When I Think of Research

First and foremost I want to thank my colleagues for all of their continued support and comments throughout this program.  It has been a rewarding experience to work with all of you and have your support.  I look forward to what the next course has to offer with all you.

• What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?
• Throughout this course I have gained many new insights.  Research is not a one size fits all model and there are several steps that must be taken to ensure that a study is properly prepared and implemented.  Also, as a researcher, I have several roles that I can play in a study.  I can be an observer on the outside or I can become involved in the participants.  Also, the participants can be selected through various means.  Essentially what I thought I knew about research was a fraction of the larger picture.  
• In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?
• Research in this course has definitely shed some light that there is more information available to me than I could have ever imagined.  I need to ensure that I am selecting quality methods, setting up structured studies, and evaluating many sources of information.  Research and studies will be more involved than I originally thought, but I am excited for it. 
• What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?
• Planning, designing, implementing and conducting research in a study are all involved aspects of a larger picture.  I need to ensure that every aspect of a study is completed to its fullest extent.  Early childhood is a branch of education that is not talked about often in the debate over education and early childhood needs to be fought over to gain more support.  
• What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?
• Some challenges throughout this course were being able to evaluate the good professional information from the great professional data such as other studies or results.  Also, I discovered that planning a study is not as easy as a I thought it could or would be.  Every time I would develop an idea for the study, I would have a counter thought.  It was very frustrating and times and I had to tell myself that some parts of the study would be in depth and take time to put into place (identifying variables for example).  
• 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 grown a deeper understanding and fondness for early childhood professionals.  As an educator I am used to the under appreciated and over worked aspects of education, but early childhood is even more over looked.  In my years of education I have not heard much regarding early childhood and I know have seen it first hand.  As much as education is under funded, early childhood is underfunded more.  In a sense early childhood is the forgotten one when in fact it should be invested in the most.  Children at this age are most impressionable and need the most support, so why is it that more is not given to them?

Research Around the World

Early Childhood Education in Australia

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/



   It is difficult to only choose one international site to look at.  Since I am currently in education I often wonder if other countries run their programs similar to the U.S.  I want to know if the same educational pains are felt globally or only in the U.S.  When I looked at the Australian early childhood education website I discovered that the U.S. is not alone in the battle for funds and support in the early childhood field.  

To address the first question of current international research topics, some of the topics are the same as the U.S.  In a September 4th media release it was announced that over 140,000 early childhood education professionals will be caring for over 1 million children in over 16,000 centers across Australia.  Similarly to the U.S. there is a high need for more funding and assistance through grants and federal monies.  Early childhood professionals want to invest in quality training for professionals to ensure that the must current ideas are being implemented in the the field.  New and affordable care is needed for families that have young children.  Like the U.S. many families cannot take part of what programs are available due to money troubles.  Political parties need to become more aware of these issues and address them as a high priority.  Young children are leading the way, but professionals and adults are letting them down. 

In the second question I was asked if there were any surprising insights, facts, or ideas about early childhood that I gained from this site.  I did obtain some new information about EC from this site.  The U.S. is clearly not alone in the battle for funding and development of EC programs and institutions.  Australia is doing its best to accommodate families in need with what funding they do have.  The country has also implemented the RIPS program which is Research in Practice Services.  This is a purchasable service and it includes a variety of topics that pertain to the early childhood field.  Many links are also posted on this site to provide professionals and caregivers insight into the current issues of EC.

Lastly, I commend this site for providing many supplemental materials and support to professionals, caregivers, and parents.  A free news letter can be sent to you electronically (which takes about 20 seconds to fill out), and this program has been in the works for 75 years.  Australia is doing its best to support best practices for EC environments and the professionals involved.