Blog Assignment: When I Think of Research...

Now as we come to the end of our journey together, I want to take the time to say first thank-you to you Dr. Dartt, and to you all my fellow colleagues.  I really feel that I have learned a lot from all of you, as well as gained some important insights, both professionally and personally.  And with these new insights and information I have gained, that I will now take with me as I continue on with my goal and pursuit of completing my Master's Degree in Early Childhood Studies.  Thank-you!

I think the most important insight I have gained in regards to research by completing this course, is the importance of planning and development at the beginning of your research.  I never realized just how much planning and development goes into the start of any research study.  It also gave me a new appreciation for the study of research and development, especially in regards to the field of early childhood studies.  And that is because without this field of research and development, and the professionals who dedicate their life to it, I don't think we would have made the progress we have in this field of early childhood studies.

With any type of research or study comes the chance or potential risks and challenges of ethical obstacles or issues.  And in my experience with my own research study, I did face some difficulties when first beginning the study, such as choosing a topic and then  finally deciding on what type of method of design to choose for the research.  But I think what helped me the most in facing these challenges were the readings and examples in the book, as well as the weekly application assignments.  Through these examples and assignments I was able to get a better understanding to help me decide on a topic that was close to my heart, as well as choose the type of method of my design for my research study to help me with my topic of children, and their experiences and understandings with the subject of death.  

In the end I can honestly say that my perception of an early childhood professional has definitely been modified as the result of this class, and that is because now I not only have a greater understanding of the world of research, I also can see just how vital and necessary it is to our field of early childhood studies.

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RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD

For this week's Blog Assignment I chose the link to the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVC) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

 http://www.cyc.uvic.ca/index.php#

Once on the website I chose to view the link for the School of Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria, Human and Social Development.

http://www.cyc.uvic.ca/

 

Making a difference in the lives of children, youth, families and communities

Once on the website, I was very impressed with the many Early Childhood programs that they had for students and faculty from all different kinds of diverse backgrounds, with one common interest, to make a difference in the lives of children, youth, families, and community.  And this was very apparent from the minute I began to read the Organization's  Mission statement and values.


Mission statement and values:

The School of Child and Youth Care provides education, training, professional development and research for the care and support of children, youth, families and their communities. The work of the School of Child and Youth Care is grounded in the principles of inclusion, social justice and ethical practice.
In order to achieve this mission the school has 3 major goals:

• To provide university level education in child and youth care through the delivery of an inclusi

  Values

• Focus on strengths – build on assets and resources to form positive professional identities and skills for ethical, collaborative practice.
• Self awareness – promote reflection and articulation of self location to ensure respectful, accountable practice across cultures and social groups.
• Inclusion – foster respect for and encouragement of diversity.
• Collaborative practice – promote family-centred practice, community capacity building, and partnerships across sectors to achieve developmental goals for children and youth.
• Social justice – advocate for de-colonizing policies, practices, and relationships that recognize historical injustices and promote equitable opportunities for holistic development.
• Accountability – draw upon established evidence of effective practices and innovate promising practices that are accountable to the children and families served.
• Knowledge construction – contribute to understandings about development across cultures and contexts and ways to improve opportunities for well-being.
• Pluralistic and social justice perspectives - critically attend to diversity, inclusion, cultural attunement and advocacy within practice.
• Ecological perspective - draw upon ecological perspectives to inform practice.

In conclusion I would have to say that I found this website to be very impressive, as well as filled with vital and important information and research for people in the Early childhood field.  I feel that I gained a lot both professionally and personally, and I also feel that this website provided some valuable and resourceful facts and information.  But even more importantly I really feel that by exploring this particular website I was really able to gain some valuable tools and insights into the new and exciting world of the international early childhood field.





References:  Retrieved from:

 http://www.cyc.uvic.ca/index.php#

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

Research On Trauma, Loss & Grief 

"Children express grief in a different way than adults.  They tend to move in and out of intense feelings, rather than sustaining high levels of one emotion for long periods of time.  When adults see a grieving child playing or laughing, they may mistakenly believe that the child is "over it".  This perception may influence how much grief support a child receives" (Children's Grief Education Association, 2011).

For this week's Blog assignment I chose Option 1.  And that is because about five or six years ago at one of the Head-start Pre-schools I was working at the time, was involved in a research study that involved a year long volunteer study and counseling sessions on Trauma, Loss and Grief for Pre-school children.  

