Student Learning Outcomes

This assignment is designed to assess the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):

Employ observation strategies to assess reasons for child behavior.

Evaluate a child's physical and social environments and propose modifications that foster prosocial behavior.

Instructions

This assignment gives you an opportunity to take the information you learn in this course and apply it in real-life scenarios. For this assignment, you will need to observe a classroom at a licensed early childhood facility. Use the following steps to guide you in successfully completing this assignment:

Select a licensed child care center. You are responsible for finding a classroom to observe. You will need to call ahead and schedule an observation with the center that you choose. Do not show up unannounced.

The Child Development Center on campus can provide children for this assignment (during the spring and fall semesters). No appointment is necessary to complete an observation at the MiraCosta Child Development Center.

You must observe in the classroom for at least 60 minutes (or longer if needed to implement the four observation strategies). When you call to schedule your observation, try to set up time to talk with the teacher or director after your observation so that you can get any questions answered.

You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner. While you are observing, you are representing MiraCosta College. Dress professionally. Do not interact with the children you are observing. If a child approaches you, be friendly, but direct them back to the teacher.

Turn off any cell phones or electronic devices. Do not eat or drink while observing. Do not take a lot of stuff into the centers. All you will need is a notebook and pen. Be as unobtrusive as possible. Your role is a "fly on the wall". You are not there to inform teachers or caregivers about your opinion or tell them what you think about what they are doing. Remember to thank the teachers and/or director of the school for letting you observe! Students must adhere to the rules of the center in which the observation is taking place.

You may not observe your own children or children that you spend a lot of time with. Knowing the child/ren that you are observing compromises your ability to be objective. If you work in a preschool, school, or childcare setting, you may not observe children while you are working or "on the clock".

No real names of the children will be used in this assignment.

Format

You will be observing children's behavior in a licensed childcare or school setting. Using the four observation strategies we've discussed this semester, document the behavioral situations observed (sharing, problem solving, aggression, acting out, clinging, tattling, etc.) as well as the teacher's/adult's response to the behaviors. Be detailed about what you see. Avoid judgment or interpretation in the observation portions. Zoom in on the interactions between the adults and the children. Be as accurate, objective, and specific as possible. Include details such as dialogue, language use, problem solving strategies, roles, how children interact with others, children's understanding of an activity, etc.

The length of your paper will vary, but the average length will be at least 5 pages (excluding title page, abstract, and references). Utilize the following format:

Title page
Abstract
Center information

Name of center: Child Development Center at MiraCosta College
Location of center: 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Date and time of observation: March 7, 2014, 3:00-4:45 pm
Number and ages of children: 13 children, 3-4 years old
Adult/child ratio: 2 adults/13 children

Any special information: The lead teacher was absent today. There was a substitute from another classroom, and the regular classroom aide present. The children have just come in from the outside play time.

Environment description: Describe the classroom environment; be detailed about the set-up and layout of the classroom.

Helpful tip: You may want to review Unit 2: Observation Skills before you complete you visit a center to complete your observation. Also, you may find this overview of observation strategies helpful as a reminder of the key points, purposes, and drawbacks!

Running Account

Observation Notes: State the specific, objective events that you observed in the appropriate format.

Analysis: Discuss possible underlying causes of behavior, evaluate the adult response (or lack thereof), and discuss alternatives to the situation. You will analyze data from your observations and discuss the way you would respond to the behavior. Remember to use APA format, be detailed in your analyses, and cite all sources utilized in your assignment.

Anecdotal Record

Observation Notes: State the specific, objective events that you observed in the appropriate format.

Analysis: Discuss possible underlying causes of behavior, evaluate the adult response (or lack thereof), and discuss alternatives to the situation. You will analyze data from your observations and discuss the way you would respond to the behavior. Remember to use APA format, be detailed in your analyses, and cite all sources utilized in your assignment.

Time Sampling

Observation Notes: State the specific, objective events that you observed in the appropriate format.

Analysis: Discuss possible underlying causes of behavior, evaluate the adult response (or lack thereof), and discuss alternatives to the situation. You will analyze data from your observations and discuss the way you would respond to the behavior. Remember to use APA format, be detailed in your analyses, and cite all sources utilized in your assignment.

Event Sampling

Observation Notes: State the specific, objective events that you observed in the appropriate format.

Analysis: Discuss possible underlying causes of behavior, evaluate the adult response (or lack thereof), and discuss alternatives to the situation. You will analyze data from your observations and discuss the way you would respond to the behavior. Remember to use APA format, be detailed in your analyses, and cite all sources utilized in your assignment.

References

Note: I randomly contact at least 25% of schools visited by students to thank them for allowing MiraCosta students to visit their site. I also confirm (by name) that a particular student observed and interviewed a teacher at that site for this assignment. I do this in part to encourage schools to participate in supporting students and in part for the purpose of academic integrity (honesty and ethics).