When I think of Research

Insights: I have gained new insights on ethical issues that effect research such as confidentiality and informing children who are involved in a research study. Also I gained insight on the types of triangulation in qualitative research designs. Prior to taking this course I was unfamiliar with data triangulation.

My ideas about the nature of doing research have changed because I now know al the necessary steps to take prior to conducting research. I also assumed conducting research studies were as simple as asking a question and conducting a study. However I now know the process of writing a research question is just as difficult as planning the entire research study.

I learned that planning a research study takes a lot of thought and consideration. Designing a research study takes organization and research. Conducting a research study also takes time and patience. Also when planning and designing a research study you have to be very specific as to what you would like to research.

Challenges I encountered: time management and organization. I have a three year old and a two month old. So time management was a huge issue for me. My 2 month old had to have surgery school work was not always my number one priority. I overcame this challenge by setting days and time for my homework and did the best I could during those times. There were a few assignments I was unable to complete which I will work on harder in my next class. I overcame organization by creating folders for my course work.

Option 2 Week 3 Blog

This year I had the opportunity to attend the NCAEYC conference at the Raleigh Civic Center in Raleigh North Carolina. Dr. Becky Bailey was the guest of honor. She is the founder of Conscious Discipline.

“Conscious Discipline is the most comprehensive discipline program available. It is specifically designed to provide parents with the conscious awareness and skills needed to create safe, connected, problem-solving homes”.

“Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning
and discipline”.

‘Conscious Discipline is a longtime leader in the integration of classroom management with social-emotional learning, utilizing everyday events as the curriculum and addressing the adult's emotional intelligence as well as the child's. Conscious Discipline empowers adults to consciously respond to daily conflict, transforming it into an opportunity to teach critical life skills to children’.

“Conscious Discipline is evidence-based, and was named as a national model for character education by the Florida State Legislature”

http://consciousdiscipline.com/about/conscious_discipline.asp

            Conscious Discipline a topic that has inspired me from the first time I encountered it. I can imagine conducting a research study where most early childhood centers in my home town, Raleigh North Carolina are required to use conscious discipline in their classroom. The other early childhood centers would not be required to use it in fact they would be instructed to use other discipline methods such as time out or removal from classroom settings. The research study would follow 10 early childhood centers. 5 would use conscious discipline and the other 5 would not. After the conclusion of the study all centers would be required to use the method of discipline that was the most effective on children. I think this study would bring positive contributions to the early childhood field. Those positive contributions include more children being loved and cared for, reduction of child abuse, children having positive self esteem, adults and children learning to self regulate, children helping other children, children creating genuine friendships, children and adults learning to express their emotions through words, children using their words to express them selves, children growing up learning to self regulate, children with less mental issues as adults, parents creating unbreakable loving bonds with their children, parents learning how to talk to their children, and much more.  To learn more about conscious discipline please visit consciousdiscipline.com

My Personal Research Journey

How do developmentally appropriate practices foster healthy development for four year olds is the topic I chose for my simulation. I chose this topic to help inform early childhood professionals on the importance of developmentally appropriate practices and to help parents understand developmentally appropriate practices. Completing the simulation process was some what challenging. Finding relevant resources was a challenging task however I was able to find some good resources. As I searched through research data bases I reflected on this weeks research chart. I kept reminding myself to find current relevant information to help me. My advice to you all is to use the research data bases in the Walden University Library. Also you can use google scholar search engine to find relevant resources. Please feel free to share comments with advice and resources that you find helpful. Thank you.

Final Blog Assignment

Three                              Three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your                                                         professional and personal development.

1.       Wanting to travel to other countries to help children living in poverty.

2.       Not being able to contact an international professional

3.       Subscribing to international educational journals.

                                       One goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the

                                      spirit of collegial relations.

                         

                       Continue to try and make contact with an international professional in the early childhood field.  

Early Childhood Education Quality Pod Cast

http://earlyed.newamerica.net/blogposts/2012/podcast_improving_the_quality_of_early_child_care-67930

This pod cast advocated for parents to understand how to choose a quality child care facility for their children. The pod cast suggests parents should ask questions about child care centers to ensure the programs quality. Parents should ask questions about the type of training teachers receive and questions about the teacher’s background. Parents should have choices on quality settings. The biggest problem for parents is the cost of high quality child care.

According to the pod cast some states don’t require early childhood teachers to have a high school diploma for teachers. Some states only require teachers to have a high school diploma.

The child care development block grant has not been renewed in 16 years. The current child care development block grant has no minimal training requirements for educators, it does not require background checks for educators, and it has no requirements for inspections. The child care development block grant needs to be revised to ensure the health and safety of children.

Policy makers need to be educated to change the laws so that early child care facilities can offer higher quality care for children.

Insights from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Early childhood education is an issue of different government sectors which include education, social affairs, and health.

The biggest issue for most countries is to improve early childhood education but resources are scarce.

The 1990 Jomtien Declaration on Education for All (EFA), stated that countries should view early childhood as part of basic education.

Sharing Web Resources

Some of the outside links on the Zero to Three website lead to the Zero to three Facebook website, Pod Cast about research in child development, and rally for babies videos on youtube.

I thoroughly searched through the Public Policy link on the website. From there I searched through infant-toddler policy issues. There are three additional links: Good Health, Strong Families, and Positive Early Learning Experiences. I chose good health and from there I explored developmental screenings. There is information on premature infants and early intervention for abused and neglected infants and toddlers.

Insights I gained from the website this week. There was a study conducted on parents of infants and toddlers. Based on the study babies can sense their parent’s moods beginning at birth. 34% of parents think their child can not sense their moods until they are 6 months of age. 53% of parents say that the way they were raised will have a major influence on the way they approach parenting.

http://www.zerotothree.org/

Equity in Early Childhood Education In Thailand

What I gained from the Pod Cast.

Families in Northern Thailand feel education is important and it begins with families. Families play a vital role in the well being of children.

Government day care is provided to families in need in Thailand.

The responsibility of early childhood education is for families, communities, and government responsibility to ensure children are receiving early childhood education.   

 In Indonesia less than 4 % of public investment is made in education and development occurring at ages 0-3.

Age 0-3 is the stage where the most brain development occurs.

In Indonesia 0-3 is the most neglected age group when it comes to education.

Pod Cast link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ELKVCyx7n8

What I gained from Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website

1. Mental health is an issue that is not addressed properly in children around the world. It is urgent to identify the problem and create effective policies that are responsive in different cultures. 
2. The center of the developing child at Harvard University has developed a project that will use the science of child health and development to guide stronger policies and larger investments to benefit young children and their families in Brazil.
3.  The center “A Good Start,” is a project in Santiago, Chile, to improve early childhood education. The idea is to improve the quality of educational offerings for four-to-six-year-olds, particularly in the area of language development.