Early Childhood Education: Teacher Attitudes towards STEM Education

This report delves into the realm of early childhood education, specifically examining teachers' attitudes toward STEM education. The research employs a constructivism paradigm and descriptive research design to explore teachers' perceptions. The report analyzes an annotated bibliography, highlighting studies conducted in Singapore and elsewhere, which reveal the importance of STEM education in developing children's problem-solving and intellectual skills. Data collection techniques, including literature reviews and case studies, are discussed, with an emphasis on the strengths and limitations of each. The report also examines a case study of curriculum innovations in a Chinese kindergarten, focusing on school-based curriculum development. The findings underscore the need for increased STEM education in early childhood settings to enhance children's capabilities and prepare them for future challenges. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the current state and future directions of STEM education in early childhood.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION

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Table of Contents
Question-1........................................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Research paradigm and method.......................................................................................................2
Annotated bibliography...................................................................................................................3
Data collection techniques...............................................................................................................4
Strengths and limitations of literature review..............................................................................6
Strengths and limitations of case study technique.......................................................................6
Question-2........................................................................................................................................6
Introduction......................................................................................................................................6
Research problem............................................................................................................................7
Research Question...........................................................................................................................7
Research design...............................................................................................................................7
Appropriateness of research method...............................................................................................8
Quality of methods and procedure...................................................................................................8
Results..............................................................................................................................................9
Comparison of Qualitative research methods..................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Question-1
Introduction
Early childhood education is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of
children from birth up to the age of eight. Early childhood, defined as the period from birth to
eight years old, is a time of remarkable growth with brain development at its peak (Turner,
Cawley, Richard, Kirk, & Stone, 2018). In this report, “what are early childhood teacher’s
attitudes towards STEM education?” research question is selected. The discussion is made on
describing the research paradigm and method which is best suited in answering the research
question. The annotated bibliography which is relevant to the chosen research question is also
analyzed.
Research paradigm and method
The research paradigm and method is the approach which help the researchers to get the
accurate information and to answer the question in efficient manner. Therefore the selection of
paradigm is done based on the method which is used for achieving the objective of performing
the research (Bakken, Brown, & Downing, 2017). For answering the present question which
includes “what are early childhood teacher’s attitudes towards STEM education?” constructivism
research paradigm is considered efficient to get the aim and answer of the teacher’s opinions and
perception. It is because this theory is based on the observation and studying or reviewing the
different perceptions and attitudes of the authors regarding the particular matter (Burchinal,
2018).
In this research question to get the findings of the authors about the perception of
teacher’s different methodologies is used in the different study so that answer will be get through
adopting the critical analysis method. This paradigm best suited for describing the information
and activities occurred in the real word that is early childhood teachers perception regarding the
education is the problem or the concern involved in the real world (Wood & Hedges, 2016). In
this descriptive research design is used because of describing the complete information through
the analysis and evaluation. The other approach is research method, to find the accurate and valid

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answer secondary method in which articles are reviewed to understand the research and study
conducted by them regarding the attitude towards STEM education of the early childhood
teachers. It is because early childhood teachers believe that there are differences about the age,
experience as well as gender to provide the STEM education in the early childhood centers
(Saracho, 2017). This secondary method is selected due to defining the core of the subject matter
and to evaluate the related aspects include with this subject area.
Annotated bibliography
Karoly, L. A. (2016). The economic returns to early childhood education. The Future of
Children, 43(3), 37-55
The early childhood education teachers adopted different strategies to educate the
children it is because teachers revealed that it the most important time period of the children
between the birth to eight years to develop and grow (Karoly, 2016). Therefore, it is difficult for
the teachers to teach the children according to their interest and subject area as well as to satisfy
themselves regarding the selection of appropriate technique of teaching. The objective of the
study is to understand the teacher’s attitudes about the STEM education. The study was
conducted in Singapore it is because not much of the research is conducted in this region. For
conducting the research interpretivism philosophy is selected and information gathering is done
through conducting the interview from the respondents that is primary method is selected for
data collection (Karoly, 2016).
The 89 early childhood teachers were selected from different schools and centers. For
analyzing the data pilot testing method is used so that data is evaluated in effective manner.
From the analysis, it is revealed that teachers believed that there should be increase the education
of the “science, technology, engineering and mathematics” because of increasing the capabilities
of the children to develop their problem solving and intellectual skills since childhood (Karoly,
2016). The findings are relevant for the Singapore context because majority of the teachers in
Singapore are agreed with raise in the role of STEM education in classroom.

