Reference no: EM133684341

Assignment: 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?

1) What is the Purpose of Child Assessment? (7:38)
2) The Benefits of Assessment Data (7:11)
3) When Should Teachers Assess a Child's Developmental Progress? (6:33)
4) How Do We Know That a Child Assessment is Reliable? (6:26)
5) How Can Teachers Gather Useful Information During Assessments? (9:42)
6) What are the Challenges of Assessing a Child Whose First Language is Not English? (6:45)
7) In What Way is Assessment Data Useful to Teachers? (8:19)
8) 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.