This week I chose to explore the website of the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA). To tell you a little bit about EECERA, "EECERA is an independent, self-governing, international
association which promotes and disseminates multi-disciplinary research
on early childhood and its applications to policy and practice. EECERA
is a non-profit organisation, wholly-owned and subscribed to by its
substantial and influential world-wide membership. It generates its own
revenue, receives no external funding and thus ensures its independence,
radical attitude and innovative openness." You can find their website at www.eecera.org.
When navigating the website, I cam across the European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, which is proclaimed to be one of the most prestigious early childhood journals in the world. When searching their journal article database, I quickly learned that their trending topics in the field are much like ours. The first article I cam across was an article discussing the battle between children learning through play and academics. This reminds me of a constant conversation that I, as an administrator, have with parents regularly.
Another topic that caught my attention discussed learning and teachable moments during outdoor play. It caught my attention because this is something that I am constantly stressing to our teachers. I explain how children should still be learning even when they're outside, it should be an outdoor classroom. I really find this article informative and it puts my thoughts into well expressed words. I plan to print it and present a copy to my teachers tomorrow.
Technology in the classroom is also a hot topic in Europe, as it is here. I chose to use the influence of technology in the preschool classroom as my topic for my research simulation, so I found it really interesting to read this article. The article does not discuss the effects that technology could have on children's behavior or sleep patterns, as I am interested in investigating, but rather the influence that it plays on children's social interaction, which is also a very intriguing point.
Overall I learned that Europe seems to be facing the same, exact issues that we are facing here in America. I really find their journal to be a valuable resource and have favorited this site so that I can stay current on hot topics and continue to print articles that are of importance to my staff.
