Final Thoughts

I have enjoyed going on this journey with all of you and am thankful for the conversations we have had!!

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

Appreciation for the time and effort a researcher puts into a study. There are many factors (good and bad) that contribute to a study, so the researcher needs to be prepared for anything.

In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

This course has helped me overcome my fear of doing research. Even though I had previous experience with conducting a research study I was hesitant to start this course. There are so many steps involved but taking it a little at a time made my simulation seem manageable. 

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

The main lesson I learned throughout this course was planning, which includes the research question, participants, method, etc. I tend to be a detail oriented person so I had my participants thought out before my research question (the big picture). 

What were some of the challenges you encountered - and in what ways did you meet them?

A challenge I encountered, which I stated in the beginning of this course, was my understanding of the text. I re-read the course materials multiple times and even researched specific ideas/theories further to gain a better understanding.

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

This course has made me realize that even as an early childhood educator I need to participate in the research world. I have discussed conducting some sort of research experiment at my work based on my simulation this course, so I am excited to see how that plays out in the future.

Early Childhood Australia

What are some of the current international research topics?

While searching the website I did not notice anything out of the ordinary as far as research topics. Australia seems to be pretty consist with the United States in their education. 

What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

This website offered some resources for parents, which I found to correlate with the current issues in my classroom. They offered resources for separation anxiety, sleeping, and transitioning to school. It is important for everyone to understand that the families are going through a transition along with the children who enter school - it is a change for everyone. 

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

This website supports an early childhood magazine called Every Child. This magazine includes numerous articles for children, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. I was actually thinking of subscribing to it, as well.