Course Description

This course focuses on the use of a variety of observation tools and methods, screening surveys, and assessment systems. Students will hone their skills at observing and recording children’s development, and using that information for planning play experiences to promote children’s development. Collaboration with families and professionals is explored. This course requires 15 hours of observation of young children. (Two hours/week in class and one hour/week observation.) Group 2 course.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

3

Lecture Hours

3

Required Prerequisites

ECE 101

General Education Outcomes supported by this course

Critical Thinking - Direct

Other college designations supported by this course

Degree Req:Cultural Persp/Div

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

• Identify typical developmental milestones for children.
• Determine when developmental milestones are observable and unobservable.

Application:

• Record objective and anecdotal notes about children’s development based on observations.
• Implement summative and formative, informal and formal assessments.
• Apply assessment information to plan play-based learning experiences for children of all abilities.

Integration:

• Connect appropriate screening tools to assessment systems in early childhood settings.

Human Dimension:

• Be aware of the importance of including families in the assessment process of their child.
• Integrate families’ input and ideas into the classroom.

Caring - Civic Learning:

• Reflect on the cultural diversity of all students.
• Identify and apply strengths to build strong staff-family relationships and a strong classroom family.

Learning How to Learn:

• Identify personal learning strengths and styles.