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Kemple, K. M. (2017). Social studies, social competence and citizenship in early childhood
education: Developmental principles guide appropriate practice. Early Childhood
Education Journal, 45(5), 621-627
There is increasing education of the science and technology in different region because of
developing the overall growth of the child in the modern society. Therefore the present study is
focusing on describing the application and relevancy of STEM education and the perception of
the early childhood educators (Kemple, 2017). The study was collected by selecting 10 early
childhood education centers the information gathering is done through taking interview as well
as by describing different cases of the region to understand the teachers opinions. In this study
experimentation research design is used and analysis is done by selecting t-test. The findings
revealed that teachers are agreed to increase the STEM education in classroom it is because of
the estimation describes that majority of the children are unemployed with the STEM degree and
after that it is become difficult for the teachers to teach the students this education due to lack of
basic education about STEM (Kemple, 2017).
Researchers demonstrate that it is important to understand the common knowledge of the
technologies and teachers also revealed that in early childhood centers education will be
provided to give basic understanding of the mathematical operations which are considered
significant and relevant for the daily life. The study and results of the research is linked with the
Singapore because there is lack of STEM education in early childhood centers and still there is
less number of people having STEM education degree (Kemple, 2017). Therefore teachers can
also use their skills and information to maintain discipline in the better environment to solve the
problem and maintain power as well as value in the various procedures.
Data collection techniques
The data collection technique is the method which supports the researches to understand
the technique which is used for data collection. In this technique researchers collect the
significant information about the subject matter for managing reliability and accuracy of the
study (Burchinal, 2018). Therefore, there are two types of methods such as primary and
secondary method in which there are several techniques which is selected by the researchers
according to their appropriateness and suitability (Cekaite & Bergnehr, 2018). Therefore, to

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collect the information and to answer the research question secondary method is used. In which
literature review and case studies technique will be used.
According to Ravanis teacher’s opinion regarding the STEM education is positive
(Ravanis, 2017). It is because they believed that it should be increased and provided in the early
childhood education to provide not just the knowledge of science, technology as well as
mathematics but also include the disciplines involved with this education so that children will be
developed and there is increased number of STEM degree (Ravanis, 2017).It conducted the study
to understand the perceptions ad teachers attitudes towards the STEM education, it s because not
much initiatives is taken to increase the STEM education in the early childhood centers (Warin,
2019). Therefore through the analysis, researches describe that STEM education should be
provided by situating the lessons of science and engineering in more motivating and engaging
context. Researchers also describes that it increase the capability of the individual to learn and
increase knowledge through the problem and mistakes involved (Warin, 2019).
García, Heckman, & Ziff conducted the research to examine the teacher’s attitude about
the STEM education, it is because this subject area is increased and allows the teachers to
increase various skills and knowledge of the children (García, Heckman, & Ziff, 2019). The data
collection is done through primary and secondary method that is information is gathered through
interview and literature review technique. Through the analysis it is demonstrate that teachers
believe that STEM education is important because it increase the capability and ability of the
students to invest the solutions so the relevant problems and raise the ability of the children to
get various solution regarding the challenges evolved (García, Heckman, & Ziff, 2019). The
study demonstrates that teachers can increase the children role in STEM education.
The objective of the study is to get the information about the real world that is educator’s
behavior regarding STEM education (Masmuzidin & Abdul Aziz, 2018). To answer the research
question case study method is also used that is International centers for early childhood in
Singapore takes the initiatives to increasing the roe and importance of STEM education, the
teachers also takes various initiatives in developing children between birth to eight year age
group. This result in increasing the intellectual skills of the children and raise the capability of
the children to solve the complex problems because of sharpen their mind (Masmuzidin & Abdul
Aziz, 2018).

