Research and Academic Paper Publication
The United Nations Conference,
San Francisco
I enjoy doing research because it gives me the opportunity to dig deeply into certain topic(s) that I am passionate about. I like the process of exploring the literature through reading books and journal articles before finally writing my own perception about certain topics. This process helps me better understand the world that we live in today. My first academic publication is a shorter version of my masters' field study on global citizenship education. This paper entitled: Negotiating the Meaning of Global Citizenship in a Neo-liberal Era: A Program Evaluation of International Resource Network-United States (iEARN-USA) was first published in summer 2011 and presented at the same time at iEARN (International Educational and Resource Network) conference in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. During this five days conference there were approximately 600 participants from 42 countries. I have condensed this presentation into a shorter version lecture for the online viewers.
My second academic paper entitled: Negotiating the Meaning of The Green School was published in Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood in December 2013. In this paper, I discuss the overlapping meaning of the Green School in its conceptual understanding and the practical approaches.
While writing in academic language has certain substance and depth to convey ideas for the academic circle, I enjoy writing for children in simple languages to send educational and life messages to these young minds directly. My first children book: Venus, the Global Child was published in April 2010. Often times, we can introduce complex concept to children by simplifying it to stories that they can easily relate and understand with picture books. My second children story: The Righteous Star was posted in youtube in summer 2013. In this story, I collaborated with a 10 year old talented young illustrator. My third and fourth children stories: The Frog Prince in His Little Kingdom and The Frog Prince Adventure are in the process of publication. I would like to send a message of diversity, empathy, hope, and love for these young audiences without discrediting the problems that are going on in our society.
I explored the importance of green preschool environment and the tight knit connection between the learning environment with curriculum and pedagogy. In the process of consolidating the theoretical and practicality on preschool environment, I find this field to be a fascinating one because children's life is full with color. Yet, I realize that there are still a lot of thinking and re-thinking required to further understand green preschool environment.
My own interpretation in dealing with children is to care for them with genuine love. I always told myself, "Ailin, children do not know nor care how many degrees you have or how much knowledge you know. What children do know is how much you care and love them and being there for them when they need you."
This is my writing in 2013 (The second year of PhD)
With this perspective in mind, I hope that one day I can apply all the ECE theories and knowledge to nurture my own children well while continuing to learn and to share with others. I believe that children's world are not so complicated as the theories suggested. All they need most is sincere care and love.
2020: I am a mother of a beautiful toddler girl "Melissa Judith Poon" & God makes me realised that motherhood is very different than learning and teaching about ECE or even taking care of other people's children.
I am very thankful to the Lord for blessing my husband, "Joseph Kenneth K.Y. Poon", and I with a beautiful and healthy baby daughter in 2018: "Melissa Judith Poon". When I wrote this text, she is about 18 months and there are so many interesting development that happen very fast and it is not as easy as I thought. While I thought that children need most sincere care and love, now I realise deeply that they need discipline and boundary to understand what are the good behaviours and what are un-pleasant behaviours. I am thankful for mothers group from two churches that I joined @ St. Andrew's Church of Hong Kong lead by "Megan Mc.Coy" and International Baptist Church of Hong Kong lead by "Veronica Tso". I am also thankful to have a very supportive husband as parenting is 24/7 work and often when the work-load is shared. Strolling her around the Tuen Mun park and children playground, swimming with her for the first time, watching her eating, and so many other interesting milestones are beautiful moments of motherhood for me. I am very thankful God gives us the technology that I could stream "praise songs" or listening to "sermons" during this period, especially many walking to park, grocery shops, and it is nice to utilise this time meaningfully.
My second academic paper entitled: Negotiating the Meaning of The Green School was published in Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood in December 2013. In this paper, I discuss the overlapping meaning of the Green School in its conceptual understanding and the practical approaches.
While writing in academic language has certain substance and depth to convey ideas for the academic circle, I enjoy writing for children in simple languages to send educational and life messages to these young minds directly. My first children book: Venus, the Global Child was published in April 2010. Often times, we can introduce complex concept to children by simplifying it to stories that they can easily relate and understand with picture books. My second children story: The Righteous Star was posted in youtube in summer 2013. In this story, I collaborated with a 10 year old talented young illustrator. My third and fourth children stories: The Frog Prince in His Little Kingdom and The Frog Prince Adventure are in the process of publication. I would like to send a message of diversity, empathy, hope, and love for these young audiences without discrediting the problems that are going on in our society.
I explored the importance of green preschool environment and the tight knit connection between the learning environment with curriculum and pedagogy. In the process of consolidating the theoretical and practicality on preschool environment, I find this field to be a fascinating one because children's life is full with color. Yet, I realize that there are still a lot of thinking and re-thinking required to further understand green preschool environment.
My own interpretation in dealing with children is to care for them with genuine love. I always told myself, "Ailin, children do not know nor care how many degrees you have or how much knowledge you know. What children do know is how much you care and love them and being there for them when they need you."
This is my writing in 2013 (The second year of PhD)
With this perspective in mind, I hope that one day I can apply all the ECE theories and knowledge to nurture my own children well while continuing to learn and to share with others. I believe that children's world are not so complicated as the theories suggested. All they need most is sincere care and love.
2020: I am a mother of a beautiful toddler girl "Melissa Judith Poon" & God makes me realised that motherhood is very different than learning and teaching about ECE or even taking care of other people's children.
I am very thankful to the Lord for blessing my husband, "Joseph Kenneth K.Y. Poon", and I with a beautiful and healthy baby daughter in 2018: "Melissa Judith Poon". When I wrote this text, she is about 18 months and there are so many interesting development that happen very fast and it is not as easy as I thought. While I thought that children need most sincere care and love, now I realise deeply that they need discipline and boundary to understand what are the good behaviours and what are un-pleasant behaviours. I am thankful for mothers group from two churches that I joined @ St. Andrew's Church of Hong Kong lead by "Megan Mc.Coy" and International Baptist Church of Hong Kong lead by "Veronica Tso". I am also thankful to have a very supportive husband as parenting is 24/7 work and often when the work-load is shared. Strolling her around the Tuen Mun park and children playground, swimming with her for the first time, watching her eating, and so many other interesting milestones are beautiful moments of motherhood for me. I am very thankful God gives us the technology that I could stream "praise songs" or listening to "sermons" during this period, especially many walking to park, grocery shops, and it is nice to utilise this time meaningfully.