Final Thoughts
Well, this course has now come to an end. Being able to share ideas and learn about different parts of the world was rather rewarding. Learning about the international programs and issues regarding the early childhood field was enlightening. Professionally I think it helped me realize that the problems there are in the U.S. are about the same problems that are seen throughout the world. Knowing that we are not in the struggle alone was very comforting. On a personal level I liked learning and reading about other countries because I was able to see what efforts and ideas were being made and see where we might slacking or realizing that we were approaching something in a different way. Another thing that I enjoyed about learning about the international early childhood field was how different countries viewed education in general. From speaking with my international contact and reading about other people’s experiences and conversations with their contacts, it made me realize that some countries have education as a priority while other countries might place early childhood education on the back burner. Seeing how other countries manage education was also eye-opening. A negative consequence to working with international contacts was that not everyone was able to find international contacts to interact with. When most of the group had to do the alternative assignment, it seemed like everyone was posting the same information in different words. I think it would have been great if there were more people willing to answer questions and share information.
A goal we should make for our field is to be in constant communication with one another. From this I have realized that even if we are millions of miles away, we are fighting the same battles. If we are in constant communication we can share ideas, goals, and dreams for our children all over the world. Keeping informed is the first step in taking action. I hope I can continue to gain more information about what is going on in the world’s education. Together we might go slower but farther.
Teaching Cafeteritos 