Organizing Data

Defend why you feel it is an effective form of assessment (Organizing Data)to use in your future role. Then, as an educator, imagine you have just administered the assessment and describe how you will specifically use this measurement to make instructional decisions about curriculum. Support your choice using at least two scholarly sources in addition to the text.

Organizing Data

The most common means for organizing early childhood assessment data is the portfolio, which may include examples of any or all ofthe assessments described above. The window of time a portfolio represents can vary considerably. For example, you might assemble aportfolio of artifacts to document one thematic or emergent group project, individual portfolios for one area of focus such as writing, or acomprehensive portfolio that tracks a child's general progress for an entire year.Portfolios provide powerful holistic evidence of learning because they includedocumentation of both process and products and demonstrate growth, change,and potential. Teachers have multiple sources of information to determine howthe curriculum is working as they make planning decisions. Most of the samplesin a portfolio are selected by the teacher. However, allowing and evenencouraging children to choose some of their own samples is another means forchildren to be involved in the process and can reveal useful insights about theirthinking. Families can also be included in the construction of a portfolio, sincethey may be able to provide examples of things children do at home tosupplement those collected at school.