Reflecting on Research

This course allowed me to make a connection outside of the Walden students to an international contact, initially I had hoped for connections from my home country and from the country I am currently living. However, being able to make a connection with an international early childhood professional allowed me to expand my support within the community.

I have learnt about quality of research, it doesn't involve going on Google and typing in a keyword and hoping that the information you want is right there. I have learnt that students need to be positively supported at all times, the universal message being that we put children needs first.

My personal development is learning how to initiate, plan, revisit and read the required resources to successfully conducting of a research. It requires much more time than sometimes I allow myself. 

There are some websites that I have now bookmarked and newsletters that I have subscribed that will allow for my continued expansion of issues arising in early childhood. 

My personal goal is to continue to strength the bond that I have made with my international contact and further research on early childhood education and practices. Being able to gain as much insight not only assists with my teaching but my personal development as weell.

Getting to know your International Contacts-Part 3

I have not received any contact from my International partners for the last two weeks, I believe my main contact is in South Africa for the next 3 weeks. I went to the website that I have had interest in from the beginning of the course, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/access-and-equity/ and did some further exploring of the information available.



Under the umbrella of the UNESCO organization they address Early Childhood and the access and equity of said education. We have been reading on equity in the past weeks and it continues to be an issue in Education. Being able to access, afford and the availability of quality early childhood education has been acknowledged as important in the early stages of development for a child, however there continues to be exclusion, hindrance and unavailability in the field.



One thought that resonated with me is the idea that central governments must ensure an equitable distribution of resources among different populations and especially those who live in the most disadvantaged regions".(UNESCO, 2013). This approach would seek to expand on the aims of the field without creating regional inequities.



And one insight I gained this week is the proposal by the Brazilian government to provide mandatory finding for early childhood ages 0-6, which comes with it challenges as they seek to derive the funds from federal governments. At this time federal government is only responsible for tertiary education. "For the time being, the firm conviction of concerned policy-makers is the glimmer of hope for the future of the country’s early childhood education; if this conviction resonates with the public, then perhaps the Bill will pass after all, against the odds" (UNESCO, 2013)




  

Sharing Web Resources- part 2

As I went through the website outside resources, I discovered a number of other websites leading me to information pertaining to Education, Culture, natural sciences and communication. 

Building a peace of mind for men, women, boys and girls one of the logos used for the UNESCO website. For persons interested in gaining knowledge about their major programmes-education,natural sciences, social & human sciences, culture and communication would be able to visit the site to access pertinent global information. 

From the second week of our blog assignments, I have discovered the Calender of Events page, a guide to ongoing and new event from around the world. Although there aren't any recent events in Japan, however I would be willing to attend any of the conferences offered here.

I have not received any newsletters recently, however I looked back on some of the older newsletters. One insight I learned was that data shows that the number of children enrolled in primary school has raised beyond 90%, but in 2010 about 32 million primary pupils repeated a grade, and more than 31 million left school and may never return (UNESCO, 2013). That data was quite astonishing.

The UNESCO website offers information pertaining to equity and excellence in a manner that adds to my personal knowledge on the issue in early childhood education. 

Another link I found interesting was based on our discussion earlier this week, I had in my letter to the White House council indicated an expansion of radio education for other languages, for example  where Spanish parents could request information and have to broadcast over radio. This week the Italian Government grants US$ 1.2 million to support the Educational Radio and Television ERTV of the Ministry of Education of Afghanistan.

I look forward to the information I can gain from this website whether for personal or professional use.


References
UNESCO. 2013.
Italy Grants US$ 1.2 Million for the Expansion of Educational Radio and TV (ERTV) Production and Broadcast Capacities for Distance Education in Afghanistan

Getting to know your International Contacts

As I await reply from my international contacts, I have viewed a myraid of international websites that have shared information regarding different aspects of the early childhood education sector,
                               

                                      
On the Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/), I explored the site thoroughly, and gained three new ideas or insights about early childhood systems around the globe. 

The core mission of the centre is to globally implement a compelling research, public engagement and leadership development agenda in child health and development that is grounded in science and engages researchers, public leaders, practitioners, and students from a wide range of institutions around the world. 

Maintaining the interest of Early Childhood education, the aim is to energize and reframe the global dialogue around investments in the earliest years of life. Focusing on countries Zambia,  Chile and Sierra Leone.

Another area of interest was in the "children and crisis" which aims to developing an agenda in
research, education, and public engagement to address significant gaps in knowledge. One of the projects is to address child maltreatment and mental health outcomes in three Caribbean nations 
Barbados, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. As a Caribbean national I see this 
as an area of interest.


Lastly, I signed up for the newsletter because the work that comes from this initative is of intrest to 
me and to gain more knowledge and insight. 


References


Children in a Line. Harvard Center for Developing Children. (Website).  Retrieved June 07, 2013 from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/about/

Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Retrieved June 07, 2013 fromhttp://www.gse.harvard.edu/news-impact/tag/center-on-the-developing-child/

Sharing web resources

For the past few weeks I have been exploring the UNESCO website. The website offers useful everyday information for my personal and professional needs. I am naturally drawn towards the Education section that showcases the importance of access to education and receiving quality education. I recently read one of the interviews given by the UNESCO Bangkok Director, Gwan-jo Kim, who said   “One of the greatest challenges for education systems today is keeping pace with a changing world of work and equipping youth with the skills they will need in an increasingly knowledge-based economy" (UNESCO, 2013). He also talked about what he considered to be the three most important skills that children need to learn. He suggested culture, values and respect and history. 

The section for the dedicated work that the organization works in early childhood policy are placed within a broader context of social development, gender equity and poverty reduction.

The website and the information provided suggest that the organization works in conjunction mostly with scientists, economists and politicians especially because of the international nature of the organization. I enjoy learning and reading the publication from some of the different countries for 

the week.