ARTE Assignment 4 (E-Reflection Journal)
Current or emerging Early Childhood Issues
Through this Capstone project, I have learned more essential knowledge within the early childhood sector as before this project, I have rarely done research and reading on the emerging issues within the sector. However, with this inquiry-based learning, it helps me to develop the relevant knowledge in the sector that is critical for me to know as an early childhood educator.
We have decided on Professional development (PD) as our inquiry topic after various research, where it is an area that government is starting to focus on to allow educators to constantly improve and update themselves which benefits them and the children. There has been an increasing amount of professional development agencies, courses and the setting up of the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) to provide quality training and professional development. Before researching, PD to me was attending courses given by the principal. Therefore, in order to gain different insight and perspective about PD, we have conducted an interview with the center principal and I have learned how to create effective questions for an interview. Also, being flexible in asking questions and setting appropriate tone during the interview. Before conducting the interview, I thought that budget was the important factor causing lack in attending PD. However, I have understood that budget is not the major issue as the financial burden was eased and settled through the investments made by the government. There are other factors such as the teachers’ willingness, the teacher’s schedule and personal beliefs. After completing my individual needs analysis through various reading, I have learned to not bring in my own assumption and perspective, then conclude as a group that the attitude of teachers is the key factor. These broadened my perspectives on how the school views professional development as it was different from mine and acquire me a deeper knowledge.
Personal Growth
Organisational Skills
It was messy at the beginning of our project as everyone had differing perspective and ideas where it was difficult to write in a well-organised manner. We solve this issue by creating a shared folder and a table to categorize helping in structuring our information for the project. Through this, I have understood the importance of being well organised as firstly, it eased the reading, plotting and finding information needed. Secondly, the communication where everyone will be able to find the information that we are talking on, staying at the same page. Lastly, tidiness which helps in neatness, which affect the impression based on the first sight. With this, it will be needed as I become an educator where there are lots of information to be recorded for each child, lesson plan and events to be organised.
Communication Skill
For this project, I have worked with people that I am not familiar with causing that I was a bit shy to share my thoughts. However, I have grown in improving my communication skills through figuring out how I can effectively communicate my ideas without making others feeling uncomfortable and showing respect yet able to collaborate everyone's ideas and perspective together. Throughout the whole process in researching, designing and realizing it out, to prevent arguments and disagreement, we often have discussion which made me learned that it is important to listen, ask the person on their thoughts as everyone have different thinking where I may have interpret in my own way. Also, I find that it is important to be open-minded, remember that communication is where both parties are able to share their though with listening and acknowledgment to it. I will need to know how I can communicate to pass the message that I want to deliver without having disagreement in the future as working with other educators.
Problem-Solving Skills
I have improved in my problem-solving skill as we worked together to overcome problems that we have encountered such as conducting survey, being well organised and meeting to timeline. We split up some roles while meeting to do discussion to be more effective which allow us to help one another, solving problems we have encountered on the spot. I have also tried many new things such as creating a compatibility quiz where we need to come out with questions, answers and allocate points to it also the use of WIX to creating a website. When coming out with recommendation, there were many different perspectives. To come out with the best recommendation, I will first put myself in the center principal's shoe to see if the recommendation would work. Next, draw out things that would work from each recommendation given and collaborate all into one by asking their opinions so everyone agrees to it. Finally, creating it to a creative, practical and sustainable recommendation. With these, I have become more self-directed and being more flexible which improves my problem-solving skill.