LAI 661

 

Research Seminar in

Early Childhood Education

 

INSTRUCTOR:            James L. Hoot, Ph.D.

                                    Learning and Instruction

                                    593 Baldy Hall

                                    Buffalo, NY 14260              

                                    Phone: 716_645_2453 or 2379

                                    Fax: 716-645-3161

                                    E-mail: jhoot@acsu.buffalo.edu

 

Note:   If you have a disability (physical, learning or psychological) which may make it difficult for you to carry out the course work as outlined, and/or, requires accommodations such as recruiting note takers, readers, or extended time on exams and assignments, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall, 645-2608.  ODS will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodations.

 

 

OVERVIEW:

 

This course is designed to serve a number of purposes:

 

     .    To refine skills in analysis and evaluation of research

 

     .      To assist students in becoming conversant with current  research in the field

 

     .    To prepare students to participate in salient research

 

    .  To assist students in preparation for upcoming special events in their doctoral             program (doctoral research paper)

 

     .      To develop scholarly self_confidence

 

     .      To provide experience in the art of sharing scholarly research                                   (publication/presentation)

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE FORMAT:

 

This doctoral level class is designed to develop LEADERS in the field of Early Childhood Education.  Leaders are known because of their content competence as well as their ability to conduct and share quality research in professional forums.  This leadership class is, therefore, perceived as a FORUM  for sharing professional issues/concerns relating to research in Early Childhood Education.

 

TENTATIVE TOPICS:

 

     Sharing Research

           Publication (journals, books)

      Presentation for professional research organizations (AERA, ACEI, NAECTE,                    NAEYC)

     Emerging Research in ECE

     Research Issues

     Methodological Concerns in Research with Young Children

     Research Sources/Resources

    

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

1.   Satisfactory completion of all assignments

2.   Exam(s)

3.   EXTENSIVE reading in the research literature

4.   Attending one doctoral dissertation defense (submit 1_page

      reaction to defense upon completion)

5.   Research interview with instructor (to be scheduled during semester).  Be prepared        to discuss:

          .    At least 2 specific researchable questions

          .    A current research project of interest to you

          .    A current professional presentation in preparation

6.   Oral and Written Research Project (see below)

 

ORAL PROJECT:                             

 

For one class session you will lead discussion of the state-of-the-art research in a major area in the field.  Examples include:

 

Play                                          Cognition                                Development

Infancy                         Language Acquisition            Child Abuse

Curriculum                                Parenting                                 Multicultural Education

Child Care                                Legislation                                Other

 

 

 

Part I

 

In your session discuss:

           

C         At least 2 typical research studies in your area (include in discussion: context, problems, methods, findings, conclusions). * (Note: give copies of these studies to class members a week prior to your session.)

 

C            Implications of research for current practice.

 

C            Needed research (dissertation ideas) in the chosen area.  Include at least 2 researchable questions.  (Submit  bibliographic information on studies discussed and researchable questions on 1_page to instructor and each member of the class).

 

Part II

 

            During the second part of the discussion, the leader will present to the class a proposal (problem, question, method) for investigating a research problem in her/his chosen area. Student/scholars will assume the role of a research committee during this session. 

 

 

WRITTEN PROJECT:

 

            An 8_10 page review of research in a given area OR an article/book chapter for professional publication will be developed.  Copies of Draft 1 will be presented to classmate critique teams on March 6, 1997. Classmates will serve as manuscript reviewers and comment on the quality of the manuscript and offer suggestions for improvement.  Signed critiques will be returned to authors March 13,1995.  Based upon criticism, authors will present to instructor the following:

 

          1.   Signed evaluations by colleagues

          2.   2 copies of the revised manuscript

          3.   Guidelines for Authors

          4.   Submission letter

          5.   Revised manuscript ready for publication

 

               DUE on or before May 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRADES:

 

            In addition to satisfactory completion of requirements noted above, a major portion of your evaluation for this seminar will be the degree to which you contribute to the intellectual life of this seminar class.

 

 

TEXTS:

 

            Researchers certainly do not limit themselves to one or two sources in their searches.  Rather, it is expected that ALL possible sources (e.g., ERIC, Dissertation and Psychological Abstracts, professional research journals, etc.) will be used in your pursuits for this course.  Volumes especially ger­mane to this course include:

 

Luey, B. (1987). Handbook for Academic Authors, New York: Cambridge University Press.

 

Spodek, B. (1993). Handbook of Research in Early Childhood Education, New York: The Free Press.

 

JOURNALS:

 

            Since this research seminar will focus upon research with children birth_age 8, it is important for you to become very familiar with research journals in the ECE field such as Journal of Research in Childhood Education (ACEI) and Early Childhood Research Quarterly (NAEYC) and Journal of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE).