When I Think of Research...

In the course of Building Research Competencies, my knowledge and understanding about research had definitely been deepened. I have learned how to find reliable resources, narrow my general research topic of choice down to related subtopics, and also, gained knowledge about the terms and concepts used in the research process.

My ideas about the nature of research has changed because now I realize there is alot of information you need to know in regard to understanding research in early childhood. As with any research, there are risks of doing research involving children and their families.

I did encounter some challenges in understanding research in this course. In order for research to be informative, ethical, meaningful, persuasive, and significant, researchers have to follow the proper steps from selecting a topic to drawing conclusions. I found out throughout this course that learning about the process of formatting these steps can be challenging as I began to develop my research study outline.

My perceptions of an early childhood professional has been modified by understanding and evaluating research. Research today is greatly needed in order for advocates to seek out for the improvement in the early childhood field.

I would like to thank Dr. DiSpagna and all my colleagues for the support and helpful information shared throughout this course. I'm looking forward to gaining more knowledge and understanding of early childhood as I continue to work on obtaining my Master's Degree in early childhood studies.

Research Around the World

The international website I chose to explore was Early Childhood Australia. Early Childhood Australia advocates to ensure quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the education and care of children from birth to age eight.

On their website, they have a "Research in Practice Series (RIPS)", which is a practical, easy-to-read resource that offers effective new approaches for challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children.

Early Childhood Australia have a wide range of topics for anyone interested in children's early year. Listed below are some of the current international research topics in the Research in Practice Series that I found to be interesting, but there are many more available.

• Respecting diversity: Articulation early childhood practice
• Learning and teaching through play
• The Early Years Learning Framework:  Building confident learners
• The Early Years Learning Framework:  Getting started
• Nurturing the spiritual child:  Compassion, connection and a sense of self
• Portfolios: Documenting a journey
• Treasures and collections: A touch of magic in the early years
• Diversity and difference:  Lighting the spirit of identity
• Young children as active learners

One of the surprising facts about early childhood I gained from exploring this international early childhood website was their topic on "Learning and teaching through play" by Anne Kennedy and Lennie Barblett. I was interested in this topic because the importance of play in early childhood growth and development is my chosen research simulation. This book will assist educators to examine their understanding of play and how play-based approaches require intentional planning and teaching in order to support and extend children's learning. Therefore, this book will definitely be an resource that will contribute to my research simulation.

Early Childhood Australia also offers the Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program with resources and workshops, and so much more that will contribute to their mission for being a voice for young children.

For additional information, visit their website at:
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

Research that Benefits Children and Families

A research article I found to be interesting was one written by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the "Expenditures on Children by Families, 2010". The USDA issues an annual report calculating the cost of raising children to inform parents and policymakers about the burdens on the average family budget.

This article was interesting to me because it calculated the annual expenses a family spend on a child. Even though most families provide for their children, I don't think many realize or has ever calculated how much money it takes to provide for their children. One report findings concluded for a husband-wife households with two children earnings less than $57,000 in pre-tax income, annual expenses for a child ranged from $8,480 to $9,630, depending on the child's age; for households with income between $57,600 and $99,730, expenses ranged from $11,880 to $13,830; and for households making more than $97,730, the figure was $19,770 to $23,690.

The USDA also uses this data to shape government policies on such issues as child support and foster care. For more information about this article, go to http://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/education/expenditures-children-families-2010/

EDUC 6163 Building Research Competencies: My Personal Research Journey

During this course "Building Research Competencies", I will be gaining knowledge of understanding, evaluating, and utilizing research. The topic I chose to do my research on is the importance of play in early childhood growth and development.

Today, most people see children as just playing, but there is much more to the picture than meets the eye. They are really learning. Play is an important component of early childhood development by strengthening children's social skills and helping to build self-esteem. They learn how to explore, discover, and learn. Also, they develops problem solving skills and interpersonal skills. Therefore, most of play research supports the notion that play is essential to physical, social, cognitive, and emotional aspects of a child's development.

