Saturday, December 22, 2012
When I think of Research ...
As another course in my program on public policy and advocacy comes to a close I look back on the last eight weeks. What I have found is how unsure and hesitant I was about this course in the beginning. Research has not, in the past, been a topic or a task to complete that I felt strongly about or that I felt I could do on my own as a professional. However, after this course I feel that if I wanted to or needed to I could perform a research study now. Each week of this course the elements and steps of a research study were discussed and reviewed. Aong the way, understanding the different types of research studies that could be conducted gave me uncertainity at first but once broken down into steps, completed in the chart format as given, it gave me a clearer picture. So if I follow the steps and be sure to include all the necessary elements I could complete a research study that could impact the future of early childhood. Through this latest course and therefore gaining the knowledge of performing a research study, significant impact and changes could be made in early childhood if we all take the individual research study simulations we designed, put them in practice, and share the results.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
International Early Childhood Issues
As we continue to learn about early childhood through this research class, as we have in previous courses I am always interested to learn if other states or even countries have the same or similar issues in relation to early childhood. So to see if this were true I used my long time interest in Australia as the source of comparison for early childhood issues.
Therefore, it was enlightening to learn that when I viewed the Early Childhood website in Australia, http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/, that the topics I found were the same. Current resources include sleeping, health and obesity, school readiness, climate change, and belonging. In the archives I found that quality standards, an early learning framework, literacy, and health are all issues related to early childhood affecting Australia just as the same issues affect early childhood here in the US.
What I also found interesting was the online catalog with the availability to purchase resources for children, families, and professionals. As with other early childhood sites here in the US there was also the option to join the mailing list or become a member. Connections between the US and Australia exist within the realm of early childhood if in no other aspects.
Therefore, it was enlightening to learn that when I viewed the Early Childhood website in Australia, http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/, that the topics I found were the same. Current resources include sleeping, health and obesity, school readiness, climate change, and belonging. In the archives I found that quality standards, an early learning framework, literacy, and health are all issues related to early childhood affecting Australia just as the same issues affect early childhood here in the US.
What I also found interesting was the online catalog with the availability to purchase resources for children, families, and professionals. As with other early childhood sites here in the US there was also the option to join the mailing list or become a member. Connections between the US and Australia exist within the realm of early childhood if in no other aspects.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Research That Benefits
Wow. When I saw the topic for this week, I could not help but think how wonderful the research created in option two could achieve so much and help so many.
If I could research any topic it would be researching equitable access for all children to attend preschool programs. With this research I could find the issues affecting parents lack of ability or knowledge to send their children to preschool programs through various means. The following ideas would apply to private preschool programs or those children unable to attend public preschool programs due to small class sizes. Either coordinating pick up for children either through a transportation service or car pool or on the other hand I could create a program where children receive attention from a preschool teacher in the home setting where they are the most comfortable. This could happen one on one or with a few children from the local area in the neighborhood. This way both children of parents who wished for them to attend preschool and those who would prefer their children stay home and 'be little' for as long as possible could receive preschool learning services and thus equalize the readiness of students for Kindergarten.
If there was money allocated and available to pay enough preschool teachers so that all preschool aged children could attend the public school, that would serve one purpose of preschool learning and the other purpose of better preparing students for Kindergarten. However, with budgets and space available within a public school, having all children attend preschool in a public setting or having the finances to pay teachers may not be feasible.
I would love to see the day where regardless of outside factors all children receive a preschool education and start their educational careers 'ahead' instead of behind for lack of preschool attendance.
If I could research any topic it would be researching equitable access for all children to attend preschool programs. With this research I could find the issues affecting parents lack of ability or knowledge to send their children to preschool programs through various means. The following ideas would apply to private preschool programs or those children unable to attend public preschool programs due to small class sizes. Either coordinating pick up for children either through a transportation service or car pool or on the other hand I could create a program where children receive attention from a preschool teacher in the home setting where they are the most comfortable. This could happen one on one or with a few children from the local area in the neighborhood. This way both children of parents who wished for them to attend preschool and those who would prefer their children stay home and 'be little' for as long as possible could receive preschool learning services and thus equalize the readiness of students for Kindergarten.
