ECE Research Assignment 25%

Winter 2024
124 Child Development: 2 to 6 years
Due Date: Check your critical path
This assignment has Group & Individual Components
Proposal & Contract 5% - Group Component
Oral Presentation 10% - Individual
PP Presentation/Written Component 15% - Group Component

Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is for students to have an opportunity to examine growth
and development over time (toddler-kindergartener) and discuss relevant information
together with their findings to demonstrate the integration of theory to practice. Students will
analyze how nature/nurture, culture, as well as patterns of development impact the
preschool child and influences the selection of specific topics of research to support &
inform professional practice.

Rationale:
Students must be prepared to conduct independent/Group research to enhance their
knowledge & help them co-design and implement inclusive learning environments based on
findings to enhance preschoolers’ healthy development & support parenting skills.

Through this assignment, you will also work towards demonstrating the following course
specific learning outcomes (CLOs), Humber Learning outcomes (HLOs), as well as essential
employability outcomes:
▪ apply the principles of development to inform professional practice (LO#2); HLO Skills
in Action: Strategic Problem Solving.
▪ analyze the importance of context as it relates to learning and development and how
children’s behaviour is understood to support individual children’s abilities, interests,
and needs (LO#4); HLO Key Mindsets: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
▪ distinguish the ways in which culture (broadly defined) can influence children’s learning
and development to identify the diverse needs of the child (LO#5); HLO Skills in
Action: Strategic Problem Solving
▪ examine how child development guides early childhood professionals in designing
individually responsive and inclusive programs (LO#6); HLO Key Mindsets:
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
▪ use the milestones/stages of development to guide professional practice (LO#7); HLO
Skills in Action: Professionalism
▪ evaluate how learning and development in children are influenced by multiple
contextual factors (LO#11); HLO Meta Skill: Critical Thinking & HLO Skills in
Action: Communication

ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 1

Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta
 Essential Employability Skills:
• Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.
• Information management, select and use appropriate tools and computer literacy to
complete their research project.
• Analyze & synthesizes the information gathered to answer questions posed to
complete their research process.
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and correctly in writing, oral, and visual form that
fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
• Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.

Instructions:
For this assignment, you will continue to research and evaluate stages of development from
the previous Child Development course, ECE 114. You will need to use readings and class
materials, and the peer review articles (2) selected to complete part 1 (research
proposal) to support the completion of the components of the research assignment.

This assignment has Three parts: Part ONE, Selecting a topic & your group to complete the
Research Proposal for the Group Presentation (Value: 5%). This includes filling out the
group contract.

Part TWO, Group Oral Presentation to present findings and demonstrate oral skills to inform
the target audience on your research topic findings (group members will support each other
to prepare for the oral presentation on the day selected on the singing sheet. Yet the 10%
grade will be on Individual bases. Other group members will help to grade students’
presentations. Attendance is key for the success of this presentation. Your faculty member
will allocate 15 minutes at the end of the session to support students with their preparation &
readiness. Students will also work on a visual to engage their audience during their
presentation. Individual mark (10%)

Part THREE: Students will present their findings in a PP presentation format (15%
group grade. Due weeks 10/11). No extensions beyond week 11. The questions to
answer these components are below.

What to include in your Group proposal?

▪ Topic
o You have to go to BB and sign your names on the research signing sheet and
select your topic of preference (one group (2-3 students) per topic to ensure
original work, one original topic per group.
o Choose one (1) topic from the list below, state it under the sub-heading and write a
statement describing what you intend to achieve that reflects the topic of your
choice. (For example, Children in the preschool years have a great and vivid
imagination. Those that experience sleep pattern difficulties could be impacted
negatively. The focus of this research is to discuss the implications of nightmare and
ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 2
Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta
 night terrors as it relates to the preschool child. Furthermore, this study will explore
who is at a higher risk and how parents can support their child…..).
o Include three questions in your proposal to guide your research process.
Read the learning outcomes above and browse through the chapters of your
textbook for ideas and location of information as it relates to the topic you are
considering (Boyd, D., Johnson, P. A. & Bee, H. L. 2021). Lifespan
development.
Select two journal articles from Humber Libraries to support your
research process. (In class discussion to go over the reading & research
support materials).
o Identify which age range you are focusing on preschooler (2–4-year-old) or
early school-ager (4–6-year-old).

