One Small Square and a Topic of Wonder:
Creating Equity and Access to the Sciences for Young Children
Presenter: Nanette Schonleber
Presenter Status: Faculty
Academic Year: 19-20
Semester: Spring
Department: Early Childhood Studies
Funding Source/Sponsor: RSCAP
Abstract:
| The goals of the project were to lessen the opportunity gap and provide equity and access to the sciences and the natural world for diverse young children by providing professional development opportunities to preschool teachers and supporting the development of a community of practice. Participants included 3 early childhood educators and 16 preschool-age children in a preschool serving low income families in Sonoma County . Qualitative and quantitative measures were used for data collection and grounded theory provided a foundation for our analysis strategy. Data collection included video-recording and analysis of the participants working with children and the use of pre and post measures of learning. As of the submission of this document, we are completing our data collection and beginning our data analysis. Initial analysis shows higher self efficacy scores in the area of teaching the sciences and feeling comfortable in using the natural world as a teaching venue. |