When I Think of Research...

     I do not think I ever understood the magnitude of work that goes into a research topic. I guess I had the thought that you ask question, perform some observation, collect data and report on your findings. I now know that there is far more work that goes into research than what I previously thought. I remain to be completely overwhelmed by the thought of taking on another research topic. The entire process seems to be a lot for me to grasp. I could feel that way because of the load I am carrying in life right now, but I am not completely sure that is true. On the other hand I feel like I have learned so much from the process. I am in awe of the individuals that take on a research topic and see it through all the way to the end. I truly believe that research is valuable to the field of early childhood and I am in full support of continuing research for the better of our field. I also am thankful for the individuals in the past that took on the important task of research in our field so that we, today, know the best practices for our field when working with children and families. Each step in this class felt like a challenge throughout the process. However I was able to work each challenge out through a lot of reading and additional research. My perception of an early childhood professional has changed by my new belief that obtaining my Doctorate is an unreachable goal for me. I was thinking I might continue my education but after this class I am not so sure I have the professional skills to keep going. People who have their Doctorate are the pinnacle of professional within our field for their pure ability to initiate, preform, and conclude an ethical research topic.

I am so thankful to my peers who supported and provided feedback. It truly expanded my learning and I am grateful. I am not sure I would have been successful in this class without your questions and posts. Thank You.

Research Around the World

The Early Childhood Australia site had some very interesting information. They have a program called RIPS (Research in Practice Series). This is a “practical, easy-to-read resource, offering effective new approaches for those challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children (Early Childhood Australia, 2012). This provides an index and links to buy texts to many topics of current research that professionals can read and put to use. Some of those topics are “Seeing assessments as a stepping stone,” “The early years learning framework: building confident learners,” and “Young children are active learners.” There were so many topics I felt lost in the information. I am not sure I never thought of another country being involved is so many early childhood research topics. I was most surprised at the lack of free information. Feel like I search ever corner of the website and now minimal information that did not give information on how to buy a book or reading material. I also came away wondering why we do not work as a team in research. Instead of different countries each performing research on topics why don’t we work together to reach a global conclusion to research. I was also very interesting in the topic I read about “Learning and teaching through play”. This brief article was about research that “explains how educators examine their understandings of play and how play-based approaches require intentional planning and teaching in order to support and extend children’s learning.” I would love to someday obtain a copy of the book so that I could read more on how Australia stands on this topic issue.

 Early Childhood Australia. (2012) Retrieved October 6, 2012, from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

One positive aspect of research can be the miracle of saving a child’s life.

Nine years also my friend gave birth to a beautiful healthy boy. Everything was normal at the hospital and for a few weeks after that. When her son was 3 weeks old he got sick and that is when it felt like the world was crashing down. Isaac continued being sick and could not fight the infection. It was soon found out that he was born with no immune system. The pattern of illness and antibiotics would go one for two and a half years. Doctors said that there was nothing they could do and eventually he would get an illness that antibiotics could not help and he would die. He was not expected to live past his third birthday. A few months after Isaac was three, doctors came to my friend with an option for an “experiment idea that could save his life, and his only chance.” Isaac became a research participant in the hopes it would save him and provide information for future help to other children. It was a long process, a lot of money needed to be raised. (2.2 million because insurance would not cover “an experiment”), and pain for Isaac to endure. In the end it was successful. Isaac has been healthy for 5 years and just got the official diagnosis of being cured. He is able to go to school and loves being with children his own age. Seeing the process first hand still has not cemented my feelings about research and children. However I am so thankful for the outcome of this research that I can think nothing but positive things about it.  

Personal Research Journey

I have realized that my topics have not yet been researched, if they have the information is not found in the Walden Library. In an effort to complete the assignment I found myself remolding my original ideas to ones that could be supported by research. Over all this has been an overwhelming and a bit stressful to say the least.

I have chosen the topic “Supporting a child’s culture in an early childhood classroom.” I chose this topic because of what it means for me personally and professionally. I grew up never feeling like I belonged in a classroom for feeling valued or important. It saddens me to see children feel this way in today’s world. That is why a personal goal of mine to never have a child feel that way in a classroom of mine.

I wish I had done the “research chart” on one of the articles from my research instead of one from out reading. I know I would have learned more and while utilizing the chart in a way that was helpful to me.

I have come to the realization that I am making this research assignment harder on myself by being anxious about it. I need to relax and have a little bit of confidence in myself. One step at a time, or rather, one assignment at a time.