Week 5 :: Research Around the World

This week we were asked to look at some current research being conducted from around the world and answer the following questions:

• What are some of the current international research topics?
• What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
• What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

Here's what I found after reading some of the research:

I went to Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): 

which, according to the webpage, is, "developed and maintained by the University of Victoria, Canada, this virtual university is the international gateway for early childhood research worldwide." 

There I found several studies being conducted with regard to researching the effects of using indigenous stories to influence language development in young children. I found those studies to be very interesting especially since I will be teaching the Language Arts and Literacy class next semester at the local school of continuing education. I would love to use these studies are resources in my class.

There were no real surprising facts or insights. I have known that language development and storytelling go hand-in-hand, I was just happy to see that in Sub-Saharan Africa others are wanting to share their information as well with the world.

The website functions as a virtual university and is connected to the University of Victoria in Canada. It allows learners from different countries. It is a valuable tool for those who traditionally may not have been able to afford college programs to be involved with professionals and scholars from around the world, especially in Africa.

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php

Week 3 :: Research that Benefits Children and Families :: Uplifting Stories

This week I was asked to:
Share a positive example of the effects of research on children and/or families: Perhaps you can provide real-life examples of research benefits to children and/or families; maybe you are familiar with stories of people who have been positively affected by research; or you came across a published research article concerning children or families which you find exciting and would like to share with your colleagues.

The school I work for often has a research company come in and they use our students to test the newest designs of safety tabs for medications. The test the bubble type pill holders...the kind that your allergy pills come in where you have to pull the corner or push the pill out the backside. The company has the children test their new designs at least once a month. All the kids have to do is play with the empty pill tabs until they either succeed in opening them or get frustrated and move on to another one. The kids have fun and enjoy trying to open the packages. They are never in any danger and a teacher is always in the office with the children so they are not left alone with the researcher. When the trials are over, the children get a sticker for being a helper and they go back to class. The school benefits from the research because the company gives gift cards for school supplies.

The children benefit by being able to develop their fine motor and problem-solving skills. Society benefits from this research because the feedback helps the companies create better child-resistant packaging for medications. The families whose children participate in the study get a $10 gift card to Target which makes the children and the families very happy. All in all this research has been nothing but positive for the children and families involved.

EDUC 6163: Week 2 :: My Personal Research Journey

This week I was asked to share my research topic and reason why I chose the topic. I will start by sharing what I wrote for Application 1 Part 2 since it pretty much called for the same information. I am open to suggestions as to how to narrow things down and get something more concise. Anyone have any expertise in this area or know anyone who is? I could use all the inside information I can get! I would love to share ideas and knowledge! Thanks!

My Research Topic

Young children and technology (hand held devices, online media, etc) with the three subtopics of:

1. How young children learn the language of technology and develop technological prowess through consistent consumption/use

2. How technology changes/helps/hinders/influences young children’s language development through consistent consumption/use

3. How young children help shape/contribute to/influence the way technology advances

            The professional reason why I am drawn to young children and technology is because I see education changing very quickly due to technology’s influence on how information is disseminated and shared and young children adopting the technology almost as rapidly as it changes. I see something happening in young children who grow up in this extremely “wired” world and I want to be on the cutting edge, so to speak, of researching how children develop their technological prowess alongside their physical, cognitive, and social development.

            The above reason is also the reason why I know this research will be significant to families and the 

early childhood education field. As technology changes, we are changed by it. I want to find out if young 

children who are exposed early and often to technology grow into young adults who then mold and shape the 

way technology changes/is used/is consumed.