When I Think of Research...

·       Why is your simulation important to the field of early childhood? “Well-designed simulations and games have been shown to improve decision-making and critical thinking skills as well as teaching discipline-specific concepts. Active learning also helps students develop interpersonal and communication skills. It is believed that simulations can be adapted and developed in other areas of education” (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED490383.pdf). The simulation I pose benefits children, families, and our society. Early Headstart/Headstart/PreK programs assist with the betterment of the family as a whole. The simulation shows positive results in economics when investments are made in our children.

·       If you were to conduct your simulation proposal, who would benefit? If I were to conduct a simulation proposal it would benefit teachers, parents, children, and the economy as a whole. “These spillover benefits, what economists call positive externalities, include reductions in crime, and lower expenditures on healthcare and on remedial education” (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/the_economics_of_early_childhood_investments.pdf).

·       What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course? I now see that even in early childhood education-specific jobs entail certain duties. It takes far more work than what I presumed to implement early childhood education as a standardized level of education the same as K-12. As an early childhood professional, you wear alot of hats because the process of teaching is always evolving. To remain current, we must continue to evolve as well.

References

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED490383.pdf).

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/the_economics_of_early_childhood_investments.pdf

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To all my fellow Colleagues,

Thank you all for your support during our Building Research Competencies studies! As challenging as it was for me your encouraging words were always appreciated! We are one step closer to our new endeavors! I wish you all continued success! Best of Luck!  

Research Around the World

            The Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA) has an ASIC moneysmart: principals project which is a program that helps children on every grade level with money management, reduce your debt, grow your wealth, tools and teaching resources. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have a website you can refer to and click on the tab to find teaching resources. The new insight I found was they introduce money management to children at an early age.  Once you click on the tab a wealth of information opens up! I clicked on the teaching resources tab and it brought me to tabs that had mathematics, economics and business, budgeting, enterprise, and shopping. It also has, “digiactivity that is calls, messaging and browsing, students examine the impact of voice, text and data usage on a pre-paid mobile phone plan” (Early Childhood Australia, n.d). They have activities from year level 1 grade to vocational education and training (VET). It expounds to the point of teaching students how to build a portfolio, buy and sell shares, and steps for first time home buyers just to name a few. This is every inclusive because you get information on every level from early childhood to adult age and beyond.

            This entire international website impressed me greatly because I am a parent currently at home with six different grade levels I must teach simultaneously. I look for new creative activities and ideas to keep all my children highly engaged in learning. Clicking on the be moneysmart (module 4): Debt management, “students compare debt products, learn to manage credit cards and find out what to do if debt becomes a problem” (Early Childhood Australia, n.d) The website will explain the best learning outcomes and solutions to what you need to do to be financially stable.

            In these present times, so many individuals are now unemployed due to COVID-19. The moneysmart.gov.au/covid-19 has a link that will connect you to the Australian Government/Treasury if you need financial support for households, businesses and etc. To have resources listed to help in this time of need is thorough. I’m always excited to review this website because they have a wealth of information for review.

References

Early Childhood Australia, n.d., from:

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/