Research that Benefits Children and Families

I've had the chance of having one experience with children/families and research. This took place back in 2012 the National Opinion Research Center with the University of Chicago. The study took place in 10 Chicago Public Schools involving 400+ children ages 3-5. The study examined school readiness skills in literacy and math subjects with preschoolers and the development of an assessment tool for teachers and caregivers to support effective instruction. I believe this helped families knowing that the instruction of their children could ultimately be improved. The amount of effort to make the study possible included an array of steps which I was not involved but handled by research experts. My role in the study was administrating the assessment tool and working directly with the children; However, I was aware of ethics behind the study. Informed consent was gained from every child that participated in the study and there was not greater than minimum risk. Children may have experienced slight discomfort during the assessments if they did not know the answers but overall risk was low. Each assessment was timed and there was a maximum number of assessments that students could take in one day. In the end this study was a positive learning experience for myself. I was exposed to the project interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, practitioners and methodological experts and a team of child development experts, early learning practitioners, curriculum and assessment developers, and methodologists. Check out the link to the project overview.

http://www.norc.org/PDFs/Getting%20on%20Track%20Early%20for%20School%20Success/Project%20Overview-%20Getting%20on%20Track%20for%20Early%20School%20Success%20.pdf

My Personal Research

It was amazing to witness our baby weighing 1 pound 3oz and beating all odds. Before she was born we were told chances of her living was 50/50. And when she was born Kennedy Jones was born severely premature at 23 weeks. Being born so premature she had to endure 2 surgeries, develop skin, learn how to breath, eat, and more. Everyday was a fight for her. But she fought strong for 6 months in the Intensive Care Unit also known as the NICU. Our miracle inspired me to research prematurity. My subtopics include: Resilience of premature infants,  causes of prematurity and post partum depression.

International Early Childhood

I've gained 3 positive consequences about the field of International Early Childhood. Before this course I was unaware of the grassroots work being done in ECE all over the world. 

Different organizations including: NIEER, Developing Child at Harvard, and UNESCO. All three of these organizations are interested in seeing change all over the world and not just in America. Striving for early education as a human right for all children is something that I stand for 100%.
The same issues and trends in America effect other countries. Poverty, Economics, and Politics are very common.
Research and best practices are being implemented all over the world.
 The efforts to help third world countries and others by resourcing clean water, nutrition, vaccinations, shelter, and improving parenting skills and the socio-emotional domain is being done based on scientific research and best practices. Although implementing research and best practices will take time to implement, children will benefit especially if they do not have ECE programming.
 In the near future my goal is to join an organization that focuses on international awareness of issues and trends. Hopefully Walden University will develop a partnership and create collegiate relations with other countries.