This document discusses the introduction of a project component in the Advanced Certificate in Pre-School Education (ACPE) program. The project is intended to help students develop competencies in identifying issues related to early childhood through applied, practical learning. It outlines various areas and topics that could be explored in a project, such as case studies of children or institutions. It also provides guidance on planning a project, including developing aims and objectives, choosing a research method, sampling, data collection techniques like questionnaires and interviews, and writing the final report. Students are encouraged to complete a project related to the ACPE courses, teaching situations, or creative works like storybooks.

1. The Project- EPC 2518
Advanced Certificate in Pre
School Education
(ACPE)
Dr. T. Mukunthan
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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2. A Compulsory component in the ACPE
Programme (Credit rating = 06 credits)
Why project is introduced?
Project Based Learning has now identified as an
effective and enjoyable way to learn and develop
deeper learning competencies required for success in
education as well as in life endeavours
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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3. The Aim and Objectives of introducing “Project”
to ACPE programme
Aim:
To Develop Competencies in, Identifying Nature of
Early Childhood, Problems & Issues in Early
Childhood & in Early Childhood Education.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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4. Thro’ projects students are able to achieve several
following objectives
•
to apply and practice the theoretical knowledge &
skills gained through the teaching learning process.
• develop competencies to identify the problems and
problematic situations related to the early childhood.
• develop competencies to deal with and to find
solutions to the problems and problematic situations
related to the early childhood.
• enhance the capacity to identify the characteristics
and behaviours of early childhood
Objectives of Project of ACPE programme.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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5. Cont…….Objectives of Project of ACPE programme.
• to identify the individual differences in early
childhood and to develop competencies to address
the individual differences .
• to identify the relationship between the environment
and development of early childhood
• to identify the suitable teaching-learning strategies
for early childhood.
• to develop and enhance the creativity of the
students.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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6. Project
A project is a piece of
planned work or an
activity that is to finished
over a period of time with
an intention to achieve a
particular aim
(Cambridge dictionary)
Project is defined as a
collaborative enterprise,
involving research or
design that is carefully
planned to achieve a
particular aim. (Oxford
English Dictionary)
Three main features
of a Project
 It is an activity to
achieve a particular
aim
 It is a piece of a
planned activity.
 Need to be worked
through a period of
time to achieve the
aim by achieving
several relevant
objectives.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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7. Areas to be selected for the project
• Areas related to the Courses in the Programme
• Teaching Learning situations
• Creative work
Areas related
to the Courses
in the
Programme
Case Studies
Observational
Study
Studies related
to Growth and
Development
Teaching – Learning
situations
Studies related to
• Teaching
Methods
• Use of Teaching
Aids
Development of a
guided Learning
Kit or Activity Book
Creative work –
Compose and illustrate a
Children’s Story Book / a
Poetry Book / a Learning
Kit.
Materials for creating
Parental awareness, related
to Growth and
Development of Children
of Pre-School age making
a set of leaflets or a
booklet
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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8. Three major steps to be carried out for
successful completion of a project.
• Planning the project
• Implementing the project
• Writing the project report
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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9. How to start a project?
* Identify an broad area interest to you
* Select a research problem or a
research topic
* Study the research problem
* Do a Literature review
* Formulate objectives (3 or 4)
Planning a project
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
9

10. Aim & Objectives
The aim is about what you hope to
do, your overall intention in the
project. It is the point of doing the
research. An aim is therefore
generally broad. It is ambitious, but
not beyond possibility.
An aim can be slightly vague. It can be a
general statement.
aim for a company would be to increase
sales
Aims are what you want to achieve
Not time-bound
* The Aim is the ‘what?’ of the research * the Objective is the ‘how?”
The objectives: there are usually more
than one, are the specific steps you will
take to achieve your aim. This is where you
make the project tangible by saying how
you are going to go about it.
objective is generally more specific as
compared to an aim.
an objective would be to increase sales by 10%
within the next financial year.
objectives are what you will do to achieve them.
Time-bound
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
10

11. Objectives
• objectives relatively precise
• have to be practical, do-able (research-able.)
and achievable
• an objective is SMART in character.
Specific “S
Measurable M
Attainable A
Realistic R
Time-Focused T”
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
11

