Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 College Catalog 
    
2022-2023 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

ECE 240 - Assessment of Young Children

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

Assessment techniques associated with the evaluation of young children. Includes observation methods, interpreting assessment data, legal and ethical issues related to assessment, methods and strategies, and application of assessment data.

Prerequisite(s): ECE 117  and ECE 118   CDA 102 , CDA 121 , and CDA 271  together can be used instead of ECE 118 .
Information: In order to be successful in all ECE classes, students must have college-level reading and writing skills.


Course Learning Outcomes
  1. Compare the purpose, value and use of formal and informal observation methods (NAEYC 1c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4b).
  2. Apply understandings of children’s development when interpreting assessment data (NAEYC 1a, 1b, 1c, 2c, 4b, 4c).
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of legal and ethical issues of observing and assessing young children (NAEYC 3d, 5b).
  4. Compile and apply assessment data (NAEYC 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d).
  5. Apply assessment methods and strategies to one’s professional development (NAEYC 4a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d).

Outline:
  1. Observation Instruments
    1. Anecdotal 
    2. Checklists and rating scales
    3. Event sampling
    4. Frequency and duration counts
    5. Running records        
    6. Work sampling/portfolios/photographic images
    7. Video and audio taping
  2. Assessment
    1. Fundamental principles
      1. Child growth and development, including domains
      2. Key theorists and their ideas
      3. Developmental checklists and milestone charts
    2. Interpretation
    3. Play
    4. Standardized
  3. Ethics and Legal Issues 
    1. Biases
    2. No Child Left Behind
    3. Educational plan process
    4. IEP’s and IFSP’s
    5. Standardized testing
  4. Using Assessment Data
    1. Individually appropriate practices
    2. Curriculum planning
    3. Environment/setting planning
  5. Personal and Professional Applications
    1. Philosophy of early childhood education observation and assessment
    2. Reflective practices
    3. Professional collaboration