EDEC 642: Assessment and Documentation in Early Childhood Education
Assessment 3 – Observation, Documentation, and Reflective Practice Report

Assessment Overview

Prepare a 1,050–1,400-word professional report that demonstrates your ability to observe young children systematically, document learning accurately, and use formative assessment to inform intentional teaching. The task emphasizes authentic practice rather than theoretical comparison.

Course Context

High-quality early childhood practice depends on educators who can notice learning, interpret children’s behavior, and adjust instruction responsively. Observation and documentation are not add-ons to teaching; they are central to ethical, developmentally appropriate decision-making and aligned with NAEYC standards.

Assessment Task

Complete the following components in a structured report:

1. Context Description
   • Describe the learning setting (age group, environment, routines).
   • Explain your role (student teacher, assistant, observer, or hypothetical placement).
2. Focused Observation
   • Conduct one focused observation of a child or small group.
   • Use one method of documentation (running record, anecdotal note, learning story, or checklist).
   • Present the observation objectively, without interpretation.
3. Interpretation of Learning
   • Analyze what the observation reveals about the child’s development.
   • Connect your interpretation to at least two domains (social-emotional, language, cognitive, physical).
4. Instructional Response
   • Design two developmentally appropriate learning experiences informed by the observation.
   • Explain how these experiences support inclusion and respond to individual differences.
5. Reflective Practice
   • Evaluate your strengths and limitations as an observer.
   • Explain how reflective practice supports ethical teaching.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

• Length: 1,050–1,400 words
• Format: APA 7th edition
• Sources: Minimum of 4 scholarly sources (at least 2 from 2019 onward)
• Voice: Professional educator tone, clear and precise language
• Submission: Upload as a Word document to the LMS

Assessment Criteria

• Quality and objectivity of observation
• Depth of developmental interpretation
• Alignment between observation and instructional planning
• Evidence of reflective thinking
• Clarity of writing and APA accuracy

Effective reports distinguish clearly between description and interpretation, demonstrate sensitivity to children’s individual contexts, and propose learning experiences that are feasible within real classroom conditions. Strong submissions show how observation directly informs intentional teaching rather than functioning as isolated documentation.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) (2020)
  Developmentally Appropriate Practice Position Statement.
  https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap

• Carr, M. and Lee, W. (2019)
  Learning Stories in Practice. 2nd edn. London: SAGE.
  https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/learning-stories-in-practice/book257607

• Fleer, M. and van Oers, B. (2018)
  ‘International perspectives on early childhood assessment’,
  Early Years, 38(1), pp. 1–6.
  https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2018.1417838

• McLachlan, C., Fleer, M. and Edwards, S. (2018)
  Early Childhood Curriculum: Planning, Assessment and Implementation. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316443040

• Pyle, A. and Danniels, E. (2017/2019 widely cited in 2019–2024 literature)
  ‘A continuum of play-based learning’,
  Early Education and Development, 28(3), pp. 274–289.
  https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2016.1220771