Collaborative Learning Community

During these past 8 weeks I feel like my collegues have greatly supported me, through their constructive comments, and criticism as they have analyzed my work in all of the assignments. I too hope that I have helped in supporting and assisting their own growth during assignments by providing questions, dialogue, and new insights on thier work throughout the course. By collaborating together on assignments we have provided additional unique perspectives beyond just the professors commentary that I know for me personally has given me a broader view on the issues and concepts in this course.

It is my wish for my collegues as they entered into their specializations and continue down their professional path to truly incorporate all of the vital knowledge throughout these courses into thier lives and careers. Concepts of communication, collaboration and cultural competency skills are needed in our profession and in our world more then ever, so utilizing what we have learned and teaching others is so important.

Good luck to everyone in their future endeavors both personally and professionally!

I wish to keep in contact so here is my personal email ashav11@msn.com

The Adjourning Phase

Several groups that I have had the opportunity to be involved have a bittersweet aftermath when it comes to adjourning. The majority of my classmates that were within my major when I was completing my B.S, had accomplished success in umany projects together including the full operations of a mentoring program with a neighboring inner city high school and fashion shows for inner city youth. One of the hardest parts about saying goodbye upon graduation was knowing that many of the friendships I had made and people I had seen on a daily basis would be lessened. Fortunately, I was able to maintain many of the friendships that I had made, and continue to do so today. "Members may also opt yo maintain friendships even if they will no longer be working together. " (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012 p.258) I think that high performance groups are definitely harder to leave as the positive cohesion of the group, and efficiency in accomplishment can create a comfortable climate, in which the group members may feel wary about leaving such a functional group. "Cohesion is a important factor in generating a positive group temperament or climate in which members take pride in the group, treat each other with respect, feel confident about their abilities and achieve higher success in accomplishing goals." (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012 p.269) The Closing rituals I have been a part of include, graduations, dinners, and even parties that were celebratory towards the successful end of an endeavor. I would imagine the adjourning of this particular group of collegues to end via our blogs due to the online capacity of this school. However, I would like to think that I may meet some of my fellow collegues during the final graduation ceremony for those who are in the same state as me, and would be a perfect finish to the program.

The aspect of adjourning provides an opportunity for closure and the ability for the group to be able to reflect on positive accompliments, or mishaps that may have occurred.  Although bittersweet, it gives everyone in the group to be positive in their reflections, as well as their own contributions that had been made to the group.

References

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Conflict Resolution

I can think of many conflicts that could be resolved with strategies learned this week towards solving issues more effectively. Recently, I had a small disagreement with a parent regarding their behavior in my classroom, humoursly the mom had an issue with her 4 year old son, playing in housekeeping with dolls, and barbies. She preceded to yell at him and take the toy from him each time she entered the classroom. Upon speaking with her after school privately she stated that she did not want her child playing with "girl toys", and became angry that I replied that all children including boys play with many different gender toys/roles as they explore the world around them. The conversation was not really resolved at the end and although she refrained from the yelling and aggression within the classroom, I could still tell she was upset by the situation. One strategy that might be helpful in this situation is to take some tips from the "third side" in viewing other's perspectives. I think that listening from the "third side" would be helpful towards really understanding and considering the mothers point of view. "Listening allows us on opportunity to see from multiple vantage points and allows us to see the whole. Listening is a simple way to show respect. Watch your intention in your listening. If your intention to listen is to find a way to convince them of "your way" , to prove them "wrong" or "convert the right side," you will not create an opportunity for a solution that supports each side and the surrounding community." (The Third Side. nd.)

Another strategy that could have been helpful is to seek understanding first before relaying my own point of view. "If we encourage others to explain their side first, they will be more apt to listen to ours."(Billikopf, G. 2009)

References

Billikopf, G. (2009, August). Conflict management skills. Retrieved from http://cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7labor/13.htm

Website: The Third Side. (n.d.). The third side. Retrieved from http://www.thirdside.org/

Who am I as a Communicator: Evaulations

As I reflect on this week’s communication evaluation exercise, I was extremely intrigued by the own results in comparison to others who were in my relational network. I never realized that although I may deem myself a competent communicator, others may not share my views and their perceptions of my communication abilities can have a totally different evaluation through our interpersonal interactions.

