When I Think of Research
Insights: Through
this experiential learning process I have acquired the necessary tools and
skills needed to proficiently analyze and fully comprehend formal research
articles. My understanding of research has deepened from this experience
because it has allowed for a triad of significant reflections of my own ‘neophyte
researcher’ experience as well as the opportunity to share the critical
reflections of my ‘travel guide/professor’ and my colleagues. These interpersonal
relationships that were developed as we worked throughout this course have provided
me with inspiration, new knowledge and experience, and an active voice in the
research processing arena.
Ideologies: Because
of my personal and professional interests in enhancing Pre K children’s literacy
skills I have become more acutely focus-centered on the necessity for me to
become more connected to the formalities and details of ‘quality’ research. I
now have the ability to read, understand, evaluate, design and carry out
research about young children, families, and the early childhood field in
general. I have come to the realization that research is the professional tool
that makes the job of finding answers highly probable and most effective.
Lessons Learned:
As I
proceeded on this journey I was in search of answers to take confident
ownership of this experiential learning process. Throughout this process was
introduced to the standards and guidelines that eventually led me to becoming a
critical consumer of research. I became familiar with ethics in early childhood
research. As I learned how to become a designer of research I became more
knowledgeable of the available options and considerations. I learned about
quantitative research and deductive reasoning in action. I was introduced to
the workings of qualitative research and its relationship to documenting rich
stories of the early childhood field. I learned the significance of bridging
the quantitative-qualitative divide to the value of mixing methods. I learned
about the issue of equity in research and the necessity to move beyond equality
to justice and fairness. This journey has provided me with a wealth of useful
knowledge.
Challenges: Challenges
are an inevitable circumstance and will occur throughout our lives. Depending
on one’s coping skills, available support networks, and ability to recover and
learn from the temporary apprehension, challenges should be welcomed and viewed
as being a necessary entity to our experiential growth patterns. Challenges
were met through and by our collective collaboration, networking, and being
respectful help-mates to one another.
Perceptions: What
I knew as an early childhood professional and who I was at the start of this
journey is profoundly different from what I now know and who I am at the ending
of this course. With honesty and sincerity I am truly ‘thankful’ for having the
opportunity of sharing this experience with all of you. Best of luck in all you
set out to do.
