When I think of research.....

Before I started EDCU 6163 I knew very little about research. I realized that it takes many steps to plan an effective research study. While planning my research simulation I kept hitting dead ends. I questioned myself at every step. Research is not easy at all. Whatever you plan do in a research study has to be approved and if is wrong you have to fix it. I tip my hat to those who do research for a living. It takes countless hours reading, looking, and conducting your study. Some challenges that I kept running into was wording. I was having a hard time wording things in the way that I wanted to say them so that others could understand what I meant. To fix this challenge I talked to others that I let read over my papers. I found that if I could explain to them what was going on in my head then they could help me figure out how to word correctly. Another challenge I had when doing research was understanding. I continually became confused with the terminology of research. To understand the terminology I found myself googling words. Sometimes it took me looking at three or four definitions to finally get a word. As an early childhood professional I now see the importance of research. Research is done in such a way that it benefits the children. I know see that when we are told to try a new way of teaching because research has proven it works. I think after going through this course I will take the time to listen to the research and give it a chance, because I now know what it takes to go through the process.

Research Around the World- Week 5

What are some of the current international research topics?

In Africa there are a lot of motherless children due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22.5 million people are living with HIV in the region - around two thirds of the global total. In 2009 around 1.3 million people died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.8 million people became infected with HIV. Since the beginning of the epidemic 14.8 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.” (Standley,E., 2009) A majority of the research topics center around the motherless children. People are trying to find out how these children are being cared for in orphanages. Research is also being conducted to find better curriculum in childcare. The country wants to find better ways to support families through education about AIDS no matter if it is a single parent, grandparent, or two parent house hold.

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

I found after exploring this sight that the people in the Sub-Saharan Africa have many of the same problems that we here in America have. They have to deal with orphaned children. They want to improve their educational system. Educating parents is a big part of what they are trying to do. People all over the world are dealing with these same issues.

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

I found that people are coming to same conclusion about childcare all over the world. “The relationship between employment and support to working families for better childcare can no longer be ignored. As we become more aware of human rights there is a need to appreciate and respect humanity by recognizing what goes into nurturing a ‘whole’ human being right from the start that will contribute to national development. The cost of child rearing should be given due priority in all sectors. There is a need for multisectoral collaboration in supporting families to ensure that young children get optimum care from their parents and other competent persons as their parents contribute towards national development through employment outside the home.” (Nankunda , H. C., 2004) Yet, we still have our governmental leaders turning a blind eye to the facts about early childhood.

Resources

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), (2005) Final Major Projects and Theses. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

Standley, E., (2009) HIV & AIDS in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm

Nankunda , H. C., (2004) Policies and Programs in Support of Childcare for Working Families: A Case Study of Data Sets and Current Activities in Uganda. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Nankunda%20-MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

Option 2:
Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?

If I could conduct research on any topic in the early childhood field  I want to look how a child's ability to interact socially plays on their future job. The study will show parents the importance of disciplining their children and teaching them respect for others. I think this study will make people want to raise more socially conscious children. The reason this is so interesting to me is because I recently found out that a janitor at our school was one of those children who disrespected teachers and would not follow directions in school. I wonder if it was because of her behavior as a child.

Research Journey

As part of my Building  Research Competencies class we were asked to come up with a a possible research simulation that I could do. The research simulation question I came up with was to determine how parents choose the type of childcare they put their children in. I choose to break it down further by looking at if state funded child care assistance was not available would so many children be in childcare centers. I know that child care assistance is a vital component when parents are thinking about child care. Sorry to say that many families probably wouldn't be able to afford to send their children to daycare.

I have learned after starting this research process that research does take a long time. You are not just looking at what you know or think but what information is out there. You have to be able to support your findings with other people's work. I found that you have to take your time and look around. Making sure a source is credible can take up some of your time. You don't want to quote people who are not creditable because then it makes your work look bad.

Change, Contexts, Consequences, and Constraints

Throughout my EDCU 6162 course I was asked to make contact with international early childhood professionals in other countries. I made contact with two international professionals. One of the professionals was Juan Carlos Borda located in Bolivia. The other professional was Robin McMillan located in Canada. over the past several weeks I began learning about these professionals and the early childhood field in the countries in which they reside. I found it interesting to learn what the early childhood field is like in other places besides the United States. Learning about other countries is not all it is cracked up to be. I found several consequences to learning about other countries. The first consequence is realizing that other people are in situations way worst then you are. The state of the country and children are horrible in some cases. You realize that the things you complain and worry about don't compare to what is happening in other countries. The second consequence is getting attached. I learned how hard it is in other countries and started taking on their problems as my own. You start to feel so connected to these people and what they do that all you want to do it help. I started looking into what it would take to become a teacher in the other countries. You want to go over and help. Lastly I regret not meeting my international contacts in person. I would have loved to meet these early childhood professional in person. Any person that spends their life fighting for children and what is right is an inspiration to me. I think that early childhood professionals we need to connect and share any information that we have to help improve the state of early childhood all over the world. So I think my goal would be to increase the awareness of the importance of early childhood education in every country.People around the world need to know that early childhood is just as important as a college education. Children are so important to the future of the world that we must start them off on the right foot.

International Contacts- Part 3

• To Become a teacher in Canada:

• Get a Degree

  • Earn an undergraduate university degree that includes or is followed by at least one year of teacher training. Most universities in Canada offer a one-year or two-year program leading to a Bachelor of Education. Students apply to these programs after obtaining a three-year or four-year undergraduate degree in any subject.

  Choose your Subject

  • While any subject can be pursued, focus your studies on the areas pertaining to what you want to teach. For example, if you wish to teach high school biology or physical education, consider a science degree with a minor in kinesiology. If you are aiming to teach at the elementary level, consider taking courses in child psychology.

  Learn the Language

  • If you immigrated to Canada or your first language is not English or French, remember that proficiency in one or both of these official languages is a requirement.

  Gain Experience

  • To distinguish yourself from the competition, gain work or volunteer experience in addition to the academic requirements. For instance, if you want to teach at the elementary level, consider finding work at a children's camp during the summer.

  Get Certified

  • To ensure that your training and experience fulfill the requirements for the province or territory in which you wish to teach, consult the teacher certification agency in the relevant jurisdiction. After completing your education, apply for professional certification under the regulating body in the relevant province and territory. Further information and links to these organizations can be found on the website of the Canadian Teachers' Federation

  
  
  

Sharing Web Resources

• Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?

I decided to explore past the National Head Start Association website to the individual state websites. I found that the Louisiana Head Start Association office is located in Opelous, LA. I have passed it several times traveling to my families home but never knew it was the Main office. I also learned that Louisiana is apart of Region 6 with Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

• Thoroughly search one area of the site. What do you find?

I found that the National Head Start Association has a program called GO SMART. The GO SMART program is aimed at having high quality physical eduction programs in head starts. Families and educators learn techniques to engage children from birth up to age five in regular physical activity, inside and outside of the classroom and the home.

• If you receive an e-newsletter, follow a link related to one of the issues you have been studying. What new information is available?

They do not have an e-newsletter. The have a printable newsletter called Family Connections. It did not have any links in it.

• Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education?

The website has a Father/Son Initiative. The National Head Start Association recognizes that a majority of their children come from single mother households, but they do want to reach out to the father's of those children.

• What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter?

I found that money was given to head start by congress in 2009 but if they don't find a way to keep it going all the extra spots and jobs would be lost due to lack of funding. We need to find better ways of keeping funding for early childhood programs.