Role of Teachers in Free Playtime in Early Childhood Education

This research work aims to evaluate the role of teachers during free playtime in early childhood education. The study focuses on how a teacher can implement approaches during the free playtime that result in the learning and development of young children. The research questions, justification, setting, ethical considerations, data collection, and data analysis are discussed in detail.

EDU4TR1 Assessment task 2
ASSESSMENT TASK – 2 (RESEARCH PLAN)
1. Determination of the research question
Talking in relation to the research question, it is referred as the question that the
project is being established to answer. Selecting the accurate and correct research question is
an important component of both qualitative and quantitative study. In addition to this,
research will need data accumulation as well as evaluation and the methodology for this will
differ extensively (Andrew, Pedersen & McEvoy, 2018). Good research question pursues to
make improvement in knowledge on a significant topic and are generally thin as well as
precise. Some of the research questions that are being answered in the current research work
are as follows:
 What is the concept of play in early childhood education?
 What is the importance of play in the development of a child?
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 What are the views and perceptions of preschool teachers regarding free time play in
early childhood?
The main research question which will be answered in the present study is to understand the
role being played by the teacher in free time play in the early childhood?
In the present research work, the main focus of the study is to ascertain and evaluate
the role of teachers during free playtime in early childhood education. Thus, the main
question here is how a teacher can implement approaches during the free play time that result
in the learning and development of young children. It is also crucial to know and understand
their views along with perceptions about their contribution towards playtime in the learning
of the children. The development of the child and play has an important role to play and thus,
it is very crucial to understand the relation between the two terms (Creswell, 2019). The
school or the institution which has a history of the structured teacher-driven curriculum will
help from this study to incorporate ways through which teacher can make an important
contribution during the free playtime in early childhood education. Thus, these are being
regarded as important practitioner focussed research questions that are being answered in the
present research work.
2. Justification
There have been a lot of studies that have mentioned the significance of play as well
as the association between adults as well as children throughout playtime. In the early
childhood education curriculum in Australia, child education is being encouraged by the
Ministry of National Education. In addition to this, it has also been stated that children learn
and develop by play in their early childhood ages. According to Collins (2016), in the
curriculum, free activity time is allocated in their daily schedules. Nevertheless, there are
limited number of studies being undertaken in relation to the active utilization of that time,
the role of preschool teachers and their knowledge in regards to what be done by them
throughout the free playtime. In addition to this, managers and superintendents along with the
educators would not have awareness in the context of the manners they are being involved in
the education of children. According to Fleer (2015), managers and superintendents in fact
does do not have knowledge in corned with the significance of free play time and
requirements of varied roles that they already possess. In other sense, most of the teachers
might not have adequate understanding that they are required to collaborate with the children
during their play time as they can just observe them (Kothari, 2014).
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In the present research work, it has been aimed to elucidate what pre-preschoolers
think in regards with the play along with the fplay time in the early childhood education and
learning. The report also focussed on the views, beliefs and perceptions of the teachers of
utilizing free play in educational settings. Through this approach, the viewpoint along with
the perception of teachers in relation with the free play time can be evaluated for
comprehending the present condition. Other than this, the outcomes of the research work
might offer an idea to the managers and superintendents of the pre-schools along with the
policy makers designers of the education curriculum for pre-school teachers to revaluate their
present practices and policies (Smith, 2018). In addition to this, the pre-teachers might get a
chance to have acquaintance about the differences if any, amid what they say, what they
perform along with what they perform in the real sense.
Moving further, the outcomes of the current research work make an important
contribution to the literature as although perceptions of the varied teachers in regards with the
play have been investigated, nevertheless observations about their roles throughout the free
playtime have not been examined sufficiently. Thus, it can be said that the current research
study will help in revising their present practice and later their implications, if they thing it is
essential. The next reason of carrying out their research works is nothing but to explain what
has been done by pre-school teachers in the free playtime of free activity time. Through this,
information in relation with the difficulties being faced by the teachers while practicing their
job can be determine which in turn might draw the attention of administrators and authorities.
3. Setting and
In the present research work, both primary and secondary data was being collected by
the researcher for the purpose of fulfilling the main aim of the study. Focussing in relation
with the secondary research, in this context different peer reviewed literature reviews in
regards with the topic have been evaluated by the researcher (Brink, 2015). On the other
hand, the primary research was being conducted on the teachers of one of the educational
institutes of Australia. 10 early childhood teachers were being engaged in the study as a
sample and they were being selected on the basis of the simple random sampling method.
This method is being selected as it offers an equal chance to all the participants of getting
selected or being a part of the research work. Further, the research was being carried out in
the educational institute itself by conducting the survey through a questionnaire. It includes
close-ended questions and all information regarding the study was being given through
emails and phones.
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The setting along with the participants plays an important role in this research study.
setting includes the physical, social along with the experimental context within which the
study is being performed. Setting plays an important role as the whole research work,
outcomes along with the interpretations are heavily dependent on it. Further, participants
being involved in the study are important as they are main source of information on which the
interpretations were built.
4. Ethical considerations
Speaking in relation with the ethical consideration, it is being referred as the set of
principles that helps the researcher in offering direction to the research design as well as
practices. It is important that investigator should always comply with the certain code of
conducts while accumulating information from the people. In addition to this, research ethics
plays a very crucial role in the current research work as well. it is the matter for scientific
integrity, right of human and dignity (Williams, 2017). Further, the ethical principles ensures
that the participation of the respondents in the research work is not forced, informed as well
as safe for the research areas. The current research study has been done on the basis of
authentic sources to maintain integrity and dignity. Some other ethical considerations are: Inclusion of references – Talking about references, it is one of the most important
steps every researcher should take. In order to achieve ethical aspects, detailed
references list has been provided at the end of the research so that integration and
confidential is maintained. At the end of this study, confidential information has been
highlighted for the purpose of ethical aspects. Hence, it has been noted that data
which is gathered during the research work is not copied from anywhere without
giving them credit it is paraphrased not copied.
