When I Think of Research...

I have gained a great deal of insight about research from taking this course.  Truly, for me this was an experience.  First of all, I learned how to determine the difference in the types of designs such as quantitative and qualitative.  I have learned what each design uses as a means of gathering data.  Before this class I knew nothing about triangulation.  Today, I know that there are four types: data, methodological, investigator, and theory triangulation.   I understand that if you are conducting a qualitative study, the use of triangulation is used to ensure the study is valid.  This is just some of the insights I have gained.

My ideas about the nature of doing research changed because I’m not as fearful as I was at the beginning of this class trying to conduct a research study.  I have some fear in, but I have so much more insight that I believe I am capable of doing research. 

An important lesson I learned about planning is that it prevents problems.  By planning you are able to consider major options and alternatives. Designing is about deciding on options and choices that will help guide you in the direction that your research will precede.  Time, place and persons are some key aspects of research design.  Also, what you plan to research and how you will conduct the study. The first step in design is identifying the topic and stating the main focus of the research. In conducting research it involves focusing on collecting and analyzing data and ensuring that it is valid.  There is much to be considered in conducting a research study so it takes time.

A couple of challenges that I encountered were a small sample size for my study and the amount of time that would be needed.

My perception of an early childhood professional has been modified by the notion of conducting research.  This is not an easy task.  I am less fearful now after having completed this class, but I know there is a lot to be learned.  My hat goes off to those professionals conducting research.

Reference

Mac Naughton, G.; Rolfe, S. A.; & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010) Doing Early Childhood

     Research.  International Perspectives on Theory & Practice. (2^nd ed.)  New York, NY:

     McGraw Hill.

Research Around the World

I explored Early Childhood Australia.  A current international research topic was on Korean children’s cultural adjustment during transition to the early years of school in Australia.  The participants in the study were a sample of South Korean international students aged five to eight years, their mothers, and teacher.  The study found that language difficulties were a major concern for these children in adapting to an Australian education setting as with any other outside culture.  However, successful cultural adjustments were found connected to positive interpersonal relationships with peers, teachers, and the ability to adjust to the teaching methodology.

Another research topic was Outdoors play: Does avoiding the risks reduce the benefits.  This research aimed to argue for the inclusion of positive risk-taking experiences in children’s outdoor play, primarily in the context of early childhood education.

A few surprising facts I gained from exploring this international website was that 92 per cent of Australians think the quality of early childhood education and care is more important than cost.  The people of Australia want better quality early childhood education and care.  This website also offered five tips to parents to help minimize their child’s stress during their first year of school: 

• Tell children about what you’ll be doing during the day so they don’t worry.
• Break the day into manageable parts.  For example:  I will pick you up after the last bell rings.
• Make sure the person picking up the child wait close to the classroom and is on time.
• If you’re going to be late, let the school know and have them to inform the teacher and your child what is happening.
• Have a Plan B with your child and let the school know as well.

Other noteworthy information I found is that their code of ethics in relation to research is very much the same as that of the United States.  The best interest of the child comes first and the families.

Reference

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

Researach that Benefits Children and Families--Uplifting Stories

I would like to share the story of a little boy name Alijah who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia  (ALL).  When Alijah was two years old his parents noticed that she started crawling again.  He would crawl with his foot up in the air like it was hurting.  This continued for a few days and soon afterward Alijah started to have high fever at night. 

Alijah was diagnosed in 2006 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) after the doctor performed a bone marrow biopsy and found leukemia cells in his marrow.  The doctor told the family they were lucky to this extent though the cancer was once almost fatal, now it is a very treatable disease.

Today, Alijah is still being treated for leukemia.  For Alijah, infusions and transfusions are facts of life.  However, thanks to research like that sponsored by Children’s Cancer Research Fund, today more than 80 percent of children with ALL are cured.

You can read Alijah’s story and many more like this at the website listed below.

Referemce

Retrieved from http://www.childrenscancer.org/stories-of-hope/kids-stories/alijah.html

Your Personal Research Journey

My subtopic is:  What parents do to enhance secure attachment in their children.

I chose this topic because I have witnessed children that are withdrawn from other young children when they engage in play or are in the same classroom.  I often wonder why is that child withdrawn.  Is it because of shyness or is it because the child do not feel secure in their environment?  This leads me to my subtopic of researching what parents can do to enhance secure attachment in thier children.

