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Knowledge Transfer: An Exploration of How Early Childhood Care Educators Transfer Knowledge into Practice in a Disadvantaged Setting

O’Buachain, Claire (2021) Knowledge Transfer: An Exploration of How Early Childhood Care Educators Transfer Knowledge into Practice in a Disadvantaged Setting. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This research study provides an insight into the higher education experience of educators who are working in early childhood care settings which are located within a disadvantaged area. There has been extensive research produced in recent years, indicating the benefit of quality early childhood care education provision and the qualification level of educator’s.

This research study proposes to examine the education experience as preparation for the needs of diverse settings, which are located within disadvantaged areas. This study aims to interrogate how knowledge from the education experience has been transferred into practice.

This is a small scale research study as part of a Master’s programme in Educational Practice which involved six participants who are working within settings located in disadvantaged areas. The participants took part in semi structured interview’s which intended to gain an understanding of their lived experiences of the education course they have completed. The data was collated and analysed using thematic analysis as part of an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Methodological approach.

There were three themes which emerged from the data following the participant interviews. The findings show that there were many benefits to the educational experience at the time the course of study was completed. The participants highlighted beneficial course content and identified gaps which existed in their knowledge within the context of the diverse needs of their work place settings. The interview process allowed for the participants to reflect on the course content with consideration to their current workplace setting. These findings provide consideration and recommendations with regard to informing the type of knowledge required to work within the diverse setting within disadvantaged communities, as described by the participants.

The needs identified within these workplace settings require a specific knowledge base and set of skills, however the recommended knowledge base could be transferred into any early childhood care education setting and benefit the needs of all children and families regardless of the setting location.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > Early childhood education
Divisions: Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning > Master of Arts in Educational Practice
Depositing User: Clara Chan
Date Deposited: 17 Jan 2022 16:09
Last Modified: 17 Jan 2022 16:09
URI: https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5296

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