WK5 Research Around the World

Looking at research around the world for this blog post I chose the Early Childhood Australia website.  The website was very easy to navigate and was similar to NAEYC’s website in the wide range of subject matter provided about the early childhood field in Australia, though I found much of the information relevant and/or usable to and in the United States.  The Voice, this websites newsletter presented information and stories surrounding the EC field in Australia like information on programs and centers that use survey feedback, something I found interesting and useful to the research process we are learning now.

 International research topics included many of those that come up often in the EC field like brain development, gender and sexuality in social emotional development, and childhood obesity.  Early Childhood Australia is also working on early childhood frameworks and currently has the drafts of these documents posted on the website.  These were interesting to read in that the content that is included sort of confirms my belief that children are children no matter where they are from and healthy child development can not be chalked up to one aspect of development alone.

A noteworthy bit of information, well noteworthy to me, but interesting none-the-less was the link to National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program.  On this site there was a link to the Dorothy Waide Center for Early Learning I thought was great and similar to a program here in Sacramento, California run by Bev Boss.  The thing I found that I just loved was the classroom blogs.  I have been meaning to set this up for the center I am working in now, but was not sure how to approach it.  These blogs gave me some creative ideas of my own and have inspired me to get moving on this project.  I feel a classroom blog will deepen understanding about what goes on in the classroom for parents and give staff an opportunity to share more stories and happenings throughout the day.

Resources

Dorothy Waide Center for Early Learning (n.d.). Dorothy Waide Center for Early Learning. Retrieved October 6, 2012, from http://www.dotwaidecentre.org.au/site/Home.html

Early Childhood Australia (n.d.). Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Children. Retrieved October 6, 2012, from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

NQS PLP. (n.d.). National Quality Standard Early Learning Program. Retrieved October 6, 2012, from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/