A Special Note of Thanks

Dear Dr. Kien,

This was an amazing journey! It provided me with tools to conduct a research and moreover challenged me to assess the kind of researcher I want to be. The task is intimidating, fascinating, and irresistible.

Thank you so much for your guidance, your research tips, and your trust!

Warmly,

MarieFrance

Thank You

Dear Early Childhood Colleagues,

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts in the discussions and have benefitted from your sharing your experience with young children. It has been very inspiring for me as the youngest children I teach are kindergarteners.

It would be great to work together in the next class and continue to grow into early childhood educators that can bring a change to our wonderful young friends and their families.

Fondly and best wishes,

MarieFrance

When I Think of Research

 

        As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think.

                                         Toni Morrison (Brainy Quotes)

 

 

Before starting the course on Building Research Competency, I had in mind that research was mainly about making a hypothesis, asking specific questions, sorting out the answers, and uncovering some kind of truth.  Little was I expecting to dive in a complex world comprised of many distinct yet overlapping methods such as quantitative, qualitative, theory research, mixed methods research, and the many different perspectives that a researcher may start from in order to conduct an ethical research (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010). Since research’s ultimate goal is to be valid in order to be credible and to have results applied, it is important to embark on a project with another researcher to check the validity of the results as they come in. To that effect, having a design allowing for triangulation of methods ensures that research results can be trusted (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010).

 What was most fascinating was the reflection on ethics and equity. When I scrolled a page on Google Images to find an illustration of equity, I was surprised to see that the word is mainly associated with money and profit out of something owned. Even though the definition of equity as “money value” comes in last position in the Merriam Webster online dictionary, it seems to rank first in people’s mind.  

Thanks to this course, I know that ethics and equity have to be weaved into the research as it is being designed and constantly evaluated during the research process. Researchers must efficiently conduct their research yet be wary of power relations especially when children participate in the research (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010). In addition, researchers must carefully think through their design and avoid using a deficit model that would flaw the results in that results would take the perspective of the dominant Eurocentric culture and not give important information susceptible of helping children and families from the majority-minority (Barreto, Segura, Woods, 2004).

Clearly, the most daunting aspect of research is having present all the possible ways to approach it. Conversely, keeping research within ethical and equitable boundaries represent the more delicate and actual challenge because it implies being in tune with participants’ subtle reactions (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010).

As I am getting deeper into the master of early childhood studies, the fascination for the field keeps growing and continues to surprise me as well as I continue to surprise myself as I go deeper into understanding the kind of early childhood educator I endeavor to be.

References

Barreto, M., A., Segura G., M., Woods, N., D. (2004). The Mobilizing Effect of Majority-Minority Districts on Latino Turnout. American Political Science Review. Vol. 98, No. 1 February. Retrieved from: http://209.235.207.196/imgtest/segura%20barreto%20APSR%20(feb%2004).pdf

Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equity

Brainy Quotes

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/tonimorris384459.html#EdqkH4FWiHiMasIQ.99

 

 

 

 

Research Around the World

 

A look at

 

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU)

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

University of Victoria, Canada

 international gateway for early childhood research worldwide 

 

 

 

 

 The two following excerpts from the ECDVU website explain the purpose of  the virtual university: 

"ECDVU Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Program Overview

The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative and multifaceted approach to addressing ECD capacity building and leadership development in Africa. The ECDVU is supported by a range of international, regional and local organizations, including the employers of participants. It is a unique training and results-oriented program that uses face-to-face and distributed learning methods including: residential seminars, web-based instruction, CD-Rom and print material support, and a 'community of learners' strategy within and among cohort countries. Typically, ECDVU participants are nominated by ECD country committees; these committees' nominations are based on achieving inter-sectoral, multi-organizational representation and evidence of individual commitment to child well-being and broader social development within the country. Nominees accept responsibility for promoting ECD capacity within their country, their region and internationally."

"As noted in the Overview, the ECDVU is committed to improving the quality of life for children and their families in Africa. The program seeks to accomplish this through working, on a sustained basis, with ECD leaders from across the continent. To meet the ECDVU’s child and social development objectives, it employs a number of approaches to post-secondary education that are ‘non-traditional’ in nature. These include: recognizing the strengths and expertise that exist locally and regionally; incorporating these ‘voices’ and experiences into the learning process; promoting sustainable, interactive networks that reach rural as well as urban populations; and using computer technology as a means for developing strong information and communication systems within Africa. At the same time, certain other features of the ECDVU seem more familiar as part of a traditional educational process: delivery of a sequence of courses, each with a course number and title, and delivered by academically qualified individuals. Blending strengths from both approaches is an essential characteristic of the ECDVU."

 

Following are two researches posted on the ECDVU "Final Major Projects and Theses" page: 

Although not a recent paper, Phaello Ntšonyane’s research “Incorporating Indigenous Stories of Basotho in an ECD Program at Leseli Community Centre” explains the importance of storytelling in children’s language and social development (1990).  Moreover, Phaello Ntšonyane affirms that using indigenous stories provides children from those cultures a context that will help them develop a strong identity, self-esteem and confidence.  

Phaello Ntšonyane

B.Sc. Ed, National University of Lesotho, 1990

Stella Etse in Ghana researched “Parents’ and Other Caregivers’ Perception of Early Childhood Development Needs and Quality: A Study of the PLAN-Assisted Programs in Bawjiase” and was interested in learning what parents perceived as optimal education for their children, what programs they should receive in order to optimally develop. Stella Etse also inquired whether other caregivers, program managers’ perception of those needs differed from parents’.

Stella Etse

M.Sc., University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, 1997

Exploring the ECDVU website made the world feel closer. It is invigorating and reassuring to know that the early childhood field is connected even in the most remote parts of the world. Since technology provides a space for sharing studies and ideas, the idea stemming from the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C found a perfect tool to promote early childhood rights and well-being (ECDVU).