Using Communication Skills to Enact Change

The role of communication is vital when soliciting policy change. It is important to be straightforward and specific about what needs to change and how that will be achieved. Often the time allotted for delivering your message is short therefore it is important to be concise, know your audience, and the intended outcome of your message.

For example, soliciting change for parental involvement will constitute knowing who to present the information to regarding the importance of the issue and where the biggest impact will take place. When addressing colleagues and parents at an in-service I would present the information using vocabulary that all could understand, explain the urgency of the pressing topic, and solicit ways for change outside of the school community.

Reference

Grant Makers in Health (2007). Communication for Policy Change. Retrieved from,

            www.gih.org/usr_doc/communicating for policy change.

Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication: A

            checklist for clear communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from         

            http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

Social Media's Influence on Policy Issues

The lack of parental involvement in the early childhood sector warrants attention and social networks may be a great way to generate awareness of this problem and influence social change. Utilizing LinkedIn for professional contact expansion will enhance the awareness of the problem and a way to share information on a professional level. Facebook would do essentially the same thing as LinkedIn but it can be broadcasted a bit different.

Both social networks appeal to a vast audience and can give the reader an in-depth picture of the problem seeking attention. According to Business Insider (2014) "LinkedIn has the advantage of being the place for white-collar professional to network, meaning its population is highly desirable since it is a high-income and highly educated user base. They continue to suggest that Facebook's users skew younger" and in turn this may be beneficial when landing a message effectively.

One major challenge both social media avenues may encounter is the targeted population for the problem being explored. Not having the means to access the internet one of the primary issues for some.  Actual parental participation is once again the largest problem.  Therefore is social media the best way to target this specific population and growing global issue?  It is but one tool in the kit.

References

Auer, M.R. (2011). The policy sciences of social media. Policy Studies Journal, 39(4), 709-736.

Smith, C. (2014, July 23). LinkedIn May Not Be the Coolest Social Network, But It's Only Becoming More Valuable To Businesses. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com

Effectiveness in Professional Role

Research by Kagan and Kauerz (2012), introduces the reader to a variety of early childhood systems policies and practices. The reason for their extensive research is to educate and transform early childhood learning (Kagan & Kauerz, 2012). They look at "why systems have emerged, what they hope to accomplish, what some have accomplished, and the challenges they face" (p. 12). Upon reading this book I will have a better understanding of the various early childhood systems and their purpose in early learning.

I am currently an early childhood special education teacher for severely disabled and medically frail students in the Milwaukee Public School district. I work with Pre-K students ranging in age three to six years old. I provide services to children who have disabilities and are eligible for special education services and their families. Therefore, my familiarity is directed towards P.L. 94-142, Wisconsin Early Learning Standards, and Individualized Educational Program (IEP) goals.

Learning more about the role of quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) and its effectiveness will assist me with making connections between children's early learning and standards. The above  program would not be successful without governance. According to Kagan and Kauerz (2012) "governance is essential to early childhood systems. Government governance approaches will vary. Such variations needs to be framed by state and local context" (p. 102). Familiarizing myself with these policies and systems on different levels will enhance my overall professional role as an educator.

                                                                References
Kagen, S.L., & Kauerz, K (Eds). (2012). Early Childhood Systems. New York, NY: Teacher College Press.