Observation, Assessment and Reflection

The module will allow students to develop skills in careful, sensitive observation of young children with the aim of planning responsively to support children’s learning and development.  Students will also develop skills in reflective practice and self-evaluation.   

Students will examine and evaluate the use of observational assessment in supporting children and young people’s play, learning and development.   A variety of approaches of observation methods and techniques such as narrative and time and frequency sampling will be discussed and their role in assessing and evaluating play and learning evaluated.  Learning stories will be used to support responsive planning which follows children’s interests and curiosities and considers next steps in learning.  

The module will also focus on the ‘student practitioner as a learner’ through examination of the role of evaluation and reflective practice, through Kolb's learning cycle.   Students will develop self -awareness and understanding of their own contribution to the planning, facilitation and evaluation of play, learning and development opportunities for children and young people.  Ethical and professional issues will be examined through understanding the importance of children’s voice, confidentiality, data protection.  

At the end of this module the student will be able to:

• ​Document and evaluate a range of observational assessment methods used in supporting children and young people’s play, learning and development
• ​Demonstrate knowledge and practice in ethical observational approaches that support responsive planning for and assessment of children and young people’s learning and development
• ​Develop skills in reflective practice through reflecting on own contribution to the planning, facilitation and evaluation of play, learning and development opportunities for children and young people

This is an SCQF Level 7 module and upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 10 credits.

Delivery

The module will be delivered at Lanarkshire campus, times to be confirmed.

Course presenter

This module will be delivered by Joyce Leslie.

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.  If you do not meet this criteria, please enquire here.

Graduate Apprenticeship

In addition to being available on a CPD basis, this module is part of our fully funded Graduate Apprenticeship - BA Early Learning and Childcare.

Developed in response to A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare (2017) and Skills Development Scotland’s Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s Early Learning and Childcare sector (2017), the GA offers a work-based learning route to developing qualified and competent Early Learning and Childcare practitioners.

For further information, please contact apprenticeships@uws.ac.uk