The counseling sessions, conducted by a psychologist were strictly on a volunteer basis for children that had recently been involved in any kind of trauma, loss of a loved one, or else experiencing some kind of grief as the result of a trauma or loss.  Prior to the start of the start of the counseling sessions at the beginning of the new school year all parents and guardians were sent out surveys and questionnaires to fill out in regards to deciding if they felt there children would benefit from these kind of services.

In my personal and professional opinion I would definitely have to say that this experience was a very positive, and helpful experience for all the children and parents that were involved in this study.  And for two families in particular, I really think it helped them deal with two unfortunate and traumatic experiences involving the murders of a young father and a care-giver grandmother.  Of course both cases were not connected at all it just happened that two of our children and families were dealing with these unfortunate circumstances and similar times.  But after having both the children, and their families attend the sessions, two times a week, for the entire school year there really seemed to be some positive benefits for all the children and families involved.

I was very close to both of these children, as well as their families and I can honestly say that from personal experiences with both these families, this was definitely a positive example of study and research.  The kind of research that helped benefit not only the two young children involved, but also their families.  Helping them cope with their grieving process,  as well as dealing with some extremely difficult and traumatic circumstances.

References:  Retrieved from:

http://www.icisf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34%3Afamily-recovery-from-terror-grief-and-trauma&catid=31&Itemid=30

http://www.therapeuticresources.com/grief.html

http://www.childgrief.org/childrenandgrief.htm

My Personal Journey

In identifying several subtopics for this assignment I finally chose the topic of Death of a Parent/Sibling or close Relative, and the powerful impact and traumatic effects it can and does have on a young child or children.

After reading the article, "Death Understanding and Fear of Death in Young children", by Virginia Slaughter & Maya Griffiths, I focused on this topic based on some of my own personal and professional experiences.  Some experiences that unfortunately involved the tragic and traumatic death of a parent and a grandmother of two different children from our school.  And in both cases the deaths were a result of two tragic and senseless murders.  So it is because of my experiences with both these two children and their families throughout the years that this topic of Death, and the lasting and powerful effects it has on all the family members, especially the young children, that I came to this topic.  And it was also through these two separate experiences that I was also very fortunate enough to be involved with a program through  my agency that provided the Head-start children in need with the appropriate services to help them, as well as their families to deal with the loss of a loved one.



References:  Retrieved from

Slaughter, V., & Griffiths, M. (2007). Death understanding and fear of death in young children. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 12(4), 525–535. Retrieved from the Walden Library using Sage Premier 2010 database.

FINAL BLOG ASSIGNMENT

A Final Note of Thanks and Support:

As we near the end of our Journey together, I just wanted to take the time to say thank-you to each and everyone of you, my distinguished colleagues, and especially to you Dr. Giordano.  It really has been an honor to get to know all of you both professionally and personally.  I extremely enjoyed all your Blogs, as well as the support and guidance you gave me on my own Blog.  I really feel like I have gained a lot of insight from all of you both personally and professionally.  I wish you all happiness and luck in your pursuit of your Master's Degrees.  I know you all will achieve great things both inside and outside the classroom, as well as continue to strive for excellence in the Early Childhood field and be that "Voice" for every child you encounter in the future!  Thank-you 

International Contact: 

Even though I didn't have any responses from any of my International contacts, I still feel like I gained a lot especially, from viewing all the other organizations and websites in the early childhood field, both internationally and nationally. Even though I do feel like I gained a lot of positive insights into the field, unfortunately there were some consequences of learning about the international early childhood field that resulted from the lack of contact and responses I received.  But in the end I do feel like it was a humbling and beneficial experience that only drives me more to make a difference in the field of Early Childhood studies.
  
Consequences of learning about the international early childhood field: 

1.  Throughout this whole process of learning and researching the international early childhood field, I think it has provided me with a better understand of the field globally.  Sometimes we get so caught up on what's going on in our own backyards, we forget about the rest of the world.  And I think it is just as important to helped improve the field of early childhood education and studies abroad, as it is here for us in the U.S.

2.  Throughout our research, both internationally and nationally, I have gained a stronger passion to be more involved with the families of the children we work with on a daily basis.  Especially in regards to children that come from immigrant families, and have to struggle with various issues and problems everyday,as a result of being children of immigrant families.  I know I have had some experienced with these kinds of families personally, and it is because of this research and studies in this course that my desires and passions have only grown to help these children and families as much as I can, both as an educator and a director.  