If there was money allocated and available to pay enough preschool teachers so that all preschool aged children could attend the public school, that would serve one purpose of preschool learning and the other purpose of better preparing students for Kindergarten. However, with budgets and space available within a public school, having all children attend preschool in a public setting or having the finances to pay teachers may not be feasible.
I would love to see the day where regardless of outside factors all children receive a preschool education and start their educational careers 'ahead' instead of behind for lack of preschool attendance.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Personal Research Journey
As
I thought about a topic for this research simulation, I reflected back on EDUC
6162. The topic in that course that struck me the most was equity in early
childhood. How can children not attend a preschool program based on where they
live or the socioeconomic status of the family? How can a teacher with the same
qualifications teaching in a private setting not make the same as a teacher in
a public school setting? What are the differences and why do the differences cause
such inequalities?
This
topic is important to me because it could affect the profession from an
educators’ standpoint and how prepared a child is for Kindergarten can affect the
rest of a child’s education. As I research the topic, I find that there are
more articles about studies outside of the US than within the US. Additionally,
there is very little I have found on the issue in relation to the teachers, so
as my desire was to research the equity issue for teacher salary I may simply
have to just focus on the children.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Final Blog for EDUC 6162
As I reflect back on the last eight (seven as I write this) weeks of this course, I first want to say to all of my colleagues in this course Thank you. Thank you for responding and sharing with me both in blogging and in discussions. I hope that each of you has learned something from me as I have taken away something from each of you. As we each continue on our individual journeys in case we don't meet again in another course, I hope that we all reach our goals and achieve our dreams making a difference in the lives of the children we meet along the way.
The first thing that was really enlightening for me in this course was how some countries that I previously had thought (for example, China) were very well educated, have their struggles just as we do here in America. Quality programs are a big deal both here in America and abroad as the strive to find and keep well educated, well prepared staff is different based on location of job. If a certified teacher can become employed in a school district for a salaried position, that same certified teacher is going to be less likely to take an hourly position at a private preschool.
In addition to quality, I also reflected as I explored the various websites, on how access to early childhood education in some of the underdeveloped countries may not be as frequent as in better developed countries due to cost or barriers in the understanding of the importance of early childhood. I cannot imagine, because I have not lived it, how difficult it is in another country to educate children, even when the desire is in place. This is an even more revealing revelation for me in how fortunate we have it here in America. Yes, we have our own issues to face in early childhood but we do have programs in place and are striving to improve upon them.
Along with the quality of programs, I was also pleased through the websites to learn that with the gain in awareness for early childhood that the United States is working with other countries to develop, implement, and improve the education for early childhood. I know from the news that on a political standpoint we have such things as the United Nations where we work together, but to know that our collaborative efforts extend into the education of the children is fantastic.
What I learned about myself is that the different nationalities moving into this country are requiring a little more from the educators. I need to most definitely pursue the learning of Spanish for the area in which I live and in doing so I hope to learn more to make all children of all nationalities that I may encounter or that may enter my classroom comfortable enough, even if there is a language barrier, to learn successfully.
The first thing that was really enlightening for me in this course was how some countries that I previously had thought (for example, China) were very well educated, have their struggles just as we do here in America. Quality programs are a big deal both here in America and abroad as the strive to find and keep well educated, well prepared staff is different based on location of job. If a certified teacher can become employed in a school district for a salaried position, that same certified teacher is going to be less likely to take an hourly position at a private preschool.
In addition to quality, I also reflected as I explored the various websites, on how access to early childhood education in some of the underdeveloped countries may not be as frequent as in better developed countries due to cost or barriers in the understanding of the importance of early childhood. I cannot imagine, because I have not lived it, how difficult it is in another country to educate children, even when the desire is in place. This is an even more revealing revelation for me in how fortunate we have it here in America. Yes, we have our own issues to face in early childhood but we do have programs in place and are striving to improve upon them.
Along with the quality of programs, I was also pleased through the websites to learn that with the gain in awareness for early childhood that the United States is working with other countries to develop, implement, and improve the education for early childhood. I know from the news that on a political standpoint we have such things as the United Nations where we work together, but to know that our collaborative efforts extend into the education of the children is fantastic.
What I learned about myself is that the different nationalities moving into this country are requiring a little more from the educators. I need to most definitely pursue the learning of Spanish for the area in which I live and in doing so I hope to learn more to make all children of all nationalities that I may encounter or that may enter my classroom comfortable enough, even if there is a language barrier, to learn successfully.
