- Reflect on what you learned about “real life” in doing this assignment? How has taking this class changed the way you think, feel or behave in your own life or career?
Upon taking this class I wasn’t sure what I was in for. I had a general idea of what might be discussed. I’ve learned how people develop, and why they might do, say, or think something. I know why I feel or think something. It’s helped me to be able to better understand not only my co-workers, but family and friends as well.
- How has taking this class enhanced or your understanding of developmental psychology? How will you use this information in the future?
I plan to use it to enhance my interactions with everyone I know or may encounter in everyday life. I am able to better process the way I should deal with frustrated children in order to be the most productive. I use all this information to better understand myself and my needs as I continue to get older.
Abecedarian Project
The most important thing, I believe, I learned is this: early childhood education is important. Much more important than previously believed. It’s upsetting to know it took until the 1960’s for people to realize that education can make or break a person. It took President Lindon B. Johnson to look at the impoverished community and say something is wrong.
It is an eye opener. What really caught me is what were people teaching before the Head Start program? Just the basics of reading and writing? Why were things so bad in schools? Was it just in poorer communities?
It made me realize that finding a good early program for my future children is a must. That or I need to learn what I can and should do to give my future kids the advantage I wish for them. I went on to research programs for infants and children that offer a more Abecedarian approach, I found there aren’t as many as I hoped to find in the Salt Lake City area.
It’s very clear here that the benefits of early childhood education are important. The Abecedarian Project was very successful. They took kids that were more likely to be at risk and gave them something that made them successful in their own lives. After what sounds like a few intensive years of stimulation they were able to increase the chances of them graduating high school and moving on to college.
These scientist followed them for years to see what just those few short years would do for them. It worked wonders. They were actually able increased their intelligence in comparison to their peers who didn’t have the special treatment. This alone gave them a huge foot forward when they began elementary school. Overall it made them better people who are now productive citizens.
In the Ted Talk video he explains what the financial effects of a high quality preschool would look like. He shows an example of how much money it would take to put into it. He then turns right around and shows what the return is on it. It’s a significant amount. Yes return we wouldn’t see for several years but, if we put in the effort now, it’s well worth the wait and effort in the end.
His video makes me wonder why better preschools and teachers aren’t readily available. Researchers have shown how beneficial it is to have them. It could add jobs to a community, this creates a demand for more teachers and professionals. If it is done right people will hear about how great a preschool and program they have, which results in more people wanting to move to the area. Creating the need for the community to grow, and promoting even more jobs.
Another question I have is, why aren’t there more daycare facilities that give the type of stimulation that an infant needs to help them reach their full intellectual capacity? He talks about how it not only helps the child but helps the whole surrounding community without them needing to do really much of anything. He gives a great example about how it would work and how people don’t even need to change their own education. All it would cost is a little bit extra taxes.
I feel that if we were able to get people educated on just the effects of the Abecedarian Project, the Head Start programs, and other similar early childhood education, people would start to question why they aren’t around as well. Why isn’t it around? If the benefits are so substantial why not? Yes it does cost more but the benefits definitely outweigh the initial cost.
From personal experience I know the effects on education. My boyfriend, Ian, went to a high school in a richer community. I went to school in Tooele. Hearing about how different his schooling was just 45 minutes away from me is amazing. They had much better access to almost everything imaginable. From the elective classes offered, to biology labs, everything was much higher quality. I felt behind in the beginning when I heard the things that they had learned in high school and grade school. Had I not been able to take a few college credits while attending high school I may have stayed behind.
It was made prevalent when we hit college. Ian is so much more equipped for college than I. He is able to stay focused better, does assignments quicker, and understands concepts better than I do. The only thing I can think was different between us, other than his mother being an extremely productive parent, is he grew up in a better education system.
Once I began to realize this, I decided I would never send my kids threw a school system that doesn’t have the programs and skills that will get my kids up to speed or ahead in the real world.
Works Cited
Head Start History [Video file]. (n.d.). Ridgewood. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0pNlACUXkI
Abecedarian Study [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YyZ8FkFsK4
The Economic Case for Preschool [Video file]. (2012, September). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from https://www.ted.com/talks/timothy_bartik_the_economic_case_for_preschool
Adult Outcomes as a Function of an Early Childhood Educational Program: An Abecedarian Project Follow-Up. (2012, January 16). Adult Outcomes as a Function of an Early Childhood Educational Program: An Abecedarian Project Follow-Up. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989926/.
Kaitlin Weyland 