This research methodology: I will be employing
a research design that is qualitative; it is situated to
explore the situation, such as combining play-based learning with the
emergent curriculum, and to also understand the experiences, perspectives,
and practices that educators and students gain from it. This research design
will allow me to search in-depth while gaining as much information as
possible to have all the necessary answers to finalize successful research
for this long essay. The data collection is based on semi-structured
interviews that will be conducted with the early childhood educators
and the Learning Support Educators (LSE), who both work with the young
students. Having their beliefs, thoughts, and practices related to play-based
learning and the emergent curriculum shared will help fully fill my question.
These interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed for
analysis. Observations are also part of my research. This will
be done by observing and engaging in the classroom to witness first-hand how
play-based learning and the emergent curriculum are implemented. It will be
done by taking detailed notes to document activities and interactions. Only
for the purpose of this research. In addition to the interviews, there will
also be the option to use questionnaires (optional) for data
collection. These will be passed on to the participants just in case they
would prefer it instead of doing the interview. It has the same aim as the
interview questions: to gain a broader insight into their perceptions and
experiences. Data Analysis: After this process, the data will
undergo thematic analysis by analysing all the data as outlined previously
from the data collected through interviews, observations, and questionnaires
(if used). All ethical considerations will be taken seriously
by ensuring the participants’ privacy by distributing an informative consent
form with all the information needed, starting with the purpose of this study
and the procedure.
Literature
Review: Since I will be working with a qualitative design, it also
contains a literature review, which is a theoretical foundation. In this
context, the review will consist of early childhood education, play-based
learning, and the emergent curriculum that will offer information from the
existing research. By doing this, I will be comparing my work and findings
with the recent studies in this field.
To conclude, this research methodology is used
to provide a comprehensive understanding of how play-based learning and the
emergent curriculum are implemented in early childhood education. It will
also address the challenges, practices, and potential benefits that are being
faced by the educators. The study aims to explore experiences while helping
me, as an educator, and others to better understand this pedagogical approach
and its impact on young students.
Interviews/ questionnaire I am aiming to do – 7 in total.
Observations: 2 classes in the kindergarten settings.
I
will outline mostly the best environment to teach the emergent curriculum,
best resources to use, what parents should know and what are the educators’
challenges and finally, what is the best learning outcome to be taught to
help students enhance their knowledge and achieve their full potential.