 Data privacy – Privacy is the major issue in the research work, in order to maintain
the privacy of data and protecting it in every aspect, the researchers has kept the data
secure. All the important information about respondents have been kept private to
maintain dignity (Suri, 2020).
5. Data collection
Articulating about the data collection, it is being referred as the process of
accumulating, measuring as well as evaluating precise understandings for the study through
making use of validated techniques. The research question and objectives of the study are
being evaluated on the basis of the information being collected. In addition to this, data
collection is the most vital section of any research because of the fact that it helps in
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authenticating the issues in relation with the gap being identified in the study (Saunders,
Lewis & Thornhill, 2019). Moreover, it is being regarded as the most crucial part of the study
as it allows the researcher to make some important decisions regarding the overall study.
Data collection is all about collecting and gathering important information and data from all
the relevant and essential sources so that researcher can find out about the answers relating to
the problems of research. It is the most important stage in research methodology, because this
can show howinformation has been collected and used and also highlight about analytical
approach which is applied by the researcher.
As there are majorly two types of data collection which can be used by researcher to
find out results. For addressing research objective data, it is very essential to use effective
methods like primary and secondary data (Blumenberg and Barros, 2018). By using both the
data collection method, researcher can be able to plan and estimate in an effective manner.
With the help of primary and secondary data, the researcher ensure accuracy and facilitate
data analysis. Talking about primary data it is the type of data which can be collected by
researchers directly from the important sources through surveys, interviews and also
experiments. This is the best kind of data method which can be for finding out present
qualitative data collection. While on the other side, secondary data can be collected from the
sources like books, internal records, publications done by government (Bajpai, 2016).
To achieve the objective of current study, both primary and secondary data collection
method has been taken into consideration. For the current research project both primary and
secondary data has been used to identify the accurate data about participants. By using both
the data collection method, the researcher can easily achieve the objectives set by them. The
survey has been done on 10 participants with the help of survey method through the means of
questionnaire. For secondary data, by using journal articles and websites, the research has
been done successfully. Furthermore, with the help of previous data about early childhood
education will be assessed for developing brief thesis. The types of data which have been
collected will help to provide the information about the data which has been collected in
important manner. Both the primary and secondary data collection methods have been
collected in appropriate manner. It has been identified that with the help of proper framework
of the research analysis there are aspects which are related to considering that the data
collection methods and research methodology is important for the research in significant
manner. It has been also observed that the research will help in creating value for the research
as the data has been collected by undertaking the participants which will help in providing the
appropriate information.
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Teacher Practice Observations Reflections
1. The teacher has practiced
the concerns regarding the
aspects related to continuing
the research.
It has been observed that
primary and secondary data
collection methods have been
used.
I have identified that the
primary and secondary data
collection methods are
initialized within the data
collection methods.
2. The teacher has noticed the
key points which have been
taken in the research.
It has been observed that the
survey was done which helped
in initiating to frame the
questionnaire with 10
participants.
I have collected the viewpoint
of the participants which has
helped me to conduct the
research in appropriate
manner.
6. Data analysis
Talking in relation with the data analysis, it is being referred as an important method
of evaluating the gathered information in relation with the topic undertaken. There are mainly
tow methods of analysing the collected information that is qualitative and quantitative
analysis. Quantitative analysis is number or numerical based. The information being
extracted from this method of evaluation is measurable and countable. On the other hand,
qualitative analysis is based on language and description (Denscombe, 2017). The
information being extracted from this method of evaluation is not measurable as it involves
subjective interpretation. Quantitative data is fixed as well as universal whereas qualitative
data is subjective as well as unique. As far as the current research work is concerned, the
researcher has looked for the subjective and unique information that is the perception, belief
and views of the teachers in relation with the play and its importance in the learning,
education and development of the children. The researcher was also focussed on determining
the role of teacher in free playtime in early childhood (Graziano & Raulin, 2016).
Considering this, the researcher has selected qualitative data analysis technique for
interpretating and evaluating the collected data from the primary research being conducted.
There are different methods through which qualitative analysis can be performed by the
researcher. However, for the present research work, the researcher has adopted thematic
analysis tool. It is being referred as an important tool which allows the investigator to
approach large information sets more effortlessly through sorting them in comprehensive
themes (Myers, 2018). In addition to this, thematic analysis was being selected as it offers lot
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of flexibility in interpretation of information. Some of the themes that were being derived
from the study are as follows: Play is important for social and physical development of
children, Play is incorporated in the daily schedule of young general during their activity
time, Learning and development of children is being supported by play, teacher has an
important role to play in free time play, teacher has a stage manager and co-player role during
the free play time in early childhood education
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Questionnaire
Demographic information:
Name:
Age:
Gender:
1. In your view do you think play is important for children?
 Social development
 Physical development
 Emotional development
 Cognitive development
2. Do you incorporate play into their daily schedule and how?
 Play during arrival time
 Play during activity time
 Play during free time
 Play during departure time
3. Does free play time support children learning and development in your institute?
 Yes
 No
4. As per your opinion, does the teacher has an important role in free time play?
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 Yes
 No
5. What role does a teacher play during free time play in early childhood?
 Stage Manager role
 Onlooker role
 Co-player role
 Uninvolved role
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