Action Research Project (Research Paper Sample)

The effects of early childhood development education on children with hearing impairment Name Institution AUTHOR NOTE Many parts of this paper were as a result of extensive research conducted on already existing information and also additional one found on the field during the research. Abstract The reason for carrying out this study was finding out the effects both positive and adverse that early childhood education had on children with hearing impairment in Australia. The theory of Vygotsky's about cognitive development is used as a guide to this study. Objectives of this study included; finding out the number of children with hearing impairment who enroll to selected schools.Determining which kind of early childhood education offered to children with hearing impairment. The effects that early childhood education have to children with hearing impairment, finding the roles of teachers and parents in providing early childhood education, identifiying challenges faced by parents and educators of children with hearing impairment in early childhood development education. A descriptive method of survey preffered in this study, whereby we targeted children of 3-6 years who had hearing impairment in the total population found in these schools. Sampling was the criteria used to select teachers, parents, and schools involved. Interviews schedule's were the research instrument for parents, teachers and head teachers in the involved schools. At least one child in Australia found with a case of hearing impairment every day, and one of every a thousand babies born have hearing loss to a significant extent. And about 12000 children have hearing defect .90 percent of children with hearing impairment have enrolled at the Royal Institute for Deaf and blind center. One of six children enrolled here lives in a rural area. Those enrolled in this center benefit mostly by enjoying and learning social skills which are very crucial. Every year about 60 percent of deaf professional teacher undertakes new fresh training. There is a worldwide shortage of professional faculty and instructors for the deaf.Recommendations made for parents to be enrolling their children to these childhood centers as early as three years old. Further research is needed so as to facilitate a smooth transition from home to these centers. Background of the study Adulthood foundation can be cultivated by those early years of a child. Hence, they are paramount. A child undergoes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development at a very fast rate (NACECE, 1999).Therefore, the quality of early childhood development should be very high so as to lay a good foundation for the future. According to Richardson and Young (2007), enhancement of early childhood development result to production of healthy individuals and prosperous society. They continue by saying that has a significant effect on both mental and physical wellbeing in their later stages of life. The argument, continuous that, it helps in brain development equipping it with experience that will last a lifetime. Convention on the right of children (CRC) of 1989, which stipulates that, all children have a right to access to education. As a result of the industrial development in the 19th century, women who had the duty to educate children sought for employment away from home and family in the industries. It leads to the establishment of shelters, which were supposed to take care of these kids while their mothers are away. These shelters later integrated into nursery schools. In the United States of America, early childhood development is a combination of both early childhood and special education. The primary goal in the USA for the deaf is learning English. The teaching of the deaf is done using simple auditory-oral methods and signs which are internationally approved. Teachers are usually encouraged to provide learning models for language learning in their works for school with children having a hearing impairment. Though the theory of Vygotsky emphasizes that communication is crucial since it aid in the processing of thoughts, concentration on language learning alone blocks the child mind from gaining from the other areas of learning. In Australia, services of preprimary schools are the state government responsibility. It provides funding and regulates this class by setting of standards that are supposed to be meet,convention on the rights of children(CRC,2007). Australian education was ranked as thirteenth best in the world by Pearson.85.7 Percent of children in Australia attend the pre primary school of between 3-6 years old. It helps in the holistic development of children at this age since most of their parents are at work. Relevant services offered in this institution have a provision for those that are deaf. Structures put to ensure that they get good early childhood development and education and not being neglected by the community. Deaf Society of Australia has made significant milestones in the current century with all being the aim of improving the systems in place. Statement of the problem Despite the fact that early child development is very crucial in the elaboration of a child, it's not compulsory hence the attendance of pre-primary schools is not full. Some parents don't know the primary importance of this education in societal prosperity and development at large. They wait until the child is six years before enrolling him. During this time, learners are not very likely to learn new experiences and hence for the deaf it makes it harder to comprehend and integrate the use of sign language. It exposes effects of early childhood development and education on those with hearing impairment. Purpose of the study The reason for the study is to determine the effects of childhood education and development on children between the ages of 3-6 with deafness Study objectives included It was guided by the following, 1. To look into the enrollment trend of children with hearing impairment in Australia. 2. To assess the type of early childhood development offered to children with hearing impairment. 3. To determine the role of parents and teachers in enhancing early childhood development and education 4. Identifications of constraints experienced by the educators and relatives of the children with hearing impairment. Research questions The following issues were attempted to be answered by the study 1 What is the trend of enrollment for the hearing impaired children in early childhood education and development? 2 What type of early childhood development teaching is provided for children with hearing impairment? 3 What are the key roles played by teachers in early childhood development of children with hearing impairment? 4 What are the challenges faced by the teacher of children with hearing impairment in early childhood development? Importance of the study The results of the study will bring insight to authorities in charge aware of the delayed enrollment of children with hearing impairment.They will also make regular checkups on the cases they place these centers. It will also inform the public the standards required for early childhood development and education for children with hearing impairments. It will encourage the parent to enroll their children at an appropriate age before they are too old that is between 3-6 years. Teachers and relatives of these kids will be motivated to undertake their roles adequately at this crucial stage. Hence, these children will be equipped with skills preparing them for the primary education and socialization with the outside world. Scope and limitations Scope During the study, the researcher concentrated on special schools for those with hearing impairment in Australia like the royal institute of the deaf and blind. The study focused on those children undergoing early childhood development and education including their teachers and parents; the researcher had access to the respondents only during the regular school days apart from parents got interviewed on the parents visiting day. Limitations Since these children in early childhood development are relatively young and still in the process of learning sign language, it propelled the researcher to rely on their teachers and parents to collect most of the data. The researcher hoped to take only one day in conducting the interviews to all the respondents and recording the information. However, it wasn't possible accessing parents during regular school days and had to wait until the parents visiting day. The visiting day also posed a problem when two research centers collided and a reschedule had to be done. Research assumptions It comprised of the following * Children with hearing impairment enrolled in appropriate age 3-6 years. * Children are provided with the early childhood education with development as provided in the latest curriculum. * Parents can identify hearing impairment in their children early enough to seek medical and educational intervention to curb worsening of the condition. * Special schools for those with hearing impairment are equipped to deal with the constraints that may affect the teacher in the learning process. Theoretical and conceptual framework Theoretical framework The study anchorage is on the theory of Lev Vygotsky, a psychologist of cognitive development. He proposed that learning of children was from their surrounding and culture. He puts emphasis on the need of very competent individuals to guide children because it enhances a child cognitive development. He gave the proposition of the theory of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) which he believes guidance can help children attain higher levels of thinki...