3.  It is because of our research and studies on Equity & Excellence of children, families, & EC Professionals, that my goal of becoming an effective and beneficial supervisor and director have also grown.  I know it is my responsibility as an educator and professional in this field to do all I can to have a powerful and lasting impact on the lives of the children and families I work with everyday.


In conclusion I have to say that my future goal as far as international awareness and collegial relations, to do my best to reach out to both making that contact to help establish positive and beneficial relationships.  After all it is these relationships and international contacts that will only help our field of early childhood studies, making it a broader and more of a positive and beneficial field, that will in turn do the same for all the children around the world.



 

 

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNAL CONTACTS-PART 3

Since I still have not received any responses from my international contacts I chose the alternative of viewing the webpage for the organization of UNESCO's "Early Childhood Care and Education". 

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/ 

In reviewing the website I read an article that I felt was really relevant not only to my own professional goals, but also to what we have been discussing in class, and that is Quality in Early childhood care.  And how more programs today really need to emphasize the holistic development for young children.  "Early childhood care and education programmes should emphasise the child’s holistic development and extend beyond assisting the child’s transition to formal schooling. High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness" (UNESCO).

After reviewing this article, and the website for UNESCO and looking at my own professional goals, I really realized that I gained a lot of important insights.  And that is because for the most part, a lot of my professional goals, just like the organization UNESCO, believe in that goal to better things for children, by trying to make a difference in their lives both at home and at school.  And most importantly trying to also change the Quality of care for all children in the classroom.  "The ECCE workforce is often made up of a diverse group of pre-school teachers, care workers, informal carers and other professionals. Adequate training and work conditions are essential so they can integrate the content and practice of early childhood care and education and address the transition to formal schooling. The service setting and physical infrastructure may vary greatly within countries. Regular inspection and follow-up of the service setting as well as adequate health and nutrition components are also crucial for meaningful learning to take place"(UNESCO)

References:  Retrieved from:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/ 

Sharing Web Resources

Back in the beginning of this course, I chose the website of the organization, The Global Fund for Children.  So now here in Week 6, I have re-visited the website.  To see if I can find any information related to our current topic, equity and excellence in early care and education and this is what I discovered:

http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/ 

In researching the the most recent newsletter of the organization, The Global Fund for Children, I read a statement that discussed a reaction to a recent controversial video, "Kony 2012", from the Lira district of northern Uganda.  "As the media focuses its lens, people everywhere are learning about Lira and the 20-year civil war that ravaged it. They are learning about the many dark truths of conflict zones: child soldiers, sex slaves, families displaced and destroyed, civil society undone" (Global Fund for Children, 2012).

The Kony, 2012 Video 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtsF4K23Zvk&feature=related

Enlight of this controversial video, the organization wanted to reassure everyone just what good they are trying to do for children everywhere.  And some good examples of this are the organization grantee partner, "Art for Children Uganda (ACU)" and the partner for "Concerned Children and Youth Association (CCYA)".


One such organization is our new grantee partner Art for Children Uganda (ACU). On a budget of only $26,000, ACU directly serves more than 5,000 children in Lira, utilizing arts education to help them heal from trauma, improve their academic performance, and build positive relationships. Kids involved in the art programs produce Dwon Ottino, a child rights magazine published in English and Luo, a local language. ACU’s co-founders both grew up in refugee camps, where they used art to cope with the uncertainties of displacement and conflict.

Our partner Concerned Children and Youth Association (CCYA) was founded by young people, many of whom lost family members or were forced to be soldiers or sex slaves during the civil war. A child service organization since 2001, CCYA adapts its projects as social and political contexts shift. When a recent assessment highlighted children with disabilities as a particularly vulnerable population in Lira, CCYA instituted a targeted education and outreach program. The organization also recently established a fruit tree nursery to provide a source of food and promote sustainability.

In reviewing the website and the latest newsletter for the organization, Global Fund for Children, and re-watching the controversial video, Kony, 2012 it really reaffirmed a lot of things for me, as well as gave me a lot of new insights.  But there is one insight that is the most important for me, and that is the realization that we in the field of early childhood, really have to help do our part for the children around the world.  And even though there are many great organizations out there like, Global Fund for Children, they cannot do it all alone, and we must all do our part.  And whether or not you believe in the controversial video of Kony or not, the bottom line is still true, and that is the fact that no child should ever have to endure what the children in Uganda have had to, NEVER!


References:  Retrieved from

http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtsF4K23Zvk&feature=related