"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" --Nelson Mandela--
It's very unfortunate that I never received a response back from an international early childhood professional. After weeks of exploring websites I must say I have gained more important useful information that I can use throughout my career as a teacher. The various websites I searched have enriched my professional development because of information on the sites, global information, newsletters, signing up for newsletters, and current issues and trends. Throughout this 8 week course my colleagues have supported me by posting weekly discussions, blogs that relates to current issues/trends that I've read and gained more knowledge from different perspectives and from people all over the globe. I have supported them by doing the same thing.
I would have to say some consequences about learning about international early childhood field for my professional and personal development is that some international professionals don't send a response to your questions you asked therefore you can't receive answers needed to compare international early childhood programs and the early childhood program in my home state. Luckily I was able to read post from colleagues about issues and trends that's happening internationally. After reading post by colleagues and exploring websites about early childhood education I felt as though I did make contact with a international early childhood professionals. Colleagues provided a lot of helpful information about international professionals.
One goal for the field of international awareness for me is to one day be able to volunteer my time to a international early childhood program and it really doesn't matter where I go to volunteer. With so much going on in Haiti right now I would love to help them put their lives back together and volunteer at a early childhood school there.
I wish everyone the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Although I don't know the exact reason why none of the professionals you contacted replied back to you, I have to say it is disappointing. I learned so much from my international contact and I felt the connection I made with her was more valuable than having to respond to a website (not that there wasn't value on those as well). I feel like in this situation I just got lucky and happen to contact a professional that has a true valued interest in the profession and wanted to help another professional. But when having to line up field studies/observations for some of our other courses, it has been a struggle. I am not finding very many programs that will let me come and observe for my assignments and I have to wonder why. Why would you not want to support other ECE professionals, it only makes the profession grow stronger and other than a phone call or email with me, some assignment required nothing more than giving me a seat in the room so I could take notes. It was really frustrating to not get responses (or sometimes just flat out no's) from programs when I asked to observe.
ReplyDeleteHi Monica,
ReplyDeleteI like your quote by Nelson Mandela. Education is the most powerful weapon. As I wrote in my blog, it is the hope of the poor (migrant) families to exit poverty. By educating their children, they get a better chance of getting better jobs and a better life too.
Like you too, initially it was difficult to get international contacts, but I finally got a correspondence from the Global fund for children, which was very useful.
I also love your goal of volunteering in Haiti and I am so proud of you. I plan to partner with the GFC when I get back home to Nigeria, to her children from poor families get a quality education.
Thanks,
Blessing
Hello Monica,
ReplyDeleteGreat final blog entry enjoy, may your goal of volunteering in Haiti become a reality. Good luck on all your future endeavors.