PERSPECTIVE ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE

I asked two friends and one family member about culture and diversity.  When asked about culture, most of the people shared that culture includes the values and beliefs that a group of people share.  One friend explained that we have multiple cultures.  She stated that the culture in our family may be different from the culture in the workplace or in society.  As a result, some of our beliefs can be conflicting; however, they are acceptable in different contexts.  Overall, everyone agreed that culture is a part of life and it influences what people believe in and how they act.

When asked about diversity, I received conflicting views and opinions.  Some believed that diversity was the differences between people.  One person believed that diversity was based on race only.  After reviewing these definitions, it is obvious that the people did not see diversity as deep as it is covered in the course.  Diversity is based on any differences within and between groups.  Diversity is about differences; however, it can include different views, different cultures, and different races. Diversity can include different talents among employees.  Therefore, I feel that people have a better understanding of culture than diversity.

MY FAMILY CULTURE

Based on my family’s culture, I would choose items that's clearly explainable about what we believe in as well as items that exhibit our cultural values.  My family is very religious.  As a result, I would choose to take the Bible to show my religious beliefs and to educate others about Christianity.  The second item I would take is a photo album of my family.  I can use this album to show others my family and my heritage.  The third item would be a quilt that has been passed down through the generations.  Quilting is a hobby that has become part of my heritage and culture. Many of the older women quilt; therefore, I would continue to teach this to future generations.

The Bible is the most important item because it is the core value in my family.  Religion is about spiritual and cultural connections.  Plus, the Bible contains scriptural knowledge that can be used to teach future generations.

WHEN I THINK OF RESEARCH

When I think of research......

I think of the children that can be helped by research findings.  In this course, I have learned how to work with qualitative, quantiative, and mixed research methods.  This has helped me to become a better student and a better educator.  I realize that research can be used to solve problems in education. 

I have learned that research has to be designed.  I understand the need for a hypothesis, a research method, and informed consent for participants. Research is beneficial for eduation and it helps to find solutions to problems or to improve learning.  Therefore, I will use what I have learned to become a better educator.

I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to my blog and this learning experience.

RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD!!!

I chose to explore the European Early Childhood Education Research Association website. EECERA is an international contributor to the developing field of early childhood. On this site I learned that the Europeans encourage paradigms and methodologies in early childhood studies reflecting upon legends. This site is known to work closely with Special Interest Groups by supporting their collaborations.  In Europe the EECERA host an annual conference where it’s recognized as the largest organized early childhood research conference.

I enjoyed this site because I leaned how Europe hosts the largest early childhood research conference. I knew that other countries were interested in early childhood, but I didn’t know it was so popular. This international organization promotes multi-disciplinary research on early childhood and policies and practice in the early childhood field.

RESEARCH ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Technology has grown so much within the past few years. Many schools require that children use the Internet to complete assignments and projects. While some students are using the Internet to browse social networks there are many that use it for educational purposes. There are online database and educational games available. My 10 year old daughter loves to use the computer but waits all day before doing homework. In order to get her focused with school, I decided to make homework fun for her. She uses many math game cd-roms to help her learn the required material for class. I noticed that her grades have improved with allowing her to use the computer and play educational games.
I believe this was a great technique for me to try and it has helped my family a lot.

MY PERSONAL RESEARCH JOURNEY

The topic that I chose to focus on is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Early Childhood Education (ADHD). Educating children with ADHD can be overwhelming as well as a distraction to the other children. I am interested in this topic because I need a solution on how to solve behavior issues with children that has ADHD. I have never encountered any children with such behavior issues. I know that there are strategies and ways to prevent this chaos in the classroom and I want to know how. Can any of my colleagues can provide me with any insights, if so please do.

I understand that the information from constructing the research chart will be beneficial for me as I gain an understanding of what is expected during the research process. The research chart will also help me to understand the different terminology that is used during the research process.

INTERNATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD

 

 

Consequences of Learning

Ø  I’ve learned many of the issues in the US, such as poverty are in other counties. For example, in India the cycle of disadvantage starts at birth and continues through childhood to motherhood and the next generation.

 

Ø  I’ve learned you can partner with other counties to learn how to improve our early childhood field. For instance, In Chile, the UBC (Un Buen Comienzo) is working toward a push for quality to improve early childhood education through teacher professional development.

Ø  I’ve learned anyone can be an advocate for early childhood.  A health economist, Günther Fink focused on early childhood development issues in Zambia.

 

MY GOAL….

 My goal would be open-minded aware what going on in other parts of the world. As a professional, I will keep current on issues and trends not only in the US but abroad.

Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative

The Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (CHIP). (2007) Country Overviews Retrieved   from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=countryo