When I Think of Research

When I Think of Research......




Taking this course has given me a totally new and unexpected insight on research. When I started the course I was very quick to believe that research was not only boring but something that I could not easily understand. It only took 2 assignments before I realized that research is anything but boring and that with some practice, ok, a lot of practice, even I could understand how to read and interpret scholarly research!




I used to think that research was completed only by professional researchers and that the rest of us were left to try and figure out what they were talking about and how to use the research in our daily lives. Now I understand that anyone can be do a research. You just need to have a question that you are passionate about and design a way to get answers to the question. I have also discovered that research is done for many reasons and that the early childhood field is ripe with both proven research and many more topics that need further research.




One of the most interesting things that I learned in this course was how to plan, design, and conduct research. The assignments that were set-up to help me break the process down step by step were invaluable in helping me focus on the process and understand the parameters of each step. I really enjoyed designing my own research simulation project and I am going to take it one step further and actually implement the project during the next school year at my childcare center. I can’t wait to actually use something that I designed!




Even though I enjoyed this course and all that I learned, it was not without challenges. I often found it hard to think like a researcher and grasp some of the technical terms. Thankfully, the use of my research chart helped me narrow down some of the terms and topics that were causing me the most difficulty. One of the biggest challenges that I faced was narrowing down my research simulation topic. I think I changed it at least 5 times before I settled on literacy.




Overall, this course has helped me realize the intrinsic value of research and how important it is to the early childhood field. As an early childhood professional I want to make sure that I am always abreast of the most current research and that I use research as I design and implement programs for the young children at my center. All in all, I had a good experience in this course and I look forward to using the knowledge that I have gained.

Research Around the World

Research Around the World

The website that I chose to review this week is:

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

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this site.  It was extremely easy to read and was full of information.  

Some of the current research topics on the site are: inclusion, ethics, quality standards, working together in early childhood settings, bullying, diversity, and my favorite, learning and teaching through play.  All of these research articles and many, many more can be accessed by clicking on the “research in practice” tab on the left hand side of the home page.

One of the most interesting things that I learned from this site is that Australia’s research topics are very similar to ours.  I don’t know why that surprises me, but it does.   One of my favorite areas of this site was the “supporting best practice” tab.  I was very excited to see all of the information about how to help support best practices.  In our own country I have read tons of information about best practice but this site has given me some new ideas about how to support best practice in the classrooms at my center.  

Another favorite of mine on the site is all of the information about the importance of play.  Almost every tab included useful information on the importance of play.  I plan on using some of the information with the teachers and parents at my center as well as during a couple of workshops and classes that I will be teaching this fall. 

If you have not explored this site, please try to find time to click on and find out for yourself how much information is available.  Happy clicking!

Monette