UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN THROUGH OBSERVATION: LEARNING STORY ASSIGNMENT 25%
Learning Outcomes (#2, #3, #4, #6, #8, #9):
- Practice the steps involved in the observation and pedagogical documentation processes to inform professional practice and our views of children as competent complex thinkers
- Evaluate the strengths and needs of a variety of pedagogical documentation and observation methods and their effectiveness in different situations to inform and co-plan responsive and inclusive curriculums
- Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of pedagogical observation and documentation methods to record children’s thinking, inquiry, learning and development
- Demonstrate how observation and pedagogical documentation, interpretation and reflection represents children(ren)s competencies/development to assess, evaluate, and plan learning experiences
- Practice professional writing skills to communicate observations and interpretations to the intended audience
- Create pedagogical documentation using various technological applications to apply knowledge of the process and to support access to documentation by children, families, and educators
Assignment Overview:
This assignment will enable students to practice the steps involved in developing part of an observational portfolio based on a series of video observations. The purpose of this assignment is to create a “holistic picture” of the child’s skills and abilities, and to develop planning that responds to the child in an inclusive way.
Choose Option #1 or Option #2 for the assignment
- If you have access to a child (under 12 years old) you will take two photos of them participating in different activities and write a learning story for each photo, you cannot use google images or any other online photo. ***For the safety of the children, no faces will be included in the photo – if a child is identifiable, the paper cannot be marked. ****
Or,
- You choose two different videos from our textbook collection. Watch the video, take a screen shot of one child per video participating in an activity, and write a learning story for each screenshot. You do need to blur or hide the child’s faces in your learning story. Make sure the video used is listed on the Learning Story in the Essential Information.
Your assignment will include:
The Learning Story:
Take two photos that each demonstrates or highlights a different Developmental Domains (Social, Emotional, Communication, Cognitive, Fine and/or Gross Motor Skills)
Each photo must be included in your assignment to be used to create your two separate Learning Stories.
Format:
Heading of Developmental Domains with your screenshot underneath. The story will be written in paragraph form.
Essential Information:
Developmental Area:
Title of Learning Story
- Step 1 – Capturing and Developing the Story
- Step 2 – Reflecting upon and Interpreting the Learning that took place, commenting on the child’s skills, abilities, strengths, and interests.
- Step 3 – Discussing next steps, future opportunities, and extensions of learning as well as your Role as an Early Childhood Educator
LEARNING STORY ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC 25%
Learning Story #1
Step 1
Capturing and Developing the Story /10 marks
- Essential Information Included (1 mark)
- Developmental Domain Highlighted (1 Mark)
- Title of Learning Story (1 mark)
- Detailed description highlighting the event, the child’s specific abilities within the domain listed as well as identifying other skills, in a strength-based story like format, following examples and guidelines. (7marks)
Step 2
Reflecting and Interpreting the Learning that took place /10 marks
- Worded positively (1 mark)
- Reflects a variety of skills and evidence is linked back to your observation (4mark)
- Discusses the child’s interests, strengths and abilities based on different developmental domains (5 marks)
Step 3 –
Future Opportunities and Extension of Learning /5 marks
- Identify and explain how learning can be extended is clearly and simply written (1 mark)
- Identify future opportunities based on interpretations (2 marks)
- What would be your Role as an ECE to facilitate this extension of Learning (2 marks)
Learning Story #2
Capturing and Developing the Story /10 marks
- Essential Information Included (1 mark)
- Developmental Domain Highlighted (1 Mark)
- Title of Learning Story (1 mark)
- Detailed description highlighting the event, the child’s specific abilities within the domain listed as well as identifying other skills, in a strength-based story like format, following examples and guidelines. (7marks)
Step 2
Reflecting and Interpreting the Learning that took place /10 marks
- Worded positively and from a strength based perspective. (1 mark)
- Reflects a variety of skills and evidence is connected back to observation (4 marks)
- Discusses the child’s interests, strengths and abilities based on different developmental domains (5 marks)
Step 3 – Future Opportunities and Extension of Learning /5 marks
- Identify and explain how learning can be extended is clearly and simply written (1 mark)
- Identify future opportunities based on interpretations (2 marks)
- What would be your Role as an ECE to facilitate this extension of Learning (2 marks)
APA Format/Spelling and Grammar /5 marks
- Title Page included with appropriate APA
- Spelling, grammar, positive wording
Total Marks: /55
No. of Pages: 8