▪ Suggestions to questions to guide the research process & to be included in your

research proposal.
o Reflect on the content of the topic as well as your role as an Early Childhood
Educator. Ask yourself, is the information useful, is it relevant and how would I
use it in practice?
o Ask yourself what you intend to explore then write down a list of 3-4 questions
that you intend to respond to help you achieve your objective and match the
requirements for the assignment and course. I included sample questions in the
template to guide your process.
o For the proposal, focus on how parents can support the child.
▪ Explain why you selected this topic to conduct your research and why you expect to
learn through this specific research process. Since you are working as a group, write,
We Consider this topic…….

**Remember the topic must relate to the preschool child 2–6-year-old! For example, if
you choose the topic of separation or divorce in the family, the research should be on
how these family circumstances could affect the preschooler’s development; the
research should not be on the statistics of divorce and the legalities etc.

Resources and Strategies

o List at least two scholarly sources (use Humber college libraries to get a
reliable source) using APA format, where you will find the information to
answers your research questions. This means you will need to begin
browsing sources right away to scout material that will support you with
your research.
o You may add to this list once you begin your research paper. (This allows the
professor to offer guidance and to make sure the journal articles selected will
help you answer your questions, and the sources meet the C.R.A.A.P. test
requirements)

Submit the Research plan/proposal via BB dropbox as per your course faculty
instructions.

ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 3

Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta
 List of Topics as they relate to the 2- to 6-year-old Child: Select a topic and write
it in the signing sheet posted on BB. Each student must select a unique topic.

❑ Importance of music or art Healthy Development

❑ Toilet training ❑ Attachment & Family Interactions
❑ Full day kindergarten (FDK) ❑ Poverty & the Impact on Child
❑ Literacy Development
❑ Organized sports ❑ Indigenous Worldviews & Child-Rearing
❑ Friendships/peer relations Practices
❑ Supporting self-esteem in the ❑ Bilingualism or second language
preschooler/kindergartner ❑ Behaviour & Positive Guidance
❑ Autism ❑ Worldviews on Preschool Development
❑ Death of a family member (not a
pet) ❑ ADHD
❑ Brain development in preschool or ❑ Child Social Development & the
kindergartner Bronfenbrenner Model
❑ Temperament and Personality ❑ Obesity and the Preschool Child
❑ Mental Health in the Family & the
❑ Speech & Language
Preschooler
❑ Parenting Styles & Child Development
❑ Land Based Learning & Physical
❑ Moral Development
Development
❑ Self-regulation
❑ Fathers Involvement and their
❑ Technology use by the
Influence on Child Development
kindergartner
❑ The Hurried Child
❑ Separation or divorce in the family
❑ Support the Preschooler with
❑ Emotional Intelligence
disabilities.
❑ Democracy and Child Development
❑ Support the Kindergartener with
disabilities.
❑ **For an original topic, check with
❑ Trauma Informed Cared
faculty first
❑ Intergenerational Trauma and
❑ Gender issues/development –
gender development, sex roles
and sex role stereotyping
❑ Importance of nature for the
preschooler/kindergartner
❑ Socio-economic impact on Preschool
Development
❑ Technology use by
the preschooler/

ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 4

Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta
 Research Component
Part Two/Oral Component 10%- Students must present on the day selected on the signing
sheet. While this component is graded as an individual component, students must prepare as a
group to be successful.
Remember that all the answers relate to the topic selected (for example if the topic is autism,
then all answers must connect to that topic)
1. Prepare a visual, this is an original piece, you can create an infographic, pp presentation,
other visual for your component. The time allocated for the group are 7-10 minutes (the
instructor will stop you if you go over 10 minutes). What to include
2. Topic and statement of what you are planning to research.
3. Include the questions from the proposal and provide a brief answer for each. To answer
these questions, avoid blogs, internet sources without an author. You must use the peer
review articles selected, your textbook and other reliable sources.
4. Provide a brief answer of how you will support the child in the classroom. Focus on
inclusive practices that reflect the diversity of children and families.
5. Share a learning experience you will provide to help the child.

