Research Around the World

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) is an advocacy organization for young children.  One of the first things I saw when I logged on to their site is that they are advocating for children with disabilities to have quality education.  This organization is very much so one that provides vital information to educators and families.  They reach out to families and educators through webinars, membership and newsletters and the reporting of daily endeavors with the government.  This organization also publishes an early childhood journal call the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood which is the longest running early childhood journal to date. 

Quality support from the government seems to be an issue brought up in the section of Early Childhood news.  As the government a fund wage increase for early childhood workers there is great celebration, but the uncertainty of these funds in the near future still causes anxiety among the early childhood field.  These funds are a big step toward hiring more qualified workers and sustaining quality it early education.  This is another step in ECA's advocacy for quality reforms for education.  After further investigation of the website and reading more recent newsletters, the funding promised was revoked by the government this November saying it was "inequitable" and that they are reviewing the funding bill. 

Another issue is making early education affordable, flexible and available to all.  This topic is definitely an issue that many parents in America can relate to.  Only have early childhood care for those in poverty or those who can afford it for their children is not allowing access to all young children.  In an August media release, it states that the lack of investment in early education is affecting children later in school and also addresses that there are strong economic benefits to investing in early education. 
 

An insight I gained is that the fight for early childhood education is long from over or nearing it end.  When I entered this field I thought it was a developed, support field just like elementary education.  But my assumption was far from the truth.  The understanding and commitment to early childhood education is just at its beginning stages.  No matter where you are on this earth, there are teachers and advocates fighting for the rights of young children, their families and the right to affordable, quality early education. 

Research the Benefits Children and Families

Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?

If I could contribute to the early childhood community with any research topic it would be to improve quality.   The quality of early childhood education, I feel, is the foundation for all other research.  Whether looking into research on ELL, accountability, economics, assessment, access, or teachers, quality outcomes for programs, young children and families are all related.  
A quality program has many many elements.  There are studies that claim that quality early education is scarce and I take a personal offense to that (EQUIP,2013).  There are many elements to a quality program such as teacher education, curriculum, the environment, funding, community outreach, etc. As quality continues to be questioned in recent years, I would want my positive contribution to be a clear understanding of early childhood quality.  As most early childhood educators know it is difficult to put ECE in a box.  Its elements are non-traditional, require teachers to have a different type of relationship with their students (compared to grade 1 and up).  Also I would want to help improve the quality of early childhood education in New Jersey.

References:

nieer.org

Alexandre, J.M.Y, Makow, N. Jung, K., Barnett, W. Steven. (June, 2013) Essex Infant/Toddler Quality Improvement Project (EQUIP). National Institute of Early Education Research (NIEER).

Any Suggestions??: My Personal Research Journey

As I finished the chart for Part 1 of this week's assignment I felt burdened a bit because I am still unsure of the topic I want to chose for my research simulation.  Do I chose self-regulation for preschool students?  Is this topic too broad? It is something that I deal with everyday. Or do I chose Parent/Family involvement?  A topic that I know I will find information about but seems very difficult to simulate research for because it is not something that the parents in my classroom do, but it would be beneficial to me because it is a MAJOR issue in the district that I work in, especially in early childhood. 

As far as the elements of this course, I was really thankful for the info on critiquing research found on the internet and how to read a research paper.  Why did they tell us this before!!!!! I can think back to all the times I was reading the method and procedure sections and just hoping I did not skip important information about the topic.  Looking back...clearly I was not missing anything substantial.  

Does anyone have any insights to the topics discussed above?  Any suggestions to what to narrow in on?  I am leaning toward family/parent involvement.