Education Mod. 4 Assignment (W)

Observation and Assessment

Observations and assessments play a critical role in understanding the children in our care. These methods may use a formal or information structure based on the specific goal of the teacher. The outcome provides the teacher with information specific to the child which can then be used to shape the learning environment. The following videos provide you with an in-depth overview of the role of observation and assessment. As you watch the videos, consider how you would use observation and assessment when working with children with special needs.

Video Series on Observation and Assessment

The following videos address specific aspects of observation and assessment in ECE settings. As you watch the videos consider how these methods are currently used in your own practice. What areas do you plan to use moving forward?

· What is the Purpose of Child Assessment?  (7:38)

· The Benefits of Assessment Data  (7:11)

· When Should Teachers Assess a Child's Developmental Progress?  (6:33)

· How Do We Know That a Child Assessment is Reliable?  (6:26)

· How Can Teachers Gather Useful Information During Assessments?  (9:42)

· What are the Challenges of Assessing a Child Whose First Language is Not English?  (6:45)

· In What Way is Assessment Data Useful to Teachers?  (8:19)

· What are the Common Misunderstandings About Child Assessment?  (6:55)

When working with children with special needs, you may need to use observation and assessment in a different manner than what you use with typically developing children. Some ECE professionals seek additional training to support these methods specifically for children with exceptionalities. While the observation process can be the same, what you will look for will vary based on the specific needs of the child. Being a critical consumer of the instruments and tools you are using is important to ensure you are considering the developmental needs of children with special needs and assessing their growth in an appropriate manner. The information collected through the observations and assessments is critical to supporting goal setting and curriculum design.

Throughout your education, you will be researching topics and writing papers, engaging in thought-provoking discussions, and considering diverse perspectives. Assessments will require the use of both discipline-specific skills and Transferable Skills to demonstrate proficiency of content-related topics. Transferable Skills are skills that can be transferred and applied within your chosen profession. These Transferable Skills are essential for academic and career success.

Rasmussen University recognizes the following as the top Transferable Skills required by employers today:

Critical Thinking

Improving thinking, including problem-solving and creativity, by applying intellectual standards such as clarity, precision, logic, and reflection.

Digital Fluency

Effectively employing and understanding digital tools to express ideas in appropriate contexts.

Information Literacy

Recognizing when information is needed and possessing the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively needed information.

Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Understanding and exhibiting principles of conduct and professional behavior which impact a greater good in the world and workplace. understanding and applying ethical and professional principles of conduct.

Diversity and Teamwork

Demonstrating awareness and empathy while working collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Communication

Displaying capability in writing, reading, and oral communication; understanding of non- verbal language.

The Global Skills of  communication,  ethics and professional responsibility, and  diversity and teamwork are inherently interpersonal skills which are best learned in groups; they require community and collaboration. The Personal Skills of  digital fluency,  information literacy, and  critical thinking are intrapersonal skills, which can be practiced and learned alone. 

Goal Setting

Curriculum design typically is focused on meeting specific learning objectives or goals through the activity or lesson. The goals identified in the curriculum are often based on the developmental needs of an individual learner or a classroom of learners. When working with children with special needs, goal setting is a crucial part to support the individual needs identified through observations, IFSPs, or IEPs.

Goal setting identifies a specific area and outcome to strive towards. The curriculum then provides activities to enhance development to try and reach a specific goal.

For example, a child who has been diagnosed with a speech delay may work towards communicating with one word statements (holophrases). The activity could be a simple rhyming game with repetition to practice sounds. The goal is to support the child in utilizing this skill to enhance development of this skill.

An example of a simple activity which promotes language development is found  here . As you view this video, consider what goals might be set for the child in the video. What other activities might support the development?

How Are Goals Identified and Determined?

The learning and developmental goals of the child are typically identified through observations and assessments conducted by the ECE professional or another professional related to the care of the child. In some cases, children with special needs may come to you with identified learning needs based on tests or assessments conducted by a medical professional. Your role is to take this information and build this into the curriculum process.

The families also play a role in the goal setting process by sharing their perspective on the needs and interests of their child. The families are a valuable resource for supporting the curriculum plan since they can provide information on what may or may not work with the child. The following video demonstrates ways in which goals are created to support learning activities. As you view the video consider what additional pieces might be needed to support children with special needs in your own setting.

Breaking it Down: Turning Goals into Everyday Teaching Opportunities

In the readings for this module there are several articles that address goal setting. As you read through these articles think about how this relates to your own practice.

Observation and Assessment

Observations and assessments play a critical role in understanding the children in our care. These methods may use a formal or information structure based on the specific goal of the teacher. The outcome provides the teacher with information specific to the child which can then be used to shape the learning environment. The following videos provide you with an in-depth overview of the role of observation and assessment. As you watch the videos, consider how you would use observation and assessment when working with children with special needs.

Video Series on Observation and Assessment

The following videos address specific aspects of observation and assessment in ECE settings. As you watch the videos consider how these methods are currently used in your own practice. What areas do you plan to use moving forward?

· What is the Purpose of Child Assessment?  (7:38)

· The Benefits of Assessment Data  (7:11)

· When Should Teachers Assess a Child's Developmental Progress?  (6:33)

· How Do We Know That a Child Assessment is Reliable?  (6:26)

· How Can Teachers Gather Useful Information During Assessments?  (9:42)

· What are the Challenges of Assessing a Child Whose First Language is Not English?  (6:45)

· In What Way is Assessment Data Useful to Teachers?  (8:19)

· What are the Common Misunderstandings About Child Assessment?  (6:55)

When working with children with special needs, you may need to use observation and assessment in a different manner than what you use with typically developing children. Some ECE professionals seek additional training to support these methods specifically for children with exceptionalities. While the observation process can be the same, what you will look for will vary based on the specific needs of the child. Being a critical consumer of the instruments and tools you are using is important to ensure you are considering the developmental needs of children with special needs and assessing their growth in an appropriate manner. The information collected through the observations and assessments is critical to supporting goal setting and curriculum design.