12. Writing SMART Objectives
Non-SMART objective
Teachers will be trained on the selected scientifically based health
education curriculum.
This objective is not SMART because it is not
Specific, measurable or time-phased
It can be made SMART by specifically indicating who is responsible
for training the teachers, how many will be trained, who they are,
and by when the trainings will be conducted.
SMART objective 1
By year two of the project, LEA staff will have trained 75% of health
education teachers in the school district on the selected
scientifically based health education curriculum.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
12

13. Finding out a suitable Project Method
(Research method)
Select a suitable research method.
Research method means a practical means to
carry out research.
Examples for two methods
i Survey method
ii Case Study Method
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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14. Survey research Definition
*A method of sociological investigation that uses question based or statistical surveys
to collect information about how people think and act
*Surveys provide a means of measuring a population’s characteristics, self-reported
and observed behaviour, awareness of programs, attitudes or opinions, and needs.
Three specific techniques of survey research:
• Questionnaires - a series of written questions a participant answers. This
method gathers responses to questions that are essay or
agree/neutral/disagree style.
• Interviews - questions posed to an individual to obtain information about
him or her. This type of survey is like a job interview, with one person
asking another a load of questions.
• Surveys - brief interviews and discussions with individuals about a specific
topic. Yes, survey is also a specific type of survey, to make things even
more confusing. A survey is a quick interview, with the surveyor asking
only a few questions.
(http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-survey-research-
definition-methods-types.html)7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
14

15. Case Study Method
• A Case Study is a research method involving
an up-close, in-depth, and detailed
examination of a subject of study (the case),
as well as its related contextual conditions.
• Data collection
• Observation
• Examine the documentsinterviews
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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16. Selecting a Sample from the Population
Find out a suitable Project Method (Research method)
It is difficult to get information from a large group.
Sampling is the process of selecting a small group from a
large group.
• The large group is called Population.(pre-school aged
children in Sri Lanka).
• The small group is called sample. (10-20 preschool aged
children selected from a particular pre-school)
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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17. Deciding data collection method/s.
• Data means information.
• Data is an essential raw material needed for
any kind of research/project.
• Through data we can understand the events
and conditions in the world around
Data Collection Methods.
Questionnaires
Interviews
Observations
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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18. Questionnaires
A questionnaire means preparing a set of questions.
You must ask questions to fulfill the purpose of your research.
• Questions should be simple and clear.
• There should be logical order.
• You can ask close ended questions and open ended
questions.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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19. Advantages of questionnaires
• A very flexible method
• Cheap to administer
• Easy to administer
•
• Can administer to a large number
•
• Can send by mail
• Respondents have time to think and write the answers
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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20. Interviews
Different types of interviews
• Face to face
• Telephone
• Focus group
• Individual
• You must use an interview schedule when
interviewing.
• The interview schedule should contain the
questions you are going to ask.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
20

21. Observation
• This is method of recording conditions , events
and activities through looking.
• You must use observation schedule for
observations.
• Use different types of observation
Direct observation
In-direct observation
Participatory observation
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
21

22. Topics suitable for projects
• Whether healthy life styles are promoted at pre schools
• Whether social development is promoted at pre schools
• Whether the pre-schools are helping to develop pro social
skills
• Do pre schools encourage healthy eating habits
• Nature of group activities at pre schools
• Factors affecting children’s behaviors
• Techniques used by pre school teachers to manage behaviors
• Sources of stress in children’s lives
• Problems faced by working mothers when rearing their
children
• Problems faced by single parents when rearing their children
• Impact of television watching on children Influences of media
on children
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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23. Case Studies – could be carried out as projects
• Case studies on children
• Child with aggressive behavious
• Child with pro social behavious
• Gifted child
• Case studies on Institutions
• work on child development
• Activities of UNICEF, Save the Children, Children’s
Secretariat, Sarvodaya etc.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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24. Creative Projects – could be carried out
Examples for Creative projects
• Compose & illustrate a-
children’s story book
children’s song book
children’s poetry book
• kit of teaching aids
• Material for creating parental awareness etc.
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
24

25. Process of making a Creative Project
• Do a literature review
• Produce the book, booklet or a tool kit
• Experiment it with a group of children or
parents (5-6)
• Do a self evaluation of your creation
• Highlight strengths and weaknesses of your
creation
7/6/2019
Dr. T. Mukunthan, Dept. Early Childhood
and Primary Education, Open University
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