When I Think of Research

 

WHEN I THINK OF RESEARCH

 

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

After taking this course I realize that through the research process, we are able to learn more about things and people, and it allows us to make smart decisions. I learned that both qualitative and quantitative research is important; each yields different, yet complimentary information.  Research is important because it produces new knowledge that is generalizable beyond the populations directly studied.  Research is important because without it we would not figure how anything works or how anything is made. There would be no advances in medicine, science, or anything else without it.  I learned that research is important to society because it allows us to discover more and more that might make our lives easier, more comfortable, and safer.  It is also essential to every day decision making.  It arms people from wrong information and saves time and money.  One very important thing that I learned about research is that it produces knowledge that can be applied outside a research setting.  Research also forms the foundation of program development and policies everywhere around the universe.

In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

My ideas have not changed too much.  I have come to realize that research involves various aspects such as understanding, reading and examining new and fresh material.  Even though research methods can be time consuming, it can also be fun and enjoyable with the potential of reaching results that are valid. 

 

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

 

I learned that understanding and applying research findings from early education to classroom practice is an important step in achieving effective child outcomes.  Administrators, researchers, and educators can find clear examples of educational research findings that inform classroom practice.  The basic principles of child development and learning form the foundation for quality early childhood programs.   

What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them? 

 Two challenges that I encountered were first, choosing the right topic.   I knew that my research topic would be the foundation on which everything else rests; therefore it was crucially that I chose carefully.  I met this challenge by taking every opportunity I could to seek advice from experts, going across disciplines and revising my data based on the latest advice that I received.  My second challenge was dealing with the data.  I had to know how to make sense of the data that I collected.  I began my grounding myself in my research by presenting my data in a way that would demonstrate how my research would add to the body of knowledge.  I remained focused and organized my data around my research question. 

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

As a result of this course I have gained a better understanding of research, its methods, and its importance to the early childhood field.  As a professional I realize that research is basically a tool itself that helps us to get questions answered, and discover new techniques, strategies, and ideas regarding the early childhood field.  There are also various methods of conducting research, therefore these different methods will also allow us to gather more information from different places.  I feel that when professionals work together and share information, insights, ideas and technology, it helps to give young children a better advantage on their journey to a high-quality education.  Creating a stimulating learning environment in which all children are encouraged to explore their full potential has long been a stated task of early childhood professionals. 

I must say that the past several weeks have been extremely valuable to me.  I have learned new and informative information in regards to building research competencies.  I hold this course as one of the most informative of all that I have taken so far.  I commend my instructor for the excellent preparation and thorough explanations and feedback.  The course was most enjoyable.  It was a pleasure to work with my instructor as well as my classmates.  I thank everyone for everything that they shared during this course and I wish you all the best of luck in continuing your educational journey. 

Research Around The World

Research Around the World

The website that I chose was Early Childhood Education in Sub-Saharan Africa.  I learned much valuable information from this website as well as interesting information in regard to the links.  I found that in developing countries in Africa, there have been various policy and practical initiatives toward implementing and sustaining quality early childhood education.  The promotion of quality early childhood education in Africa, particularly for children who are vulnerable, faces many complex cultural, political, and economic challenges.  Negative experiences, such as the exposure to the violence of war, tribal and cultural attitudes, poor quality of teachers, and political instability are some of the  factors inhibiting the full realization of quality early childhood education on this continent.  Poor environmental conditions, low family income, and chronic corruption in some African states have added to the overwhelming burden of barriers to early childhood development and care.  

The biggest obstacle to children’s welfare and education is poverty.   I feel that in order to improve life for many children concerning education and to help them to become successful, governments must reduce poverty among households and eradicate other forms of violence against children if early childhood education is to make a meaningful impact in Africa.

Some of the current research topics that I had a chance glance over that I found to be very interesting included:

11)      Curriculum Development Using Community Resources in Tanzaniz

22)      Developing an ECD Teacher Training curriculum in Lesotho as Part of a   

   College Education Program

33)      Development of Model Framework for Orphans and Vulnerable Children  

    in their early years in Ghana

44)      Assessing the influence of Different Early Childhood Development Models 

   on Pre-School Children’s School Readiness in Kenya

55)       Leadership Skills Training for Administration and Parent Support Training

   for Caregivers in Malawi

Some insights that I gained about early childhood after exploring this international website was that many of issues that many developing countries have as close to the ones that we have here in the United States.  I found that many economic inequalities along with other forms of social deprivation in early childhood related to low income and social disadvantages during the adulthood years.  Early childhood education leads to social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and moral development.  In the quest for child well-being, the minority world can do much for the majority world.  Powers should not be used to show the way but used to support Africa’s efforts to hear its own voices, among others, and to seek its own way forward.  It is possible that it will find that way through children who understand and appre­ciate multiple worlds, through young scholars,  and through leaders that appreciate the riches of the past, as much as the possibilities of the future.