My personal experience with this simulation process happened this past summer while having to do some classroom observation for one of my classes.  I observed a little boy that was crying and clinging to his mother when she brought him into the classroom.  I asked the teacher if it was his first day and she replied, "no, he has been coming here everyday since he was a baby and he does this everyday."  I couldn't help but to wonder why this child was so insecure and what could his parents and caregivers do to give him the feeling of security that is needed away from his parents.

Insight that I have gained that I believe is important in first understanding what can be done to enhance secure attachment in their children is to understand that, "attachments begin to form in early infancy, solidify by age 1, and influence a person's close relationships throughout life."  Children have to feel secure and safe in their environments.

If anyone have any advice or insight that might be helpful to me with this process, I would appreciate it very much and the same goes for myself in helping someone with their research.

Reference

Berger, K.S. (2009).  The Developing Person Through Childhood (5th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Final Blog Assignment

Three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field:

(1) Be passionate and dedicated to what you are doing and you will see great results in the end.  You will be amazed of the difference you can make in the early childhood field and in the lives of children and their families.

(2) Learning is universal and no matter where you are in the world we all share common goals:  providing quality education for young children, advocating on their behalf so that all children have the same opportunity to high-quality education no matter what their cultural background may be, and we all love the children.

(3) When we come together sharing ideas and knowledge we can focus on making the learning and developemental process of children so that they are ready for kindergarten and have the desire to go to the next level.

My goal related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations.

Goal:  To become a member of the World Forum Organization and share ideas, gain knowledge about other cultures.  To share resources with other professionals that will be useful in the field of early childhood education.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts--Part 3

Here is some information that I found to be both interesting and helpful in the early childhood field.

(1.)  United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (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.

(2.)  (Quality) – High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness.  There are no universally agreed criteria for quantifying ECCE quality base useful factors to consider include pedagogy materials, personnel training, service setting and parental education and involvement.

(3.)  The Global alliance for Cultural Diversity fosters partnerships between public, private and civil society actors in cultural industries in developing countries.  The Global Alliance operates at two levels: it provides information and tools on the partnership through web platform and supports operational projects in the field.

Reference

Retrieved from, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-system/early

    

     childhood.



Sharing Web Resources--Newsletter-October 7, 2011

In researching my current newsletter I researched an interesting link titled, “Mitchell family went to greath lengths, and distances for kids.”  This article was about Kit Carson School District R-1 board that decided to tell state officials that they would not be able to provide for the special needs of children living in the Mitchell family’s group home.

The Mitchell family (Howard and Melody Mitchell) decided in order to provide their children (foster and adopted) with quality education they would make daily drives of 20 miles each way to a more welcoming school district in Eads.  It was by officials who believed they could accommodate the special needs of abandoned or abused children.

Sadly, on Thursday morning while Howard Mitchell was traveling to take the children to school disaster struck.  The van driven by Mr. Mitchell went into the back of a  semitrailer truck  killing Howard Mitchell and five of the children, while seven of the children remain in the hospital.

According to Janelle Asmus spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Education, “There is no state mandate on this.  We have a lot of local districts that makes decisions like this on their own.”

Another topic of discussion in my newsletter was about:  U.S. Child Obesity Reduction Program Test.  Over the past three decades, obesity rates among children and adolescents have almost tripled according to Dr. Thomas R. Friedan, director of the CDC.  He states that, “obese children are more likely to have asthma, depression, diabetes and other serious and costly health problems.  This project will help figure out ways our children can grow up to lead long, healthy, and productive lives.”

The Center for Disease Control and Preventions is using $25 million made available by the Affordable Care Act to support a four-year Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project.  They will target children ages 2-12 covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

In the first article that I explored I think that it is wrong for a school system to turn their backs on educating young children.  Just because a child has a handicap their parents shouldn’t have to go outside of their school district to get quality education for their children.

In my second article, which fell under quality for education, I think it is important for us to remember that when children are overweight we need to keep them very active.  I think this is play can have positive effect on children.  When children are active in physical movement they are able to loose fat tissues that are not needed.  Today, many of our children sit in front of video games for fun and they are not physically active.

Resources

National Association of Child Care Resources & Referral Agencies. (Newsletter:

     http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/

Steffen, J. (October 2011).  Mitchell Family went to Greath Lengths and Distances for

     Kids.  The Denver Post.  Retrieved from

     http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19117902