EDUC 6165-6, Final Post

These last 8 weeks have been encouraging as we shared in experiences both difficulties and triumphs as it relates to communication.  Thank you to each person that assisted in challenging discussions and helped share personal stories that made each of us learn and grow from.  I hope that as I enter my final 8 weeks of classes that there are colleagues that I will continue to grow with from this course as well as that enter with the same level of concern and participation.  It is what makes this style of learning the most effective.  Thank you!

Is there anyone else in the "Educating Adults in Early Childhood" field? 

Posting our email address on a public forum is not my usual practice.  Here is my strategy to avoid spam mail. :)  Hope you can decipher it.

My name is Shelly Eldridge

firstname.lastname@gmail.com

When I Think of Research... EDUC 6163-6

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

While research was always a daunting task, it isn't any longer.  Throughout this course, I have learned different strategies and techniques to use to ensure the validity and structure of my work will be worth it. 

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

I have never been scared to speak in public, this course has helped me to loosen my nerves when I am doing the research for a topic or study.  While I am still learning proper terms and how to word questions appropriately, the task of doing research has a more defined role than what it was before taking this course. 

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

Ensuring the validity has been reached.  Through different strategies, techniques, and processes; making sure that the work has been well thought out and structured will make for actually doing the research a lot easier.  Examining the benefits and the challenges along the way in order to be prepared for them if they may arise, especially the challenges.

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

Hands down the hardest part of this course was to understand how to properly word the questions and thought process of the "research study" we were preparing.  I became so overwhelmed in the project that I thought we were actually doing it . . . I even met with leaders within my county for assistance in the research project.  While I gathered resources, data, and other items for this "project" I gained a wealth of knowledge of communication and terms to use along the way.  Those that helped me along the way were a major asset to understanding more about how to do the research project.  I was intimidated [might still be] at the thought of doing a big research project!

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

Professionals are more than just a person with a degree to stand behind.  A professional understands their position, their influence, and their eternal impact within the early childhood field and lives of those that they reach.  My perception of a professional has gained more respect for their level of education and the path they took to reach it.  Also quality of knowledge that a professional attains in order to stay up to date on research topics and new techniques/strategies is a must in order to stay most up to date for the children and families in which they are a part of reaching.

Huge thank you to each of my colleagues that assisted in encouraging me, challenging me, and helping me along on this journey of research.  We've all grown and did it together!  What an accomplishment!  Thank you!  Only a few more classes before the capstone, we're almost there!

Teamwork, EDUC 6165-6

There was a team that I was a part of this past summer.  While I have been and led teams of this kind on many occasions, this team was different.  To begin, this was the first team that I would lead of its size.  38 people in total would be traveling together and we would meet up with 3 while in Costa Rica.  The main difference in this team and others, the level of unity we had.  We were busy in Costa Rica, every minute we had something planned.  Each evening we would have a "breakdown" session where we would discuss what we did that day as well as hear about what would be happening the following day.  As the leader, it was my job to ensure everyone knew what was happening and what their expectations were.  Our entire time in Costa Rica we didn't have disagreements.  There were no fights among our group.  We were able to be great encouragers to each other as well as our purpose behind the trip.

It was hard leaving this group.  It was hard because there were strong friendships that were made within our group of people and those that we were working with.  We had a purpose and expectations that were clearly stated and I believe were met while we were there and continue to be reached even though we are not there any longer.  We worked effectively and grew tremendously with each other!

When my time with Walden University is complete, I can imagine that there will be professional relationships that would be built that I wish would continue.  The encouragement and idea exchange is an awesome attribute when growing and maturing with others as we have done throughout this coursework.   

Adjourning within group work is essential as it enables the team to evaluate their successes and their areas of improvement.  During this stage of team work, the project that the team had been working on should be completed and the task is closing.  At times during this stage, the group decides they no longer want to meet or they decide some changes need to be made within the setting and altar areas in order to make it more effective.  In any reason, adjourning is essential as it enables evaluation in order to maintain effectiveness.  Ultimately if a group is ineffective then alterations need to occur; which would happen during this stage as well.

Managing Conflict in Relationships - EDUC 6165-6

·         Think about any disagreements, or conflicts, you have recently experienced or are currently experiencing at work with a supervisor or colleague, or someone in your personal life. Share at least two strategies you have learned about that might help you manage or resolve the conflict more productively, and why these strategies might be effective. For example, could you suggest a compromise? Could you look for a broader range of solutions to your disagreement? Could you use some of the principles of nonviolent communication or the 3 R's to better help you resolve this conflict?

