Assessment Strategies Assessment can take many forms. Observations being one of the most valuable tools used by educators to gain understanding of children. Devereux (2010) explains that ‘Watching children explore and make sense of their world provides valuable insights into their developing competences (p.80) and that ‘Observations can be used for a variety of purposes including assessment, ongoing assessment is an integral part of learning and the development process’ (p.72). Authentic assessment is achieved when assessment becomes part of everyday experiences and observations are used to inform the planning process (Curtis & Carter, 2013). Types of formative / ongoing assessments proposed for the inquiry project include: • Observations – taking notes of students comments and understanding and analysing these observations Burke (2005) confirms when stating “Critical thinking is essential to making sense of observations (pg.3). • …show more content…
Where educators value children’s input, ideas and perspectives. Educators see children as the centre of the learning experiences rather than just a participant. Authentic inquiry approaches give educators and children flexibility within the planning and during learning experiences. The EYLF (DEEWR, 2009) states ‘Active involvement in learning builds children’s understandings of concepts and the creative thinking and inquiry processes that are necessary for lifelong learning (p.33). Inquiry approach to teaching and learning offers many benefits to both children and adults. It allows for meaningful experiences, where children feel included in the process, it builds on their knowledge, interests and ideas. Both families and educators develop an understanding of children developmental progress and thinking. Murdoch (2011) states that ‘Inquiry-based leaning is a natural human activity in which the learner obtains meaning from
During this assignment, I needed to observe infant/toddler from birth to 36 months. The observation was for 30 minutes while the infants interact with the world. While the observation, I created a running record observation to keep track of the developmental domains. The observation took place in the ECE classroom. There were three children which were Charlotte, Loui, and Benjamin. They were placed in the center of the class where there was different kinds of toys. During the observation, Charlotte and Loui were interacting with one another. However, Benjamin wasn’t interacting at all. Loui interacted with classmates and went outside the circle to get some toys.
from the first bar, she quickly swung her feet over to the side for leg support.
The facility I did my observation at was Tutor Time in Fairfield, and I arrived there at 3:15pm. When I arrived there, I could instantly see that it was a child centered program by the feel of the artwork the kids had made that were on the walls, the passing classrooms and it smelled like sugar cookies throughout the building. It was very quiet in the office area and in the halls when I was walking to the class of preschoolers.
The daycare that I visited was Rosemont Daycare and Preschool. This center is faith based and I was able observe the “Duck Class” which was the age group of four and five year olds. I went to observe on February 11th and 16th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 and the 18th from 3:00 to 6:00. On the 11th and 16th, there were a total of 12 children in the Duck class. At 9:00 the children were engaged in circle time meaning that the children were learning about their bible verse for that month which was “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” The children then discussed what they thought that meant. On the 11th I was present to see the children, the ones I decided to observe were Kali, Roslyn, Fiona, and Brayden. When the children were doing crafts I sat near the counter island in the class room so I was out of the way but still able to see and hear what the kids were doing and saying at the table.
I have always had a keen interest in observing children as they play and learn and using the observations to support the child’s growth. This is partly based on my past professional experiences and observations of my own children. I believe that my other strength in assessment is in analyzing data and using the data to make decisions. While I feel, this area is a strength, my exposure to the vast array of assessment tools used to support student learning has been
In this assignment I am going to describe a child observation that I have done in a nursery for twenty minutes in a play setting. I will explain the strengths and weaknesses of naturalistic observation through the key developmental milestones based in Mary Sheridan (2005) check-list and provide a theoretical explanation to support the naturalistic observation.
Puckett, M., & Black, J. (2008). Meaningful assessments of the young child. (3th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
While walking through the front gates of County elementary school, you see children of all ages playing while they wait for the school bell to ring. Walking to the classroom that I will be observing you see students with their parent’s line up waiting to get signed in. The students are to be signed in by a parent or guardian for safety precautions, and shows that the child was signed into school. As a visitor, I am to sign myself in, this shows I was in the classroom, at what time was I there, and reason for visiting the classroom.
I observed at St. Eve’s Learning Center location in their preschool room. The center has a naturalistic feel to the environment and all of the staff is friendly and welcoming. The classroom displayed best practices, modern theories and research, and followed expected standards set by their accreditations.
Assessment, in the context of education, was defined by Lambert, D (2000, pag 4) as the processs of gathering, recording and using information about pupils' responses to educational tasks. Despite some can consider that assessment is separated from the learning process, assessment is, in fact, an essential part of the learning proccess. Maguire, M. and Dillon, J. (2007, pag 213) pointed out that assessment is intrincately bound-up in the teaching-learning cycle.
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) (DEEWR, 2009) identifies inquiry as central to effective early years learning. Teachers are able to provide opportunities for an inquiry-based approach to learning that can assist young children to explore their family through the history curriculum. Inquiry based learning is a comprehensive pedagogical approach to early years’ education. It is important for inquiry skills not to be taught in isolation, however they should be integrated into other subjects (Michalopoulou, 2014). Inquiry-based learning is deeply related to the EYLF, the history curriculum as well as creative and critical thinking.
The two children that I have interacted with this week at the Early Childhood Education Center from the Willows group is Emily and Harriet. I got a chance to interact with these two girls this week. They are both so much fun to play with and be around. With Harriet, we played in the dirt box and played with the musical instruments. We also played with her stuffed little gray and white cat and a toy tiger. With Emily, we played doctor and played in the kitchen area. Together Emily and I played nurse and doctor to make her little baby feel better and got to play dress up with it. We also played some in the kitchen to make food for the baby as well. From what I have learned from Harriet and Emily is that they have two different personalities.
Inquiry is an interactive way of learning. Students are actively engaged in their studies. Inquiry involves student-centered activities focusing on questioning, exploring, and posing explanations. The goal of inquiry is to introduce a new way of learning where students can learn about the world around them through active engagement in real-life examples. Inquiry based learning can be incorporated into all academic subjects throughout the curriculum. Science could possibly be the most effective subject to incorporate inquiry.
Assessment, observing strategies and portfolios are all areas that have been discussed in various other ECE classes but never in such a way that was so interesting. There are various differences between the 2 topics observations are used to watch, record and reflect on a child’s behavior where assessments take the observation, portfolio and projects that can be used to make judgements about characteristics of children or programs. Assessments have several purposes one benefit is it helps teachers plan to meet all children’s developmental and learning needs. There are many ways to assess a child one way is an authentic assessment which assesses a child in a real world setting. Reasons for observing children’s behavior encompass
... Using hands on activities and not using straight lecture help children learn better. Inquiry gives them experiences that can help them retain the knowledge that their teacher is trying to give them.