When I Think of Research…

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

The insights I have gained about research from taking this course is how to appropriately design and implement a research design in my research simulation. I learned the breakdown of the most important parts in the research design as well as what should all be included in the research design.

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

The ways my ideas have changed in the nature of doing research are by knowing how to coordinate appropriately a research design that will allow more reliability and validity. I also never knew there was so much detailed information available as to how to collect data, formulate a research design, and implement the design into the research.

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

I learned how to meticulously plan, design, and conduct research appropriately specifically for the early childhood field just based on the knowledge I received from the course. I also learned how important all of these steps are in determining how valid and reliable the research will be.

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

Some challenges I encountered were determining independent and dependent variables within my specific research simulation, creating a research question, and developing a hypothesis. I did my homework and research on these challenges and was able to successfully develop a research question, hypothesis, and dependent and independent variables.

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

My perceptions of an early childhood professional have not really been modified as a result of this course. I perceive that all professionals perform to the best of their abilities and at their own pace. I hope that all professionals are professional at all times and abide by the code of ethics at all times.

Research Around the World- Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

• What are some of the current international research topics? Some of the current international research topics on this website are: The Development of an Integrated Early Childhood Development Urban Model Training Program for Informal Minders and Community Volunteers in Ghana, Building Community Leadership for Quality Sustainability in Madrasa Preschools: The Case of Madrasa Preschools Post Graduation Support, Pilot Study of the Adaptation of an Established Measure to Assess the Quality of Child Services in a Selected Orphanage in Zambia: The Inclusive Quality Assessment (IQA) Tool,  and Assessment of the Caring Practices in Two Motherless Babies’ Homes in Abia State, Nigeria and the Development and Delivery of a Nutrition Training Program to the Staff of These Homes to Improve Nutrition of Children in Their Care.
• What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website? Some new insights I gained from exploring the international website are that it is dedicated to  improving the quality of life for children and their families in Africa. The program seeks to accomplish this through working, on a sustained basis, with ECD leaders from across the continent. The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative and multifaceted approach to addressing ECD capacity building and leadership development in Africa. The ECDVU is supported by a range of international, regional and local organizations, including the employers of participants. 
• What other noteworthy information did you find on this website? Other noteworthy information I found on this website is an objective of the ECDVU program is to increase information available regarding the status of ECD in Africa. One way to address this objective has been to make available on-line the work of ECDVU participants. The initial course (CYC 541) required each country team to produce an ECD Country Report identifying the current status of children, families and women’s issues in the country which are then reproduced on this website.