When you're married, or honestly when you spend a large amount of time with anyone there are bound to be disagreements.  And if there are not, then there is a strong possibility that someone isn't telling the truth or is keeping their mouth closed about it.  This week within our home has been stressful.  We have two children, both in graduate school, both are teachers, and this week is our Spring performance for my school as well as I'm in charge of Week of The Young Child at my facility.  I've been stressed at work because of communication barriers between certain teachers within the building and lately it's been more and more often.  Who better to take out these stresses than . . . Yup you guessed it  my husband.  I'm irritable.  I'm cranky.  I've got so much to do.  And everything, every little thing he does bothered me.  Usually this isn't true.  You see, I have one of the most supportive husbands anyone could ask for!  He cleans the bathrooms every weekend, he washes the laundry and puts it away every weekend so that way I can concentrate on school work those days.  He's amazing!   Darell, my husband is a classic escapist.  He avoids conflict at all costs.  He looks the opposite way of confrontation where I steer it in the eyes to end it (or in this case attempt to start it). 

I realized I was being obnoxious, rude, and inappropriate.  When I did, I went to him and apologized and reminded him of how thankful I am for what he does for our family.  How his support means the world to me.  We spoke about how I needed to focus on my issue at hand which was how I had too much on my plate and what could we do together in order to resolve it. 

·         Also, if appropriate, ask your colleagues for their input and advice regarding, if not specific problems, how they have learned to be more effective communicators as it relates to conflict resolution skills.

(Adapted from O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012, p. 246)

Co-worker #1 - Better communication can only happen if all parties involved want to change things.  If only one person does then they will just become more frustrated because they will try and get nowhere since the other one isn't trying at all.

Co-worker #2 - I found sitting down with our Director helps to have a third party look at the problem as a person not involved in it.  Sometimes when I can't find a compromise just listening to myself sound stupid as I debate it with another will make me change my mind.

Co-worker #3 - Usually it's a waste of time because people are too set in their ways.  Learn to deal with it or figure out how to change it.  I just deal with it.

Research Around The World - EDUC 6163-6 Building Research Comp.

As you know from previous courses in the Masters in Early Childhood Studies program, innovative research in the field is happening not only in the United States but all over the world. This Blog Assignment affords you the opportunity to read and think about international early childhood research.

Website chosen is Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Developed and maintained by the University of Victoria, Canada, this virtual university is the international gateway for early childhood research worldwide found at:  http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php

Having visited 5 countries in Africa, I was intrigued to learn a bit more about this organization.

·         What are some of the current international research topics?

Chalamanda (2004) pinpointed 12 thematic areas using the Human Rights Approach to assist in developing a better framework for Early Childhood Development in regards to Orphans and Vulnerable children in association with their National Action Plan (in Malawi):

1. Integrated Early Childhood Development

2. Health

3. Basic Education

4. Child Protection

5. Nutrition and Food Security

6. Water and Environmental Sanitation

7. Gender and Child Care

8. Social Welfare

9. HIV/AIDS

10. Mass Media and Child Participation

11. Leisure and Entertainment

12. Youth and Child Development

Other topics noted within the sites "Country Team Updates" (2002), yes dated but best information I could find for a bigger scene are:

1.    Effects of environmental factors on child development

2.    In-service training of Primary Teachers for lower grades

3.    to spawning community initiated ECCD in neighboring villages, by chiefs who caught a vision

4.    Strengthening of Growth Monitoring through ECD centers but the set machinery  collapsed because the caregivers lost interest in the job due to the following reasons:

a.    Non payment of caregivers salary

b.    Non participation of parents

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

Our nation experiences these same struggles.  While similar poverty levels exist so greatly within our country, many organizations focus their attention on assisting those within more poverty stricken countries.  The networking within the different countries and states from this organization seems well run back when it first began, yet current documents are not present.  There were a total of 16 documents from 2003 to current.  None the less, the topics that were being discussed as concerns are similar to our concerns here in the States.   

·         What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

As mentioned before, something noteworthy that I noticed when viewing this website was the agreement that our country struggles with the same areas that this continent does.  Being able to use international contacts and resources to assist in adjusting our curriculum and help make changes within our quality programs is a huge advantage that not many people are taking advantage of.  I travel the world during my summers helping other countries better their early childhood educational programs, helping parents understand and learn new strategies within their homes, and helping organizations run more smoothly to meet their goals.  I'm sure many people have experienced this realization, but when we each are able to step down from the pedestal that we may be on and understand that there is so much to be gained when helping then our lives are bettered as well.  They become better not because of the good works being done, but instead bettered by realizing in any situation there are life lessons to be learned.  

Chalamanda, Francis R.W. (2004).  Coordinating The Development and Implementation of the 2003 - 2013 National Action Plan (NAP) for Children in Malawi.  Retrieved 5 April 2014. Website: http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Chalamanda%20-%20MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf