Assignment:
As you are aware by this point in the program, every course in the MAECEL program has one leadership journal to provide the opportunity for you to reflect upon and self-assess your professional knowledge, skills, and attributes related to leadership. The first part of the prompt applies to your reflections as a leader as it pertains to this course. The second part of the prompt will focus on your growth and development as an early childhood education leader and professional throughout the program.
Content Expectations
For each part, please respond to each of the bulleted prompts:
Part One: Course Reflection
- ECE 660 is a key course in influencing your ability to foster change through action research. Now that you have action research as a potential framework for influencing change and improvement in education, explain how this enhances your leadership skills and empowers you to make a positive difference.
- Thinking back to the Introduction forum of this course, what inspires you to influence change as an early childhood education professional and leader? Share any vision or mission you have for making a positive difference as a leader in early childhood education.
Part Two: Program Reflection
- Please take several minutes to skim through your Leadership Journals from your previous courses in the MAECEL program. Discuss the ways that you have grown and developed in your leadership knowledge and skills from the beginning of the program to now. Justify your position by sharing examples of how you have demonstrated leadership in your current professional role. If you are not currently in a professional role, you may use a previous experience, or discuss your visions related to change leadership in a future role in ECE.
Integrative and Critical Thinking Expectations (demonstrated within the content of the journal)
- Connections to Experience: Meaningfully synthesizes connections among experiences both within and outside of coursework to deepen understanding of fields of study and to broaden own points of view.
- Reflection and Self-Assessment: Envisions a future self (and possibly makes plans that build on past experiences) that has occurred across multiple and diverse contexts.
Research and Resource Expectations
- Sources are not required for your journal assignments. However, if you need to cite information, you must cite in APA format and include a reference page.
Writing and Formatting Expectations
- Voice: Journals may be written in a less formal, but still professional voice (avoids casual language). First person voice is encouraged.
- Organization: Demonstrates logical progression of ideas.
- Syntax and Mechanics: Writing displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- APA Formatting: Papers are formatted properly and all sources (if used) are cited and referenced in APA style as outlined
Suggested Journal Length
This journal should be approximately two double-spaced pages (not including title and reference pages - if needed).
Next Steps
Important note about Leadership Journals: Please remember to keep all of your leadership journals saved electronically, either in separate documents or compiled into one document with all Leadership Journals included, throughout the program. You will be required to submit all ten leadership journals as part of the capstone expectations to documents and reflect upon your leadership development throughout the program.