Research and Services Projects
Research
The Research Colloquium
Nationally prominent researchers in early childhood learning and development are invited to speak about their research and its implications for practitioners. Typically there are two formal colloquia per academic year, one in the fall semester and one in the spring. These colloquia are announced and open to the ETSU community of faculty, students and staff as well as interested professionals and parents in the northeast Tennessee community. The colloquia are usually held on or near the ETSU campus and there is no charge for attendance. Other speakers and presentations are also arranged during the year and will be announced as they are scheduled.
Research Support Group
A group of faculty and students who are interested in research meets on a semi-regular basis approximately once per month during the academic year. Usually one or two volunteers from the group are asked to present their research projects, research ideas or proposals or drafts of manuscripts about their research at each meeting. The purpose of this group is to provide support for applied research in general and to allow members of the group to get helpful advice and feedback about their projects. The group usually meets in the Center classroom in Warf Pickel 209, Clemmer College.
Center Research and Scholarly Productivity
In the last 10 years (2000 to 2010) Center faculty and staff have produced 116 professional publications including 63 articles in professional journals and 49 books or book chapters. The publications have had a positive impact on the professional fields of:
Early Childhood Education
Special Education
Child and Family Studies
Communicative Disorders
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical/Motor Development
Child Psychology
Pediatrics
Additionally, Center Faculty and Staff have conducted 558 presentations at various
professional conferences including 62 at international conferences, 115 at national
conferences, 41 at regional conferences, 135 at state conferences, and 151 at local
conferences.
Service
The Child Study Center , a model early childhood program, is an inclusive child care center serving children 3 months to 6 years of age. The Program is a quality training site for university students in many academic programs including: Early Childhood, Child and Family Studies, Special Education, Communicative Disorders, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Pediatrics at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine. It is a training facility for TECTA. The program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Little Buccaneers Student Child Care Center provides part-time care in a high quality setting that is designed to support university students, with children, who are working toward academic degrees.
Expanding Horizons Early Intervention Program was initially funded through a grant for one early interventionist (EI) from the Division of Mental Retardation Services (DMRS) to provide home-based special instruction and family based support to caregivers with children birth to thirty-six months, who meet the criteria for services from the DMRS and reside within the most outlying counties of the First District of Tennessee (Hawkins and Hancock).
Technical Assistance Project has four main projects. The Targeted Case Management data report for Tennessees Early Intervention System is collected on a monthly basis and sent to Tennessee Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood (TNDOE). The office is also responsible for receiving mileage reimbursement information from families who transport their children to services. The services are then verified and request for payment is sent to the Grant Accounting Office at ETSU on a weekly basis. The final two projects involve disseminating and collecting data from the Early Intervention Family Survey as required by the federal Office of Special Education and the School Age Parent Survey. The response results are tabulated and sent to the Tennessee Department of Education (TNDOE). The data is used by TNDOE to complete the Annual Performance Reports to Washington, DC.
Training
Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance ( TECTA) provides early childhood personnel with access to affordable training. The impact of TECTA for one participant pays off in multiple ways. When asked, What did you learn new in this module that has special meaning for you as an early childhood professional?, Lorraine Blythes response was emphatic. That I can continue my education after not being in school for over 35 years and be excited and not afraid.