Informal Observation

* Observe and record certain elements of the pupil’s academic work therefore taking some pressure off the teacher having to complete all observations themselves.

The topic studied in this naturalistic observational research study was called “pick me up.” The purpose of this study was to place a note card on the ground labeled “pick me up” and observe the type of person that picked the card up. The research question was “Which gender will pick up the card more and which gender will react more?” The researchers had three hypotheses: (1) More women will smile when reading the card than men, (2) More men than women will notice the card and continue walking, and (3) More men than women will notice the card.

The observation tool provided monitors and records a variety of developmental milestones. These observations are used later as a reference to better plan the curriculum for the class. Accurately collecting this information includes an honest, unbiased record of behaviors, regular updates, and a review by other staff members trained in the observation

Anecdotal, observations are not viewed by another party i.e. a parent or another pupil you add what you have been informed of into the child’s files it can help to keep development records up to date can help you to learn about children in different situation s

Observations- practitioners ask the child to come over to them and do a task which the practitioner would like to see if the child can do it can be as simple as kicking a large ball to knowing whether a child know which way to read the book left to right.

These can be carried out formally and informally.   Information from observations on a pupil’s progress is passed onto the teacher who will then report it to the parent/carer.

Observations and assessments can help the teacher plan activities that take into account the individual needs of the children. They also show how a child is developing. In my setting the teacher uses observations when planning and we complete narrative observations on a daily basis.

The observation was a very interesting and informative process. It gave me the opportunity to apply different theories of development. The biggest advantage of this psychological method is the opportunity to observe the subject in the natural surrounding and watch his natural behavior.

This type of observation needs some planning, as the observer needs to keep an eye on the children. A sheet is prepared with the times marked out. At the each of the times on the sheet, the observer watches what the child is doing. It is possible to record the activity of more than one child.

It is important to observe the child carefully, closely and to listen to them in different situations to ensure that the teacher is clear about what their needs are, their strengths and difficulties. It is important to observe the

8. Practise! The best way to develop your skills at observing children’s development, learning and behaviour is to do observations on a regular basis.

Observation is very important in young children because that is how you get to know a child better. While observing how a child interacts with their peers, adults, and how they behave in different settings, you are getting to know the child without speaking to them.

In an early childhood setting, being observant gives professionals and family members a helpful portrait of the children in their care, and as future professionals it helps us see how intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development occurs in children. Observing, documenting, and assessing young children shows how they progress from one stage to the next or when there is a delay in progression. The reason we observe young children is that “there is so much that demands attention and response; at the same time, by building in systematic observation, teachers can improve their teaching, construct theory, assess children, assist families, and solve problems” (Gordon and Browne, p.180). It gives dynamic information about each child’s learning styles, interests, abilities, and needs. Observation helps teachers improve teaching by making them become more objective and self-aware of biases they may have. It encourages us to remember that early childhood development is highly individualized, so customizing activities to benefit each child will help them utilize their abilities to their fullest potentials, and through this we will be able to recognize what behaviors are typical of various age groups. The reason we document our observations is so that we can keep records and show proper evidence of each child’s individual growth and participation in classroom activities. With good documentation, family members will able to see the progression made by their child.

Observations are important tool to Social Work practise as it lets you identify any milestones that haven’t been achieved that the child at the specific age should be meeting. It also lets the observer know if the child is exceeding their milestones and is developing faster than their peers (Fawcett, 2009, pg. 3, 2nd Ed). It’s always essential to observe as a social worker as you do many assessments and observing helps you stand back and reflect on how far the child has come from the first observation you did and report on it. This could be to do progression with language development or fine motor skills. Fawcett (1996, pg.3) states that observing is important because it helps ‘notice what might otherwise be overlooked’.

Observation is something that educators do carefully to gain information about young children. Documentation is the process of collecting evidence that serves as a record. When teachers observe the young children, it provides the information that the teachers need to build relationships with individual children and enable them to be successful learners. The best way the teachers should learn about children by carefully watching them, listening to them and studying their work. When the teachers are watching and listening to children helps us understand what they are feeling, learning and thinking. Observation is an excellent way to track children’s