners needs; regardless, if he or she has a disability or not. It is important to focus on the whole child in order to reach them academically and developmentally in the learning environment. Nevertheless, the early childhood classroom setting should be conducive for learning. Therefore, the children with special needs will be more acceptable to take part in the learning process.

Supporting All Kinds of Learners: Including Children with Special Needs. Are You and Your Early Childhood Programs Ready?  http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200903/BTJWatson.pdf