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The other case study is that child care center organized various training classes to raise the
technology knowledge so that the children up to the eight year age have the ability to adopt the
knowledge and become competitive due to using advanced technology (List, Samek, & Suskind,
2018). This make student more advanced it is because teachers believed this can increase the
employment by increasing the STEM education in Singapore.
Strengths and limitations of literature review
There are various strengths of the literature review which includes it helps in providing
more information regarding the particular topics in short period of time. It also supports the
researchers to find the suitable technique, time and money for achieving the objective of
conducting the study (Sims, 2017). It also has some limitations that are there is difficulty in
finding the appropriate articles and can also leads publication bias. It is because researchers only
review the articles which are available easily and sometimes there is lack of clarity regarding the
methodology used in the study.
Strengths and limitations of case study technique
The case study helps the researchers to get in-depth information regarding the subject
matter and also support high validity. Therefore, it is considered appropriate technique of
understanding the behavior and opinions of the individual regarding the subject matter
(Delalibera & Ferreira, 2019). However, it also has some disadvantages which includes this
technique is considered very expensive and time consuming. In this it becomes difficult to
understand the cause and effect regarding the particular topic so that complete information will
be gathered (García, Heckman, & Ziff, 2019).

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Question-2
Introduction
School-based curriculum innovations have been broadly developed in Chinese
kindergartens it is because several educational authorities in China make alterations in the policy
guidelines to enhance the quality and accuracy of curriculum at all the areas and levels.
Therefore it is done to increase the participation and promotion of the school based curriculum in
the early childhood education area (Karoly, 2016). Therefore, “A case study of modern
curriculum innovations in a Chinese kindergarten” article is selected which is written by
Weipeng Yang and Hui Li in the year 2018. Further, the research question, research problem and
results of the article are discussed.
Research problem
In the study researchers is focuses on research problem and based on understanding the
character as well as nature underlying school-based curriculum development (SBCD) in the
Chinese kindergarten (Yang & Li, 2018). The study was conducted from the perspective of
socio-cultural historical, this problem and subject matter is selected by the researchers because of
increase in the number of factors such as democracy, decentralization, autonomy as well as full
participation. Researchers describes that there was not any guidelines, principles as well as
theoretical preparation was done for the development of SBCD.
Research Question
The research question is based on defining the innovation and creation which is made in the
Chinese kindergarten in the modern society. Therefore, researchers conducted the study by
containing various components and parts which includes experience of learning, instructional
practices (Yang & Li, 2018). The present study describes and focuses on answering some
research questions which includes:-

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 “What are the new innovation guidelines and practices used in the Chinese
Kindergarten?”
 “Describe the nature which is essential and adopted by school-based curriculum by
focusing on socio-cultural historical perspective?”
Research design
In the present study the exploratory research design is used it is because in this study
researchers have general idea regarding the innovation and guidelines developed for SBC as well
as SBCD in China. Through this research can also focus on identifying other related components
involved with the subject matter (Yang & Li, 2018). In the study researchers collected the
information by taking the interview from the teachers of the SBCD kindergarten. The researchers
also adopted observation method in which researchers does 18 observations in the 3 classes to
observe the children as well as teachers because of collecting accurate information about the
Chinese kindergarten. The researchers used qualitative analysis technique to evaluating all the
data so that accuracy will be maintained (Yang & Li, 2018).
Appropriateness of research method
The research method is appropriate because interview method help the researchers to
address the research questions by providing the answers about the innovation in curriculum done
at Chinese kindergarten (Yang & Li, 2018). It also in identifying the routine activities done in
the class, the observation method also support the researchers learning content as well as
resources and methods used by the teachers for providing education to the children. This method
is appropriate and adequate to answer research question due to supporting in understanding
related concepts and components regarding the childhood education (Mukherji & Albon, 2018).
Therefore other related information is also collected through websites, teacher material and
official website of Chinese kindergarten.
Quality of methods and procedure
Researchers used quality methods and procedure it is because these methods describes
and answer three important question which is related to the research question such as measures

