Early learning standards are a key component in any comprehensive early childhood program. As stated by Copple and Bredekamp (2009), "High-quality, developmentally appropriate standards are important guides in curriculum development and in teaching," (p. 42). Standards are an important part of planning and assessment for teachers. Knowing what children are expected to learn can also inform parents about the progress their child is making in relation to what is being taught in the classroom. Building partnerships with parents is one of the most effective ways to support the learning of young children. For this reason, it is important to provide parents with resources and information about what children are learning their school programs. Disseminating this information through the use of social media is a fast and effective way to keep stakeholders in the community informed about the standards and curriculum. Two possible types of social media that would be appropriate for my current setting would be through Wiki page (or web page) and a blog.
The Wiki would contain all of the latest information regarding the curriculum. This information would include the current projects being taught, standards and objectives of the projects, vocabulary, and tips for parents on ways to support learning at home. Keeping the Wiki up-to-date with the latest events will help facilitate communication between teachers and parents and support children's learning.
It would also be helpful to publish a blog that is open to teachers and parents about the latest trends and research in early childhood education. This type of social media would give parents and teachers a forum in which to express their views on certain topics in early childhood. It would encourage open communication about important issues among all stakeholders. As stated by June, Hong, and Sung-Min (2011), "Social media users...are now learning to express their opinions carefully and avoid posting content that they do not want to be held accountable for," (p.127). Since you can be held accountable for your opinions, it would be important to monitor the interactions and opinions expressed in the blog entries. The primary goal of a blog would be to open communication among stakeholders in order to shift conversations towards compromise and understanding with respect to best practice.
References
Copple, C., & S. Bredekamp, eds. 2009. Developmentally Appropraite Practice in Ealry Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
June, P., Hong, C., & Sung-Min, P. (2011). Social media's impact on policy making. SERI Quarterly,4(4), 125–129.
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