When I think of research

Before taking this course, I knew very little about research. I always thought it was for other people.  Initially, I felt overwhelmed at contemplating doing early childhood research. It was difficult and took a lot of focus.  My knowledge has broadened through learning new terminology and how research is conducted.  I learned the difference between quantitative and qualitative research design and their purposes in research and variables roles in the process.  I sincerely believe that the knowledge gained from learning the research process will be a great asset to me going forward in my professional career in my Head Start program. When I read or hear these terms at work I will have a better understanding of their meaning.

A challenge that I encountered for several weeks was being too broad when formulating my hypothesis and research question; however, I was able to narrow my thinking and get it together.

I would like to thank you all for sharing your ideas and knowledge throughout this Building Research Competencies course.

Research Around the World

The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative and multifaceted approach to addressing ECD capacity building and leadership development in Africa. It is supported by international, regional and local organizations. The purpose of ECDVU is to improve the quality of life for children and their families in Africa. It also focuses on the importance of leadership and local engagement in support of diversity and social equity in the early years. The program seeks to accomplish this through working, on a sustained basis, with ECD leaders from across the continent.

 http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/about.php

Some research topics are:

addiction

cultural and contextual diversity

child development

early learning initiatives

innovation in practices

 professional development

 higher education and scholarly productivity

It was interesting and noteworthy reading about “Generative curriculum" that encompasses the following characteristics:

·          learner-focused approach - drawing as much as possible on the learner's experiences in their personal and professional lives;

·         ecological approach - placing individuals, programs and policies into an interactive and dynamic context and seeking to plan activities and interventions to maximize resonating impact throughout the larger ecology;

·         capacity building approach - aiming to strategically strengthen the capacities of participants to effectively fulfill their mandates in their professional position to be accountable to their constituents and the broader ECD community.

·         co-constructive approach - encouraging each learner to draw upon provided curriculum material as well as their own in-country experience and data to derive their own perspectives  

·         multicultural approach - considering ideas, research, and goals pertaining to child care and development from different cultural sources.

·         cohort driven approach - encouraging collaboration, reciprocal learning among peers, and consolidation of networks within and between learners representing each participating country

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

It is great to see so much effort and collaboration among countries in place to help children and families across poor nations to have a better quality of life.