There were many similarities and variances between the results, between the two evaluations. For example, on the communication anxiety inventory I scored a moderate level, which reflected that I do have some communication anxiety depending on the situation. I regard that being nervous is actually a normal thing given certain situations some people excel in some circumstances more than others, to me that is a characteristic that a competent communicator should have. "Competent communication is about figuring out the most effective and appropriate ways of interacting in given situation." (O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. 2012 p.117). In contrast my colleague, scored a low level showing that I was comfortable and confident in interactions and encounters. In discussion about these results she revealed that it is her perception that come off confident, calm, cool, and collected when interacting in a group work environment. I was surprised to find that many of my husband’s perceptions of me to be quite accurate, at times we tend to butt heads when comes to communicating effectively, but we do share a very intimate communication relationship. For example on the listening style profile both of us scored in group 1, referencing that my style is empathetic and people orientated. I think this is very true to my personality and is displayed throughout my personal and professional life. "When we engage in empathetic listening we are attempting to know how another person feels; it involves listening to people with openness, sensitivity, and caring." (O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. 2012 p.163).

This week I gained the true insight of other's perceptions of me in terms of communication, and I realized that many of my own insecurities in public speaking for example, are perceived by others in a completely different fashion.

References

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Rubin, R. B., Palmgreen, P., & Sypher, H. E. (2009). Communication research measures: Communication Anxiety Inventory & Verbal Aggressiveness Scale. A sourcebook. New York: Routledge.

Rubin, R. B., Rubin, A. M., Graham, E. E., Perse, E. M., & Seibold, D. R. (Eds.) (2009). Communication research measures II: Listening Styles Profile a sourcebook. New York: Routledge

 

 

 

Communication Differences

Upon first reading this assignment I thought that I communicated in a general manner with everyone, but upon closer examination I realized that I in fact do communicate differently with different groups in terms of language, situational context, professional/family relationship ,and even culture. A great example of this would be when I communicate and interact with family members or even people from the same ethnicity as me. I tend to use more slang, and vocabulary from our country, along with references to things that are relevant to our culture. On a professional level, I most definitely use high lanague, in order to communicate in a more formal way.

3 Ways to Communicate More Effectivley with Identified Groups

1) Try to decipher and be mindful of other's verbal and non verbal communication code that may cause barriers like culture, language, and even gestures. Appropriate knowledge must be obtained.
2) Do not assume similarities within the same cultural groups. Be mindful that cultural differences and variations occur even from people that may share the same social group or class as you.
3) Develop social decentering, in order to better cognitively, individuals perceptions and thoughts even if they share a commonality with you.

References
Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

 

Communication Exersise

The show I decided to observe is a television sitcom that was popular in the 90’s called “Married with Children”. As I observed the show without sound I gathered that the relationships between the characters were close and intimate, conversations between the family members were in close proximity to each other and also consisted of non-verbal communication like touching. In one scene the man and his wife were in bed together and she gave him a hug, although he did not look like he reciprocated it, I gathered that she was very much in love by the love-intimacy touch she gave him.  I also gathered that they were in some type of argument by their facial expressions, exhibiting looks of anger and sadness.

Upon turning the sound on, my assumptions were correct regarding the family structure, and the tension that was between the husband and wife. The plot was far more humorous then I had anticipated and I gather that if I would have been more accurate regarding the mood of the show if had been more familiar with it.

I learned that the observation of non-verbal communication can often be misinterpreted due to influences from different cultures, situations, and even perspectives. Additionally, I had also never considered the non-verbal messages that body language and proximity to other communication partners plays in the delivering communication messages. I found the zones of personal space to be extremely intriguing, as everyone’s idea on what is acceptable in terms of: intimate, personal, social, and public zones are completely different and vary from person to person.   This made me think of the time when I went to Montréal to visit distant family and instead of hugs they give a very European greeting of kissing each side of your cheek. It made me realize that what is normal for some in forms of communication like even a simple hello, can be completely weird and uncomfortable for others.

