Module 7 Assignment Part 2

Module 7 Assignment 2

Talethia Dixon

Walden University

The two types of communication skills that are embody that leads to policy change are listening and emotional awareness. Successful listening means not only hearing what is being said but also understanding the words that are being communicated by the speaker (Helpguide, n.d.). For example; a professor/presenter has a room filled with donors waiting to be convinced to give their money to a particular organization. If the professor/presenter is stumbling over their own words or the message is not making any sense, than the audience will stop listening and focus on other organizations that they feel deserving to receive their money. One will have to keep the audience interested in their presentation and explain how these outcomes will benefit not only themselves the community also. With this form of communication the 7 c’s is an effective tool into getting the message out coherently.

 The 7 c’s as it relates to communication skills are; clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous (Mind tools, n.d.).  Each one of these C’s builds on each other as a foundation for effective communication outside of a person natural environment. The reason I say natural environment “have you ever noticed that you talk differently around family and friends compared to talking with professionals outside of your comfort zone.”  Having the 7 C’s at hand will communicate help a person communicate better. Listening skills is just one form of communication, the other is emotional awareness.  

Emotional awareness provides you the tools needed for understanding both yourself and other people, and the real messages they are communicating to you, by relieve negative emotions and negative feelings, allows for real understanding in order for problem solving to begin (Helpguide, n.d.). Emotional awareness is also a major form of communication. For example; if a person is not passionate about the issue being addressed how could they convince anyone else to be passionate about the same issue? The 7 C’s of communication also relates to emotional awareness. Being passionate and emotional about an issue you will also have to be clear with your issue being presented, be correct with the information being presented (in other words show data to prove your thesis), be concise and coherent in the way you are presenting information.

My opportunities for improvement in relation to these skills are exploring and generating my presentations and issue by the 7 C’s. The reason I came to this conclusion as I took the communication anxiety self-assessment test I knew what the results would tell me, I have anxiety communicating in front of others and staying on topic once I finally have no other choice but to present my issue. This anxiety has hinder me in communicating effectively in the past of issues that have been important to me and the community, but having anxiety just made me seem like a person that has the passion, however flops at presenting it. I now understand that it is process in the making and I have to continue to work on this anxiety in front of large crowds in order to reach one of my goals as advocate for early childhood education.

References

Helpguide.org. (n.d.). Effective communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/effective_communication_skills.htm

Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

MOD7 Assignment Part 1

Social Media

The two social medias I would use in order to communicate my policy issue are Facebook and education blogs. The reason I decided to go with Facebook, because Facebook is one of the world largest social media sites in the world. By using Facebook I can tag all of my family and friends with my issue, in which their can share my information with their family and friends and so on. With blogs I can research the different types of blogs that focuses on my issue and issues related to early education or early intervention. There is very wide selection of blogs from professionals that I can utilize to network to improve the way I network my cause and myself.

My Audience

The audience would reach out to would be: teachers (from early childhood education to professors), education college students, elected officials (locally, state wide, and national), therapist that works with children, and anyone whose profession it is who work with and advocate for children. The reason I would reach out to this group and individuals is because of their knowledge on the importance of early intervention policies and programs for children.

The Benefit

The one benefit of social media is the way information can be distributed around the world to millions of people at one time, just by the click of a button. The example of the benefit; if a parent sees signs of something maybe wrong with their child compared to older siblings or family member children. Social media and other internet outlets are there for the parent to research in the privacy of their own home.

The Challenge

The one challenge with using social media, parents are quick to self-diagnose their child with developmental delays. Individuals who are not in the medical field will give advice to families on what they need to do with the issues they see in their before speaking with a specialist. Example of the challenge; Jane is a senior in college getting a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Jane has friend name Sue who she connects with on a face to face bases and through social networking. Sue has a three year old son who Sue says that he never plays with children just in the same area. Jane tells Sue that her child is parallel playing and that he has developmental delays. Jane source is articles she has read in a book, social media, and google. Jane has only spent one month with Sue’s son in his three years. Sue takes her son to his physician all tells him/her that her son has development delays or autism according to Jane who is neither a physician nor therapist. This scenario is just one of many challenges with social media, everyone has an opinion, however are not qualified to make lasting decision about a child’s development or life.

Dynamics of Early Childhood Policies and Systems

The three goals that might assist me in becoming more effective in my professional role. The three goals that might assist me are; 1) expanding my knowledge about all the aspects of early childhood development, 2) getting a better understanding of the different types of early childhood systems, and 3) help in contributing to policies that would assist early childhood educators all over the country. The way expanding my knowledge in early education outside of the classroom would give me ideas of what is lacking in the field. This goal would also assist me into understanding how each aspect in the early childhood system effect the other in both positive and negative ways. For instance the importance of funding from the government, private, and public organizations, how receiving these funds impact positive outcomes for the child and family. The second goal and how it can help me navigate with early childhood systems is to become more familiar with the different types of systems. Before this class I did not know that there were as many systems in early childhood education. Researching and reading about the different systems have made me think outside of the box as to what type of system my employer has with its early childhood centers. Being able to understand and review how the different systems work for children and their families will help me in the foundations of making a better system for all. The third goal will help me gather the data I need from childcare centers locally to understand what professional development they have used. In the process of researching the data I want to get a better understanding of what has and has not worked for these centers. In order to have quality early education system, policies must be in place for all educators from childcare centers, homes, head start, and childcare ministries to name a few. All of these organizations have one common goal and that is to help educate children and their families. 

Influences of Family, Culture, and Society in Early Childhood (EDUC - 8853 - 1)

Just trying to see if this will work

Ed.D @ Walden University:

Ed.D @ Walden University:

Never forget who you are while teaching children who they are.

It has been a world wind week at work, teaching the children, educating the parents, and being a role model for my coworkers. In all the activities I have been doing in my classroom I forget to give Renee a little time to herself. I am saying to all educators take time for yourself in order to be a better teacher for our children.