I am very interested to see what research currently has to say and have proven how important play is to the development and growth in early childhood development. As I began my research, I have already learned from this course how to use the eight steps to evaluate websites and analyze information presented in the articles to see if they adhere to accepted standards/guidelines regarding quality research. This information will be helpful to me by selecting valuable resources to apply to my research.

If you have any advice, insights, or resources that might help me with this process of research about "The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development", it will be greatly appreciated. Listed below are some resources I have already found that I will like to share on this topic.

Resources:
Anderson-McNamee, J. & Bailey, S. (2010). The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development. Retrieved from http://www.msuestension.org/publications/HomeHealthandFamily/MT201003HR.pdf

Ginsburg, K. (2007). The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Retrieved from http://www.aap.org/pressroom/playFINAL.pdf

Isenberg, J. & Quisenberry, N. (2002). Play: Essential For All Children- A Position Paper of the Association for Childhood Education International. Retrieved from http://www.udel.edu/bateman/acei/playpaper.htm

Issues and Trends: Consequences of International Contacts

Learning about the international early childhood field has contributed to my professional and personal development by:

(1) Gaining a different cultural perspective on Early Childhood Education. The learning abroad experience  added breadth to my knowledge of skills and understanding in early childhood.
(2) Learning about the international early childhood field gave me the opportunity to review shared information, resources, tools, and approaches in early childhood that would help enable me and other organizations to learn from and support one another as we develop and implement programs, services and systems to improve the lives of young children and their families.
(3) Being able to sign up for newsletters to receive periodic notifications about what's going on in the early childhood field and related events and materials.

My goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends will be to continually use this valuable information and internationally available resources in order to help me with my professional growth in a culturally diverse nation.

To my colleagues in this course of "Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field", I wish you many blessings as you continue on your professional path in early childhood studies.

"The best way to predict your future is to make it".

                                                      -Anonymous Author

Gettin to Know International Contacts- Part 3

UNESCO's "Early Childhood Care and Education" is a United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that advocates for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programs that attend to health, nutrition, security and learning which will provide for children's development.

One of the news' articles on UNESCO's website I chose to explore was "Every child has the right to education!" The Convention on the Rights of the Child observed its 20th anniversary on November 20, 2010. With this convention, states have legal obligations to ensure the right to education in their constitution and laws and take steps to improve education policies and strategies to give it effect.

On the 20th anniversary of the Convention, the biggest challenge was to eliminate disparities in education and ensure that the core obligations of states regarding the right to education remain in the forefront for pushing the education for All agenda forward.

Here is a statement in the article I would like to share that was related to issues and trends: excellence and the equity of care and education for children and families:

"The right to education is not only a human right in itself but also essential for the exercise of all human rights."

For additional information, visit the UNESCO's Early Childhood Care and Education website:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Sharing Web Resources

The outside link I chose to explore on the ZERO TO THREE website was the "Policy Guide ". The Early Experiences Matter Policy Guide includes an issue brief on building early childhood systems, as well as other policy briefs, practical tools, and in-depth policy. The policy guide offers policy options and strategies to use in an effort to affect policy change for infants, toddlers, and their families. To access the Early Experience Matter Policy Guide, go to http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Policy_Guide.pdf?docID=8401.

This week, "The Baby Monitor", ZERO TO THREE's Policy and Advocacy News shared a newsletter with me that contributed to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education. The Launch of National Movement for America's Children is a group of child advocacy organizations that have launched a nationwide pledge, listening tour, and crowd-sourcing tool designed to develop a national strategy for the healthy growth and development of EVERY child. The National Movement for America's Children (the Movement) is founded that ALL of our children deserve nurturing environments that support healthy brain development so they are prepared to learn in school, grow into productive, contributing adults, and help their community, and our country, be prosperous and competitive in the global economy. With the crowd-sourcing tools, all families will have access and availability to the best quality services.

Reference:

ZERO TO THREE. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/