Competent Communication

One person comes to mind when I think of  competent communication and that particular communicator is my husband. My husband works as a district loss prevention manager for a major retailer and on a daily basis interacts with many different people with different backgrounds and in a variety of  situations. On one hand he intergragates people who have been caught stealing in an intimate, vulnerable one on one interviews. He showcases impressive interpersonal skills that allow him to be able to extremely personable, charismatic, and empathetic in his approach allowing him to acquire a confession from the assailant in most instances. Another aspect of his job is to train groups of new employees in large groups introducing them to the rules, and regulations of the company, this communication delivery is quite different from an interrogation situation, he is able to articulate his points and engage the large group. This also includes imploring many effective communication skills like making eye contact, gestures, and having confidence in his delivery.
I would love to be able to model his communication behaviors, as his tactics truly encompass the best strategies towards being a good listener, delivering his point of view clearly, and making the recipient feel comfortable and at ease.

* Just a quick side note on my awesome husband, but his communication skills were one of the reasons I fell in love with him as we talked the first night I met him for hours and hours on end with the conversation flowing easily and effortlessly, which continues to this day. :)

Professional Hopes & Goals

It is my hope that when I interact in my work with children and families that they feel welcomed and comfortable within the environment that they come into, whether it’s in a classroom, community center, or even right in their own homes on a home visit. Maintaining a positive relationship, being thoughtful about communication, and truly getting to know families aside from their stereotypical preconceived notions about their culture are all tools that can create strong connections regardless of the cultural differences. When people from different backgrounds come together beneficial contributions are too made as we all can learn to understand and appreciate cultural differences, and bring individual richness to each of our interactions with different social identities. I also hope that the through the welcoming environment that they know that they are valued and regarded not only as a people from a diverse background but as unique individuals who bring their own significant contributions to the classroom and society.

The goal I would like to set for the early childhood field is as followed; To impart the knowledge of strong diversity, equity, and social justice concepts on the young aspiring teachers who are still in the early stages of their schooling, in order to effectively institute change in the early childhood community. (If young teachers are able to learn the practices of incorporating diversity into their classrooms from early on the actual application of it will be less of a challenge for them. These concepts of self-identification towards an understanding of biases and prejudices are so beneficial to the teaching process and understanding how and why we interact with different cultures that it needs to be introduced in the beginning of a career when students have not yet been set in their ways.)

I would like to thank all of my colleagues and instructor Rosalie Parrish, for all of the awesome insight, work and feedback from all of the assignments throughout this course! I have truly learned so much knowledge and awareness from this course that I will take with me in all future endeavors both professional and personal. Good luck to everyone with the rest of their academic ventures towards a degree!

Welcoming Families from Around the World

Welcoming Families From Around the World

 

My family’s country of origin: Guyana

Five ways to be culturally responsive towards new family:

Create a school culture where parents are seen as important partners in the school’s efforts to increase student success

Value and acknowledge the strengths and gifts that parents from diverse backgrounds and languages can bring to the teaching and learning process

Implement varied approaches to engage parents from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds meaningfully as partners in a community of learners

Find local resources to support engagement and promote the value of diversity.

Ensure ongoing communication and monitoring of engagement between parents to ensure a solid partnership.

Theses preparations will improve the quality of the teaching and learning process for generations to come, by promoting positive learning outcomes that cultivate classroom enrichment. Children can feel the respect and appreciation that is felt as educational programs value their family contributes to the educational environment, and will help them by co-constructing their family culture knowledge with new concepts.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

An incident that where I have witnessed someone being the target of prejudice was at my former place of employment at a head start in the inner city of Baltimore. That particular establishment’s staff was located in a poor area within the city and is always in need of teachers, along with also having an extremely high turnover of staff. One day a young Caucasian women came in for an interview for a lead teacher position, and seemed very young but eager to teach. After the interview I overheard the director and the education coordinator speaking stating they would never hire her because she wouldn’t be comfortable around the African American students and should go teach with her own people. The prejudicial assumptions that she would be incapable to understand or handle the kids based on her race was truly baffling to me. The fact that it is illegal to not hire someone based on their race, is awesome but often hard to prove that it was a barrier to getting hired so more often then not happens all of time. That particular incident diminished the equality that is supposed to be established in order to give everyone a fair chance at gaining employment, regardless of their race, ethnicity or any other social identity. I was shocked that that aspect of discrimination was even being discussed aloud, but it also made me angry the more I thought about it. How dare they assume that the young women was incompetent based on the color of her skin, and how many times had I myself been viewed in that light after an interview.