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and strategies used by Chinese kindergarten to accomplish the objective of curriculum
(Burchinal, 2018). The method also focuses on identifying the content and structure of
curriculum which help and support the children knowledge and learning. Researchers describes
that for development kindergarten adopt autonomy, confidence, good habits, self-care etc. In this
kindergarten teachers can speak both English and Chinese to provide accurate information
(Yang & Li, 2018).
Results
The findings of the researchers revealed that SBCD in the kindergarten is the dynamic
procedure because of undertaking it by adopting four approaches such as evaluation, integration,
absorption as well as imitation (Yang & Li, 2018). The study also finds that SBC is considered
the appropriate method because of maintaining the connection among the teachers-directed
philosophies as well as child-centered. The results of the article support the conclusion because
the present research support and contribute in describing the outcomes of the procedure as well
as identifying the factors which influence SBCD. The study also demonstrates the strong effect
of initiatives taken by the centers on the curricular practices and approaches (Yang & Li, 2018).
Comparison of Qualitative research methods
To extend and expand the research findings researchers can use the case study research
method it is because this is considered the efficient method for understanding the guidelines and
policies used by the researchers for conducting the study and to achieve the objective of the
study. In the present study the researcher’s focuses on evaluating the structure used by the
teachers to provide education in the kindergarten in China. This research method is also useful
because of understanding the concept in-depth and also supports the researchers in identifying
the research strategy and approaches through which study is conducted in efficient manner
(Fonsén & Soukainen, 2019). This method can expand the findings of the study by investigating
the overall activities and programs adopted by the organization.
This method can support the researchers to evaluate the socio-cultural historical
perspective as well as its strong influence on the Chinese philosophy and belief. Through this
study can also focus on reflecting and promoting the reforms and policy which is used in the

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early childhood education centers. Therefore through this one can understand the innovation and
practices used by Chinese kindergarten in providing the education to the students (Goldstein,
McKenna, Barker, & Brown, 2019). This research method can also support the researchers to
understand the mechanisms and approaches which is adopted in the development of the
curriculum activities by focusing on the both micro as well as macro perspective (Goldstein,
McKenna, Barker, & Brown, 2019). It can also define the activities, competencies which
teachers used to provide education to the children in the schools.
Therefore, to understand the role and significance of the teachers participation in the
different projects to gain insight so that all the curriculum models and structure is used to
influence the educators to make effective decision making in the centers so that accurate better
innovations will be implemented in the kindergarten (Karoly, 2016). It also leads in managing
the coordination among the Chinese philosophy as well as managing the cultural values to
influence the educator’s curriculum decision making approach. Through, this study can also
focus on the cultural differences by connecting their application with the specific practices used
in providing teaching to the children (Turner, Cawley, Richard, Kirk, & Stone, 2018). However,
in comparison this study can also use focus group research method to expand the study findings.
In this researchers used this method because of targeting the market that is only limited
number of respondents is selected. So that study can find the purpose and reason of adopting the
innovation and to adopt the creative guidelines and practices so that accuracy will be maintained.
(Baglama & Demirok, 2016) The one of the advantage of this research method is that in this
researcher does not interact with the group so it is considered most adequate method in
comparison to other research methods. Through this researchers can investigate the case
enquiries to investigate so that additional insight will be gained for the curriculum practices so
that in-depth analysis of the case study is done in an accurate manner (Cekaite & Bergnehr,
2018). Therefore, it can also help the researchers to take the opinions and ideas of the
respondents that is through this beliefs as well as practices of the educators of SBCD in Chinese
kindergarten is evaluated and investigated so that analysis will be done by describing reform
initiatives, curricular activities as well as pedagogical approaches and practices (Delalibera &
Ferreira, 2019).

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The more sample group can also provide support to in understanding the distinctive
approaches as well as features of kindergarten in China (Yang & Li, 2018). To maintain the
balance between socio-cultural historical theory and education practices, this strategy support the
researchers in providing more complete findings because of understanding the better strategy of
detecting as well as evaluating the plans, procedure as well as interrelation through the socio-
cultural historical theory (García, Heckman, & Ziff, 2019). These are the two research method
which support and help in extending the research findings it is because through this overall
practices and approaches which is used in identifying the SBCD guideline in the education
centers is described and increase validation of the study.