I choose to review the website of Early Child Development Virtual University (EDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The website is virtually a college to attend that offers the early childhood Development courses.
What are some of the current international research topics?
The current research topics are:
• The Development of an integrated Early Child Development Urban Model training Program for informal Minders and Community Volunteers in Ghana
• The status of Coordination and supervision of Early childhood Educators in Ghana
• Improving the quality of Childcare through Parenting Enrichment and training of trainers: The Eritrean Model
• Involving fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development
• Assessment of Interaction and stimulation in single-mother Low-Income families
• Curriculum Development using community Resources
Just a few to mention, every graduate of the program were required to do a research as part of his or her thesis. I found them interesting to read.
What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
As I reviewed the research topics, one in particular stood out and that was the “The Status of Coordination and supervision of Early Childhood Educators in Ghana.” This research conducted by Margaret Amponsah to fulfill a requirement for the degree of Masters of Arts in the School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Human and Social Development. Her research was the study on coordination and supervision of children by comparing the types of coordination and guiding principles on how it is successful in other countries. Margaret and her team used the qualitative research method by collecting samples according to rural and urban locations. (Amponsah, 2003) The data was collected from directors, coordinators, and head teachers within districts. The use of interview and observations methods was used in the classrooms and outdoors. The results of their findings were not good. They found out that the childcare centers contained:
· Insufficient knowledge on the concept of ECD at all levels.
· No comprehensive operational guidelines for the ECD sector.
• Inadequate trained personnel.
• No budget allocation except for salaries of teachers.
• Inadequate supply of teaching learning materials.
• Lack of policy on ECD (draft policy exists but has not been approved).
• Lack of awareness on the ECD policy at all levels.
(Amponsah, 2003)
Because of their research, they made recommendations for the changes needed to have quality care in Ghana.
What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
I found the website a knowledgeable insight to the education of teachers in early childhood and their insights to preparation of highly exceptional childcare centers. The idea that they share it with the world makes other readers to identify their weaknesses in programs and to research more in detail of how policies are followed in programs across our nation. The stimulus that I have created to show accountability of the lack of following policies in our country is something that will be very interesting to find out about how many have researched this same thing and the results they obtained. I found the website very interesting and related to the current research I am currently working on.
Resources:
Amponsah, M., 2003. The status of coordination and supervision of early childhood education in Ghana. University of Victoria. Retrieved from: http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Amponsah%20-MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf
Gwen,
ReplyDeleteI usually look forward to reading your work. You always give great practical information. I found the the reaserch findings of Ms. Amponsah extraordinary. As an advocate for early childhood in her country, I hope she can monitor improvements in the areas she resaerched, if the process of the collected data can by duplicated ten years from now.