When I Think About Reserach...

When I Think About Research...

Oddly enough, the biggest insight I have had from taking this course is that actually doing the research project would have been easier than the simulation. Although, in doing "only" a simulation for this class, I gained a new respect for the class that I took as an undergraduate that required we do an entire research project, including the 20 page paper!
It was with great excitement that I dove into doing the research simulation because I, in fact, do love reading others' work. I was surprised that some of my colleagues had mentioned that they had never read a research article before taking this class. I wondered, "How can one go on working for years in a specific area like Early Childhood and NOT read a research article?" However, with this reality came a reminder that as I forge into my career once again, I will be sure to riddle my staff members and colleagues with research articles.
For the sake of argument, I think research is wonderful. It maybe not always be easy to read or understand, especially once the statistical significant results are thrown into the mix. However, it is a great feeling when I have an idea/concept that I think will work great for the children in my classroom or will be helpful in engaging parents to spend more time in the classroom, and find articles that discuss the pros and cons of the very same ideas and concepts.
Research is all about trying things out. What works and what does not work? Furthermore, I think that by doing the actual research project for this class, I would have had better answers to some of the questions we were asked to provide. I am not good at guessing the answers. I am much more inclined to search them out by collecting data and analyzing my results.

Research Around the World

Research Around the World
European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA)
www.eecera.org
 

• What are some of the current international research topics?
•  Early Education for diversity: starting from birth
• Companionable learning: mechanism for holistic well-being development from birth
• The dynamics of early childhood spaces: opportunities for outdoor play?
• Children and the outdoor environment
• Introducing children's perspectives and participation in research
• Breaking methodological boundaries? Exploring visual, participatory methods with adults and young children
• What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
• I was highly surprised to see such a vast array of research topics to look at on this website. I also felt it was interesting that the European Early Childhood Education Research Journal groups together topics for special issues. This seems to be an easy way for reference on a specific topic and is a helpful way to share information with parents and staff. Furthermore, the journals incorporated articles and research from other countries, such as China and Australia. 
• What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
• I found it very helpful that some articles had free access to them and all topics included the abstracts. Both are always very helpful when doing research and searching for specific information on a topic.

Research that Benefits Children and Families - Uplifting Stories

Research that Benefits Children and Families

Option 2:
I think that if I had the means and ability to do research, I would continue on or start a new avenue in regards to academic testing and how it does or does not effect children's academic success. As of now, one of the theories states that standardized testing hinders children's academic success and can put them on a path of lower academic achievement due to not passing these tests. I would do research on how important it is to do standardized testing with children who are in Kindergarten and what type of emotional effects these tests can have on these children.
I feel that doing research on this topic will help parents to understand if they should send their children to schools with standardized testing. Also, I think parents will have a better understanding of what takes place during these tests and the type of content that exists on these tests. I have noticed that parents tend to trust the school districts rules and regulations about standardized testing without ever asking whether or not it is right for their child. I know that the government does in fact enforce these rules about the testing, however, if more parents knew the benefits and risks involved in the outcomes of these test, maybe they would be more likely to speak out against them.

Personal Research Journey

Personal Research Journey


I have decided to do my general early childhood research simulation on the topic of parent-teacher relationships/parent participation.

Three related subtopics:

1. The influence of parent participation in the classroom on a child’s academic present and future.
2.  How parent-teacher relationships can influence a child’s academic progress in the classroom environment.  
3. How to encourage parent participation in the classroom and maintain a good parent-teacher relationship.

I am having difficulty narrowing down the scope of my topic to one particular aspect in regards to parent-teacher relationships/parent participation. In my experience, both professional and personal, both aspects of the parent-teacher relationship and parent participation in the classroom, have a lasting effect on a child's academic progress and future. So, even though it seems that my scope is large, I feel that that there is a lot to cover in the parent-teacher relationship/parent participation topic.
I look forward to the information that I find on this topic. I have researched it before and still hope to find even more studies that have been performed and written about regrading the academic success of child whose parents participate in the classroom and have a good parent-teacher relationship.

Fianl Blog Assignment

Final Blog Assignment for Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education

Just as some of my other colleagues, I unfortunately did not get to carry out emails and a conversation with someone from another country who worked in the early childhood education field.

However, by doing the alternative assignments and having the opportunity to look at all the progress that is taking place in other countries in regards to early childhood education, I was excited by my findings.
I was pleased to see different types of programs being used abroad, as well as research taking place on topics of major importance.
 It seems that along with the struggles of poverty, hunger and homelessness, organizations are reaching out and helping in every possible capacity.
Also, I was excited about the tactics to bring awareness to the importance of early childhood care and education throughout other countries.

The largest goal that I can imagine for international awareness is that by doing research in other countries, talking about the importance of early childhood care and education and by programs being offered in other countries, the children of these international countries will be healthier, happier, encouraged more to continue on with their studies in school and to keep the cycle of awareness going for the next generation of children.

UNESCO's Early Childhood Care and Education

UNESCO's Early Childhood Care and Education

Access and Equity:

2000 Dakar Framework for Action:

1.Participating countries committed themselves to “expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.”

2.Governments were particularly urged to expand equitable access to quality early childhood services underscoring the importance of instituting policy in favor of the poor.

3.Countries often promote alternative services for poor children with limited or no access to mainstream early childhood services which can be cost-effective and pedagogically innovative, but often raise concerns about sustainability and quality.  In cases where the government has limited resources, a pro-poor policy can redistribute resources by reducing state support for the more privileged.

4.Central governments must ensure an equitable distribution of resources among different populations and especially those who live in the most disadvantaged regions. This approach aims to expand access without creating serious regional inequities. However, where there is universal provision for a certain age group while the overall enrollment in other age groups is low, this policy can create inequity.

5.  Privileged children of the target age group benefit from state investment, while poor children of non-target ages receive scant government attention. A policy of universalization with targeting can minimize inequity where governments aim for universal access among the target age group, but simultaneously prioritize the poor.

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I thought this section was worth posting here on my blog. It gave me so much insight and "food for thought" when it comes to how our own government allocates funds to early childhood care and education. How amazing though that inequality can happen even despite the best intentions? Is this what happens in our country as well?

-Beau
  

Sharing Web Resources

ZERO to THREE

In my search of the website this evening, I was lucky enough to stumble onto an article about how President Obama has now put forth a 2014 budget proposal that substantiates the need for investment in early learning!

In the article, it summarizes how the President is allocating funds, spread out over a 10 year period, that will help fund early childhood education programs such as Early Head Start. Also, the plan would provide $200 million in 2014 specifically to create more high-quality child care options for babies and toddlers with working parents, using Early Head Start’s quality benchmarks, expertise, and resources (Zero to Three.org, 2013). Furthermore, the budget allocates funds for families to have access to these types of high quality early childhood education programs.

Even more exciting, the budget proposal also allocates funds for more home visiting programs. The article reminds us that parents are benefiting and welcoming home visitors into their homes. Also, it is clearly shown with research that these types of home visiting programs are helping parents with resources and reliable information about early learning.

All in all, the proposal is said to be rooted in research done on children in regards to how babies are wired to learn. The article reminds us that those who do not have access to high quality early childhood education can quickly fall behind and therefore have long lasting gaps that appear even before their first birthday!

Resources

Zero to Three.org

http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/press-release-presidents-budget-proposal.html