TEDX1885X - Early Childhood: Observation & Assessment
Course Description
This course is designed to help educators, para-professionals, and child caregivers observe and assess various aspects of children’s development and programs. Participants will learn the components necessary for strong observation skills, such as self-awareness, objectivity, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines. Web links to videos and other observation and assessment resources will be included.
The course will then discuss various types of observation and recording tools, as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with each. Students will learn how to set goals, plan, and choose the best instrument for specific situations. Included will be tools for assessing environments, programming, and child-staff interactions. The why, when, where, what, and how of conducting appropriate observations and authentic assessments will be covered.
Participants will gain techniques for organizing, analyzing, and interpreting observation data. This course will teach how to apply assessment information to improve program quality and to best meet the needs of individual children.
Students will discuss proper methods for displaying observations and sharing assessments. Included will be portfolio development and other documentation methods that make children’s experiences visible. The course will then show ways to communicate observation and assessment information to parents and other appropriate adults. Finally, students will apply course concepts by creating an observation and assessment plan for their own classroom environment.
View Early Childhood: Observation & Assessment syllabus for additional information.
Key Benefits
- 100% online self-paced course.
- No prior experience required.
- No textbooks and other materials required for purchase.
Learning Modules Include
- Introduction to Observation & Assessment: What and Why?
- Definitions, History & Trends in Early Childhood Assessment
- Personal Ethical & Legal Guidelines: Best Practices
- Observing & Recording Tools: Using & Choosing
- Authentic Assessment of Children & Environments
- Interpreting for Meaning: Analyzing & Applying Data
- Documentations & Communication: Showing & Sharing
- Course Summary and Conclusion
Course Learning Outcomes
- Become aware of your own biases to become skilled in objective observation.
- Describe the cycle and functions of observation and assessment in early childhood settings.
- Learn best practices for observing and assessing the development of young children.
- Identify a variety of observation recording tools for developmental screening and program assessment.
- Learn advantages and disadvantages of each tool and guidelines for choosing the most appropriate choice for different goals.
- Understand how to summarize and interpret observation data to assess children and programs.
- Apply observation data to planning for individual children and programs.
- Develop formats for documenting, sharing and explaining observation and assessment practices and information to parents and colleagues.
- Design a personal strategy for gathering information and keeping records in a specific early childhood setting.
Requirements to Enroll
No application is needed to enroll. All learners are eligible to enroll in the course. There are no admission requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED, and have basic computer and internet knowledge.
Semester Open-Enrollment Schedule:
- Spring = January - April
- Summer = May - August
- Fall = September - December
*Please note that students are only allowed to register max 5 TEDX courses per semester period*
Estimated Time to Completion
This course can be completed in approximately 40 hours of asynchronous work.
Access Time
Learners will have access to their course learning modules for up to 365 days from the date of enrollment.
CEUs and PDUs
- CEUs 4.0 National University Continuing Education Units
Certificate of Completion
Learners will be awarded a National University Workforce and Community Education, Professional and Continuing Education Certificate of Completion after satisfying the course requirements below:
- Complete all four information sections showing a competent understanding of the material presented in each section.
- Complete all four section examinations, showing a competent understanding of the material presented. You must obtain an overall score of 70% or higher, with no individual exam score below 50%, to pass this course. *Please note: Minimum exam score requirements may vary by college or university; therefore, you should refer to your course addendum to determine what your minimum exam score requirements are.
- Complete a review of any section on which your examination score was below 50%.
- Retake any examination, after completing an information review, to increase that examination score to a minimum of 50%, making sure to also be achieving an overall exam score of a minimum 70% (maximum of three attempts). *Please note: Minimum exam score requirements may vary by college or university; therefore, you should refer to your course addendum to determine what your minimum exam score requirements are.
- Complete a course evaluation form at the end of the course.
Refund Policy
We at National University want all of our students to have a positive and rewarding learning experience. In the event that a student is not completely satisfied with a course, we offer a refund policy to ensure satisfaction.
To be eligible for a refund, the student must submit a written request, including a valid reason, within 9 calendar days of registering for the course. Additionally, the student must not have attempted more than 25% of the course.
To request a refund, email PACE@nu.edu and include your full name, student ID, and course name. Your reason for requesting a refund will be carefully reviewed, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund if we determine the request to be invalid.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for a refund, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment within 60 days of the refund approval.