Part 3 Getting to Know International Contacts
As someone who did not succeed through email or podcast in establishing connection to another early childhood professional, I have again completed the alternate assignment for this week.
Although I have completed the alternate assignments, I can say that each week through exploring websites I have not previously known existed, I am learning new information and gaining in my knowledge of early childhood both here in America and abroad.
The website this week, from UNESCO's early childhood care and education page proved to be yet another site to find new information.
What I found first was the topics we have discussed during this course, 1. access and equity 2. quality 3. investment and financing 4. coordination and integration. I browsed through each of these tabs and the one thing I found was that there was a box on the right hand side with 'related inforamtion' containing articles related to each topic and involving different countries around the world. It still amazes me the number of countries that are just recently learning how valued early childhood is for the future. For example, the proposal of mandatory funding for preschool education in Brazil, was one article I found.
Secondly, I found the coordination and integration tab to be a bit confusing, maybe it was just me, but I do not fully understand what it means to split early childhood up as they were referring to. I will need to research this some more unless there is someone else who did this alternate assignment that could help better explain why? Thanks
Finally, what I did enjoy in the other two sections under the early childhood theme was that the other two areas, quality and access, stated what we have learned throughout this course. We need to insure that all of the children, even those in poor areas, have access to education and that a quality program makes the difference.
What an affirmation this week to the material we have studied, the papers written, and the collaborations we have had with each other in discussions and blogging.
Although I have completed the alternate assignments, I can say that each week through exploring websites I have not previously known existed, I am learning new information and gaining in my knowledge of early childhood both here in America and abroad.
The website this week, from UNESCO's early childhood care and education page proved to be yet another site to find new information.
What I found first was the topics we have discussed during this course, 1. access and equity 2. quality 3. investment and financing 4. coordination and integration. I browsed through each of these tabs and the one thing I found was that there was a box on the right hand side with 'related inforamtion' containing articles related to each topic and involving different countries around the world. It still amazes me the number of countries that are just recently learning how valued early childhood is for the future. For example, the proposal of mandatory funding for preschool education in Brazil, was one article I found.
Secondly, I found the coordination and integration tab to be a bit confusing, maybe it was just me, but I do not fully understand what it means to split early childhood up as they were referring to. I will need to research this some more unless there is someone else who did this alternate assignment that could help better explain why? Thanks
Finally, what I did enjoy in the other two sections under the early childhood theme was that the other two areas, quality and access, stated what we have learned throughout this course. We need to insure that all of the children, even those in poor areas, have access to education and that a quality program makes the difference.
What an affirmation this week to the material we have studied, the papers written, and the collaborations we have had with each other in discussions and blogging.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
More from Shared Web Resources
As I have viewed the www.nieer.org website more through the last few weeks, and received the newsletter via email, I have gained new information about not just the state of New Jersey (where the website is based out of) but other states as well. Through the access tab, I found articles related to the access of preschool to children in other states. I found an interesting link to an article published in Mississippi about how preschool is a key to economic development. How interesting that we were just discussing the role economics plays on early childhood or that early childhood plays on economics? Another link under the research in quality through nieer.org was an article on increasing the certifications of pre-K teachers in West Virginia. The links I found led to more information either by nieer.org itself or through other resources from other states. I am finding it interesting to explore the website and learn how similar and different the circumstances and curriculum in other states. This brings up the point of establishing standards for all states in regards to preschool. If one state is teaching math, and another is only teaching letters as a hypothetical example, how can we call that equity in programs? We can't, so I would support national standards for preschool so all states provide a more equitable preschool experience. There are additional articles in the newsletter I received a week ago about how preschool will affect economics and social development, thus affecting equity.
The website, www.nieer.org, I chose in the beginning is still proving to be a good choice for me as it is constantly updating (almost daily) what's new, links research to articles in other publications that are recent, and thus far I have been able to locate at least one article pertaining to our current topic at hand.
The website, www.nieer.org, I chose in the beginning is still proving to be a good choice for me as it is constantly updating (almost daily) what's new, links research to articles in other publications that are recent, and thus far I have been able to locate at least one article pertaining to our current topic at hand.
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