Effective: 2025-05-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

To present information on and provide experience using various descriptive and qualitative methods of gathering and analyzing observational data on young children, with emphasis on patterns of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.

Course Objectives

• Identify the principles and major developmental milestones of children based on the domains of physical/motor, emotional/social, and cognitive/linguistic development
• Apply various observation methods and techniques, including both formal and informal to look at cognitive/linguistic, physical/motor, and emotional/social development
• Identify and practice professional ethics and confidentiality when working with children and families
• Explain the reasons for and value of conducting ongoing observations of children and programs
• Articulate how personal biases can affect observations and change the interpretation of children?s behavior.
• Evaluate various sources of assessment data, providing specific criteria and measurable outcomes for each source.
• Produce written observations that are factual and descriptive rather than interpretive and judgmental
• Articulate the relationships among child/program observations, child/program assessments, and planning for services and learning.
• Identify and apply culturally responsive assessment practices
• Analyze and describe how observation and assessment are connected to understanding behavior and situations
• Identify procedures for documenting suspected child abuse
• Explain ways to assemble children's portfolios and its use in conferencing with families
• Identify and apply current State and National standards and competencies as they relate to working with children and families.
• The students will conduct themselves professionally and as a representative of the (insert college name here) Early Childhood Development Program whenever engaged in field site observation and/or participation.
• Demonstrate emotional and social well-being in interactions with (insert college name here) faculty, field site staff, children and their families.

Major Topics to be Included

• Informal and formal observation techniques
• Objectivity in observing and recording data
• Ethics of observation and reporting
• Including parents in data collection and results
• Developmental tasks in child development
• Use of assessments in planning for individual children, curriculum, and program needs.
• Using children's interests as a basis for creating concept and skill development learning activities.