What I have learned about Research

When I first started this course, I was nervous about what it would entail. When I would read a research article, the majority of it would sound like a foreign language to me. I love how this course broke it down so I can understand research in the early childhood field. I am amazed at the vocabulary I have learned throughout this course. The Understanding Research Chart assignments have helped me truly understand the meaning of terms used often in research and how it is used in context. I've also learned about the different methods of research, how to make sure it is valid and challenges to keep in mind to rid any biases from the research. These have all eased my mind when reading research articles and also in the planning and the process of conducting research.

When planning, designing, and conducting research with children it is good practice to get consent from the child when they are participating in research. Also, as an early childhood educator, I am mandated to report any suspicions of child abuse and would need to make sure I make that clear with any participants before getting their consent to participate in a research study that I would be conducting. I found it challenging to understand some of the readings in the text, but with the use of the glossary and internet, it helped me understand the new vocabulary better.

This course has helped my perceptions of an early childhood professional in that research is a huge part of the early childhood field. Without research, we wouldn't know how children learn, how to modify children's behavior and so much more. I have enjoyed learning about research and how it is done in the early childhood field and look forward to reading more research in the years to come.

I have enjoyed reading my colleagues blog and discussion posts throughout this course. Thank you to all who have commented!

Sincerely,
Jessica

Research Around the World

What are some of the current international research topics?

• Understanding play and how play-based approaches require intentional planning and teaching in order to support and extend children’s learning.
• Explores how educators can help children to be confidant and involved learners, focusing on Outcome 4 of the first national Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for Australia.
• How children learn and to encourage those working with young children to provide a range of opportunities for them to actively direct their own learning.
• How to use games and activities involving books and familiar objects, to support young children’s developing literacy skills.

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

• I was amazed to find how similar the early childhood research done in Australia is to ours in the United States.
• Also, when visiting this link: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/learning_about_children_3_to_9_years/the_schoolage_child/development_5-9_years.html I noticed that they had a link for child development in Australia and another for USA.
• The following link discussed the child obesity problem in early childhood. I was honestly shocked because I thought this was only a problem in the United States. This has made me more aware that is not just a nationwide problem, it’s a global problem. http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/resource_themes/child_health_and_childhood_obesity/childhood_obesity.html

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

• When I clicked on the link that had the research article on Understanding play and how play-based approaches require intentional planning and teaching in order to support and extend child learning, I read that there is considerable research on the benefits of play for children’s learning across all areas of development. I found this interesting as well because it is such a huge concern in the United States right now, because we are taking away play time from young children. This is why I feel it is important that we study the benefits of play so that policymakers and administrators will listen to our plea with concrete evidence that play is so important for children.

References

Kennedy, A. & Barblett, L. (2013). Learning and teaching through play: Supporting the Early Years Learning Framework. Early Childhood Australia.