International Learning

Out of all the websites that I have studied and all of the viewpoints that I have read about, I have come to the understanding that there are both positive and negatives influences that I have learned from all of this. First, now that I have read about other countires and their struggles it leaves me with a sense of "will we as people every put education first?" It almost has a point of being discouraged because so many countires suffer with issues within education. Second, I know compare our educational system to others. I know that comparisons won't really help and it can only make me feel powerless over the issues that I face within my own community, instead of focusing on what good I can do. Finally, the last consequence when learning about other countires is the overwhelming feeling of sorrow for those countries suffering from extreme poverty. Our country suffers from poverty as well but not as severe as other countries who are less fortunate. One goal that I would like to take from this entire experience is that I hope to one day be able to share my educational experience and knowledge with those across the globe to bring a community of global awareness for all children of this world. With this community I hope to develop a linkage from one country to the next who can aid each other in specific needs to assist children and their families. I beleive that every nation has something the next is lacking and if we link together then we can make a better world for our future generations.

UNESCO Website

When reasearching this website I ran across a section titled "What are the three most important skills a child should learn?" UNESCO Bangkok Director, Gwang-Jo Kim, said " One of the greatest challenge for education systems today is keeping pace with the skills they will need in an increasingly knowlwdge based economy." He stated that children need to learn culture, become critical thinkers, and also need to obtain life skills. I agree with the ideas and beleive that if every child possessed these skills they will grow as individual. Another insight I found was that only 60% of Nigerians educators possess the qualifications to teach. In order to improve education we must first improve leadership qualifications worldwide. The last insight that I gained was how well the UNESCO's website is put together to give quality information to all professionals across the globe.

(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/)

Exploring Our Resources

I find that the NAEYC's webiste is a great website that will help many people who are in the profession of working with young children and their families. On the actual website under the Professional Development tab there is information to help prepare those who are in the process or begining the career of working with children and their families. NAEYC offers online learning opportunities, training or trainers, as well as opportunities to gain more continuing education units (CEU's) for the job or personal practice. I believe that this webiste is extremely important because it gives current information on the issues as well as the improvements with the eudcation of children. It also gives an idea of what changes are to be expected and where we are heading in the future.

Global Knowledge

Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website   http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/), was a very interesting website to review and it is filled with a plethera of information on many of the global issues as it relates to young children. The growing attention that has been given to early childhood health has opened the opportunity for countries all over the globe to begin transforming the health og their children. While  large  number of studies have inverstigated the impact of early childhood expereince on children's develomental, health, and educational outcomes in developed countries, relatively little evidence is available on early childhood development in sub-Saharan Africa (Global Children's Intiative). On this website I have learned that all though the world has made great strides to help benefit young children, that many of them (the poorest countries) are still struggling to get the basic needs. On going studies in Zambia are being performed to address the lacking evidence of improvement. The ZECDP (Zambian Early Childhood Development Project) has made a collabrative effort to research the different health issues of Zambia.