Part Three/Group Submission – 15% Research

Written Component.
Due: weeks 10/11

Instructions:
Students on their own time outside of class will research and locate information pertaining to the
topic selected and approved from Part ONE as it relates to the development of children between
2 to 6 years of age.
Since the age range is significant, students are encouraged to focus their topic on its impact on
either the preschool child or a child in kindergarten.

You will also need to revise the SafeAssign report for level or originality (this is important
to avoid plagiarism) to upload the final copy of your work. See your course faculty for
instructions on how to do this.
Reading preschoolers milestones of development will support you to answer the following:

Response to Research Questions

1. State the topic of you research as cited in your Research/Proposal Plan or modified based
on faculty feedback. Include the target age range you focused on and the original topic
statement (with updates as suggested for your instructor).

2. Answer the questions you posed in your proposal with complete responses including in-text
citations to support your learning, findings, and understanding. This section must be
ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 5
Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta
 answered with the support of the two peer review articles selected in your proposal.

3. Consult the HDLH framework, your text, to describe what domain(s), developmental area(s) and skills are
most influenced/impacted by the issue/topic of your research? What might be some signs exhibited by
the child to alert the educator that support is needed? (This prompt relates to the role of the educator
and synthesis of theory)

4. As an Early Childhood Educator, how can you demonstrate responsiveness to the child
experiencing the issue/topic? Consider what would be developmentally appropriate. (This
prompt relates to applying theory to practice)

5. Consult Indigenous knowledge materials provided via BB, to write inclusive practices in the
classroom from an Indigenous perspective.

6. Write a paragraph explaining the learning you achieved through this research process. Would
you do some changes to learn practical knowledge to support preschoolers in the classroom or
are you satisfied with this research learning experience? Explain…

7. Provide an example of a learning experience that addresses the topic/issue selected (e.g.,
speech & language, behaviour….) and can support child’s development. Use the template
provided below to complete question #7.

Template to complete question #7

Title of the Activity:

List the materials you would use for the experience and record what you think the
children will do and talk if they were to explore and play with these materials.

Explain the Activity?

What areas of development will be enhanced and how will address the issues
discussed in your research?

Time & description of the setting/environment where you are planning to set up your
activity.

Remember: the activity must be for the age group selected in your proposal
Submission Checklist for Part Three:
❑ Answer all questions thoroughly.
❑ An electronic submission that includes the following:
❑ Cover page
❑ Research component: question-answer format, research of topic related to 2–6-year-
olds with in-text citations & paraphrasing.
❑ A reference page that includes the course text, class notes, scholarly source stated in
ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 6
Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta
 your proposal

❑ The graded Research Plan/Proposal with faculty feedback must be included.

❑ Revise the SafeAssign report to evaluate level or originality.
❑ Responses are proofread for completeness, spelling/grammar.
❑ Read the rubric!
❑ Submit by the deadline(s) as directed by your course faculty (students that need an extension
must request it in person, one week prior to the due date). This is an expectation that will
support your future employability skills & professional practice.
❑ Important consideration, your submission must be original. If you decide to use CHAT
GPT or any other AI site, be aware that the knowledge the algorithms produce is
considered “synthetic Knowledge” and it can be full of wrong information and analysis
that it is not accurate. Ultimately, you must decide as a future educator, what type of
ethical practices you want to use in your daily interactions and professional written
work.
You have my support and can reach out for guidance or use the Writing Centre services.
They are excellent and waiting to give you a helping hand to submit original and high-
quality work.
Sincerely, Roxana Zuleta

ECE 124 – Child Development: 2 to 6 Years Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Page 7

Research Assignment
Created by ECE Faculty. Last modified by Prof. Roxana Zuleta