Education Commons^™

Who Am I In The Eyes Of The World? A Comparative Study Of Pre-Service Teachers' Perceptions Of Early Childhood Educators' Professional Status In Their Community. Australian And American Perspectives, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Serena Davie, J Waggoner, Tracy Treasure, Linda Cranley

Dee O'Connor

This research provides an insight into the perceptions held by pre-service teachers on the professional status of early childhood educators in their community. As a comparative study, it presents results from both Australian and American perspectives.

It is the first research of its kind in studying pre-service teachers’ perceptions of ECEC teacher’s status in relation to the Australian context or in comparing perspectives from Australia and the USA.

The paper illuminates on two main points. It presents findings on multiple level pre-service teachers’ perceptions of early childhood educators’ professional status in their community and also examines how the perceptions gathered …

Playing For High Stakes: Findings From The Irish Neighbourhood Play Research Project And Their Implications For Education, Doireann O'Connor, M Mccormack, P Maclaughlin, J Angus, V O'Rourke

Dee O'Connor

The Irish Neighbourhood Play Research Project included almost 1700 families and 240 communities throughout Ireland. The findings hold clear implications for educational policy and practice. Using surveys, interviews and naturalistic observation, data was secured on how children in modern Ireland aged 0 - 15 are playing. An all-island approach was taken incorporating cities, towns and rural areas across a variety of socio-economic groupings. Interesting findings arose from the data relating to generational differences in levels of freedom, play, exercise, engagement with risk, with nature, with scheduled/timetabled extracurricular activities, with homework, with electronics, with creative activities and with traditional play types …

We Are All Educators...Or Are We? Changes In Perceptions Of The Childcare Sector By Australian Pre-Service Teachers Following Professional Exposure To Educational Practice Within Childcare Settings, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Dee O'Connor

This paper presents the findings of a research project investigating the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the childcare sector. It presents the views of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within childcare following a ten week practicum. The personal experiences of the research participants impacted greatly on their evolutionary understanding of and attitude towards the Childcare Sector.

It offers a contribution to the developing body of research relevant to the Australian Government policy that requires qualified teachers to be employed in Childcare Services by 2014. This policy evolved as a …

Teachers Who Care And Carers Who Educate. Professional Status Issues And Differences In Pay And Conditions Are Resulting In A Tale Of Division Within Our Early Childhood Community, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Dee O'Connor

This paper presents the findings of a research project that investigated the views of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within professional Childcare. A mixed methods approach was employed. Thirty students in their third year of a four year teaching degree at The University of Notre Dame, Australia were surveyed and interviewed before and after embarking on a ten week practicum within the Childcare sector.

A key finding of the study was that there is currently great division within the Western Australian Early Childhood Education sector. This division has arisen following a recent …

Creativity In Childhood: The Role Of Education, Doireann O'Connor

Dee O'Connor

Creativity in adults is highly valued in our society. Personal creativity contributes toinventiveness, innovation, social and cultural change as well as political development andeconomic progression. The creator is an innovator, a problem solver, an entrepreneur, anartist. Creative people have rapid and effective responses that help them to achieve their life goals and allow them to enjoy the journey. Creativity is both a skill set and a unique and individual personality structure that is developed throughout childhood and fine tuned in adolescence and adulthood. Education has a key role to play in its development. Positive creativity inspiring experiences at every stage …

Shall We Play Us And Them Or All Together Now? Leadership Opportunities For Cohesiveness And Unity Within A Fractured Western Australian Early Childhood Education Sector, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Dee O'Connor

This paper presents the qualitative and quantitative findings of a research project that examines the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the Childcare sector. It presents the experience based position of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within Childcare following a ten week practicum.

It offers a contribution to the evolving body of research relevant to a recent Government decision that requires the employment of qualified teachers in all Childcare Services by 2014. This decision came about as a response to the 2006 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and …

A Pedagogy Of Freedom: Why Primary School Teachers Should Embrace Educational Emancipation, Doireann O'Connor

Dee O'Connor

Rich stories of learning journeys that arose from a Life History Research Project resulted in the development of a growing awareness on the part of the author in the role that freedom can productively play within the primary school classroom. The stories that adults told of their most memorable learning experiences almost exclusively occurred outside of the classroom within play and social situations where they were free to engage in a meaningful and personalised learning experience. Learning stories involving risk and even danger, conflict and resolution, freedom from supervision and responsibility as a self-regulated mantle of growing maturity were common …