I think that the employer would have to evolve their philosophies and learn to focus on their applicants qualifications instead of their race, only then could this and other incidents like this be turned into a greater opportunity for equity.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

Learning about microaggressions this week has really opened my eyes to the transformation that racism has taken in our society today, and the detrimental effects that subtle discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes can have on people.

A few weeks ago I experienced a "catch 22" as Dr. Sue described (Laureate Education, 2011) I went on a job interview and upon meeting my potential employer I could tell she was quite shocked that I was African American. (Quick side note I have been told ignorantly by others that I have a "white name" and speak like a "white person") she initially told me that she pictured me to be much different the how I sounded on the phone, making a joke. I immediately thought it odd but obviously did not say anything because I wanted the job. After a decent interview, we spoke candidly about the position and was told that I was extremely "articulate and well spoken". Hmmmm once again I was flabbergasted "had I just been given a microinsult or a compliment or both?" I left the interview feeling confused and uncomfortable, obviously that person was in a position of power and afterwards the more I thought about the circumstances that had occurred, the more offended I became in hindsight.

My observation experiences this week has given some new perspectives on discrimination, and how biases/prejudices can unconsciously effect our actions and how we interact with people around us. It is human nature to identity the similarities and differences in others, but we must develop conscious thought behind what we do especially in our multicultural saturated society.

References

Laureate Education. (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu 



Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

Husband

Definition of culture

Culture is ones family values, and society’s surrounding environment.

Definition of Diversity

A mixture of people made up of their own personal individual talents and cultures, ethnicities. Ideologies, religions, sexual orientations etc. 

Mom

Definition of culture

Culture is the way someone was brought up, traditions handed down from generations and beliefs in their own individual family culture.

Definition of Diversity

Diversity is differences that people have whether it’s in culture, and beliefs.

 

Cousin

Definition of culture

Culture is shared beliefs, and values that affects every aspect of a person’s life.

Definition of Diversity

Diversity includes many various demographics including race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, education, geographic origin, and skills.

 

The aspects of different beliefs, traditions, and values in regards to many different characteristics including race, sexual orientation, religion, age, and disability were all terms that were studied in the course. Each person’s definition related to the concept that both culture and diversity is unique to each individual and their perspectives on their own culture and the world around them.

I think that they omitted the concept that culture is such a broad term, and means different things to different people and is so much more than just customs, and traditions. The iceberg analogy really speaks volumes, where the traditions, and ethnicity of a culture is just the surface of a much more complex reality. They also did not touch on the fact that in our society today there is a dominant culture that often influences the majority of the way our society is, which can cause feelings of cultural discontinuity for cultures who are not the dominant one. Assimilation into the dominant culture and a rejection of one’s own culture can result in a loss of traditions, heritage or even language.

Reflecting on other peoples definitions of culture and diversity, has allowed me to gain insight on the sometimes limited perspectives people may have about culture. It has made me realize that before I has taken this course I also had a very narrow definition of both terms. Examining other people’s perspectives has influenced me to want to expand others knowledge on culture and diversity.

References

  Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Culture and diversity [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Family cultures: Dynamic interactions [Video file]. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from https://class.waldenu.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



My Family Culture

3 Items to take:

·         An iPod because music is a large part of my families dynamic with a variety of music representing my family: country, reggae, R &B, Hip Hop, Classical, etc.

·         A historical family tree plaque passed down through 4 generations.

·         A family picture album consisting of family vacations, events, and extended family members.

I would explain to others that each of these items represents unity and the importance of family within our culture. Passing down the family history is essential for generations to come, so that they can understand why it’s important to value family and traditions. If I was told I could only keep one item I would be devastated but I would keep the family picture album as it consists of the family linage, and is a symbol of the importance of family.

This exercise helped me to realize just how much family is important to my family culture, along with passing down traditions, customs, and values to my kids.

 

When I think of Research....

When I Think Of Research.....

