Returning to work and school has proven to be difficult coming from a two week holiday. I have been spending quality time with my family, relaxing, and enjoying each day with all its activities. Getting back to the routine was a little harder than usual. I definitely enjoyed every moment at home with my family.
This weeks assignment was to contact two early childhood professionals outside the United States. My goal over the next few weeks is to grow in my understanding of their perspectives on issues and trends explore in my course. I immediately started my search for these professionals that I will learn from and in turn will share information with my colleagues. I have emailed and emailed 15 different early childhood professionals with no end result. No responses, delivery failures, and returned emails have saddened and have stressed me out. Since I was unable to establish contact with international early childhood professionals I had no choice but to move on with the alternative part to this assignment.
World Forum is a foundation which promotes an on-going global exchange of ideas of quality services for young children in diverse settings. I listened to several podcasts and have emailed two professionals. I hope to hear from them soon.
I, too, experienced disappointment with ALL undeliverable email returns. However, after reading others' experiences I have been enlightened with new opportunities of branching out to establish professional contacts. One way being, to use social media as a branching tool as well as to contact previous collegiate professionals in hopes they have recommendations for connections! Maybe you can attempt this option before proceeding to the alternative option, just an idea! :-) However, I did investigate the alternative option and the podcasts are really neat!! I think either way that is still a great way to establishing professional contacts!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck and thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh, and by the way I LOVE your six word description "Chalk Dust Runs Through My Veins" - such a creative depiction of your passion for teaching!
Shawna Kushner
Melanie,
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you in my group again. I'm sorry to hear that you did not have success with the contacts but when I read the alternative assignment, the podcasts did seem like they would be interesting. If you want to try some contacts again, you may want to try the International Society on Early Intervention. I posted this on the student lounge so you may have tried this already. They have a member directory with emails of all their members and the countries where they are located. I had success with this organization. Just a thought. Just as Shawna stated above, other people have had success with social media or going through friends in the early childhood field. Talk to you soon. Good luck!
Mary Jo
I have also had no luck in contacting two professional contacts for this class, not even one! I'm not going to let it stop me, let's continue to go forward and maybe someone will answer out email. I have sent over fifteen emails out and the only think I receive back is an error or undeliverable. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLike you most of us have had a hard time getting in contact with early childhood professionals. I am not ready to do the alternative assignment and hope that I will be able to contact someone this week. If someone contacts me this week I will forward the information to you. I think when we all finally get in contact with someone we all will learn new experience from around the world.
ReplyDeleteLooks like even though you did not receive a response you have already took measures to take the alternative option. I hope to hear back from the professionals through email; however, It appears that you will not be alone in going forward to option #2, for a lot of us have not heard back from the professionals as well.
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