I have gained an abundance of knowledge regarding research from taking this course, previously my understanding of research was very limited. The very thought of having to sift through a research article or paper brought me dread. After acquiring the skills to be able to break down the different components, and define each section I find myself having more confidence when coming to the task of reading and comprehension. Another important awareness that I have developed from this course is the concept of credibility within the articles and online publications. Examining the quality of online content is essential for any early childhood educator whether they are conducting research or even just reading content to assist with them professionally.

                The nature of doing research and its process has become much easier as I have acquired knowledge of the research design process, as well as the components of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method designs. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from conducting early childhood research is the importance ethics, and special considerations to deliberate when conducting research especially when it involves young children, like the risk benefit equation and informed consent. The design process is more than just conducting research around a specific topic, moral and responsible guide lines must be taken into consideration in order to protect those participants in the process and other who are involved. I encountered many bumps in the road on my journey to understanding research, and conducting the components within the research simulation. The formation of the research question and hypothesis took me some time to configure, as I had a difficult time writing a clear precise research question, however with some guidance from the instructor as to pinpoint exactly what I was trying to study, I was able to reformat my question accordingly. I learned that without a clear research question and hypothesis the whole design process will be in inharmoniousness. That initial segment is the key towards having a cohesive research design as all other parts rely on an effective well-phrased question.

I have had many misconceptions that have been modified as a result of this class, but perhaps the most prevalent is my ability to be able to read and comprehend pieces of research. I can now take the skills I’ve acquired on studying and examining pieces of valid credible research articles to my other courses that will be extremely useful in my professional career.

Research Around The World

The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a virtual university for early childhood research worldwide. Some of the most current topics presently are:

·         Strengthening Africa's contributions to child development research: Overview and ways forward. Child Development Perspectives.

·         Developing an international network to support early childhood development (ECD): Results from experience in Africa

·         Think Locally, Act Globally: Contributions of African Research to Child Development

Each of these topics pertain to the current efforts to encourage and maintain early childhood networks and research in Africa. The goals of these research tactics are to improve the capacity of African countries to attain early childhood programs by laying a strong foundation, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Also, to increase understanding among stakeholders of the importance of children’s early development and learning as a key ingredient in children’s success.

The efforts to promote early childhood and secondary education worldwide takes on a variety of research and projects in order to attain the goal of global education available for everyone. The “Brain Gain” video tells the success stories and the accomplishments of graduates who participated in the ECDVU program.

I found the international article on the World Bank project on efforts for the country of Guyana to be extremely interesting as my family is originally from there. The project proposes a secondary education improvement project for Guyana to strengthen the capacity of secondary school mathematics teachers nationwide, and to increase enrollment in general secondary schools in targeted regions.

The video for Brain Gain is below. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MykI_YQQkdM&list=PLB13EEF302E2C8F23

 

Children with Cancer: Positive Benefits of Camp

 

               Countless research has been conducted over the years towards the cure, treatment, and alleviation of cancer discomfort from children to adults in an effort to overcome an inevitably fatal illness to a life-threatening chronic disease. The aim of these studies was to critically review all research examining the effect of camps on health related quality of life in children with chronic illnesses. Interestingly, a positive research finding for young cancer patients was the beneficial involvements of participants in camp experiences and the reduction of anxiety which helped them to better cope with their terminal illness. Research supports the positive emotional, physical and spiritual benefits of camps and retreats for cancer patients. “A number of strategies have been used to reduce feelings of anxiety experienced by pediatric cancer patients, including “diversions or activities as means of catharsis” (Goertzel & Goertzel, 1991, p. 538). One relatively new method that has been used to help children cope with their terminal illness has been the development of summer camp programs designed especially to meet their needs.” (Winfree, Williams, & Powell 2002). Although, there is not a cure for cancer yet I found this discovery made by research efforts to be truly uplifting towards creating a support system, while helping young children reduce disease related anxieties, and boost self-confidence.

 References

 Winfree, Christy, Powell Gwynn, Williams Richard. (2002). Children with Cancer - Positive Benefits of Camp. Retrieved from http://gpowell.myweb.uga.edu/Cancer_Nov_2002.htm

Bekesi, Andrea. (2011). Health Related quality of life changes of children and adolescents with chronic diease after participation in therapeutic recreation camping program. Retrieved from http://www.hqlo.com/content/9/1/43