Early Childhood Education-Observation Study-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Early Childhood Education and Care: Observation Study. Answer: The observations are about learning, not just about doing or recording, as the activities included various methods including narrative dramatic play activity observation, environmental and social activities observation. The selected child for the observation is 8 years old Essie Breeds from the Teresa Child Enrichment Center of Sydney, Australia. The date for the observation was 1st October, 2017. The observer learned through anecdotal recording, event sampling and time sampling during the observation. The observer observed the childs activities during various learning through playing segments in the child care center. The observer concentrated on the chosen childs competencies while dealing with various activities throughout the day. Without any analytic interpretation the observer objectively observed and recorded the events and the childs expressions of thoughts and actions. Observation 1: Creative Learning The observer was engaged in the time sampling method in order to observe the development of Essie. The children were given a coloring activity at the art center around 10.30 am. The observer asked to draw only a yellow car. Essie was drawing a yellow car but she chose other colors like green and blue to draw the background. The observer asked her Why did you paint green and blue in the background? Essie answered Blue is the sky and green is the tree behind our garage. The observer told her that now she will be going to the play area. Immediately Essie leaves the art area without organizing the color box and closing the color book. She did not finish the drawing either as she more focused on background and surrounding than the car, despite the observers instruction to organize things before leaving. Observation 2: Book Reading At 11 o clock the observer guided the children to the library area. At the library Essie was taking books from the book self and looking for something but looks dissatisfied and returned them on the racks but not in the prior orderly fashion. The observer asked Essie What are you looking for? Essie unmindfully replied Where are the pictures of the tortoise? The observer asked Which tortoise? Then Essie looked at the observer and seems irritated and answered The tortoise that I saw yesterday. The observer asked Where did you keep the book yesterday? Essie thought for a while and answered I dont remember. The observer found a picture book of The Tortoise and the hare and Essie seems happy. Before giving the book observer told her You will keep the book here. Essie nodded her head and took the book the observer asked What did you say who helps you? Essie smiles and says Thank you. After seeing the book she kept it in the instructed place. Observation 3: Playing with Objects At the play area the observer asked everyone to build something from the Lego blocks. Essie took some puzzle blocks but did not start making anything for a long time and kept observing others. She holds the puzzle piece, took them close and observed them for a while but could not understand as she throws the puzzle pieces away. Then she picked some Lego blocks but the observer asks to leave the blocks. Then the observer asks the children to describe what they built. When Essies chance came she stood up but replied A house. The observer asks her to show that to others, but she kept her head down and said with apologetic tone I could not finish. The observer noticed that Essie was struggling to choose words to explain other things but was struggling with words as she was stuttering in inaudible words. One child laughed so she looks up at other children and was about to cry but the observer told her that it was okay she could sit down. She sat down quietly. Observation 4: Language Development The observer engaged Essie in two parts of language development activities; first the observer gave Essie 20 nouns and asks her to remember them and gave her 20 pictures of similar objects like bed, pillow. The observer asked Can you tell me which is what? Essie correctly answered 18 out of 20 as she altered two words. The next time the observer gave her another 19 nouns and another 20 pictures like tree, house. After identifying 19 items she took the left wooden abstract figure and calls it A man. The picture of a man and the word were in the previous vocabulary exercise. Observation 5: Socio Dramatic Play In the dramatic play activity the children participated in an imaginary shopping mall and asked to play various roles as the grocers, buyers, mall employees. The dramatic play occurred inside the center at the play area on the same day at 14.30 pm to 16.30 pm. Essie entered the play area and directly went close to the center behind a desk and it was clear that she was playing a vendor. She selected few toy vegetables and displayed them on the counter. Another child Toby approached her and wanted to take some vegetables from her as he also wants to be a vendor but not enough toy groceries left for him. Toby selected some toys from the counter and says I want these but Essie refused to give any to him by saying These are mine. Toby tried to grab some so Essie snatched and shouted No! Toby got frightened and left the place so does another kid Brian who came to play as a buyer. After they walked away, Essie seemed happy and was busy playing herself only. Toby went to the observer and ask s Why Essie has all the toys? How will I sell some if I dont have any? The observer approaches to Essie and asks Essie what is wrong? Essie answers I took these vegetables first so these are mine. The observer asks her to share some by saying Dont you think you should share some with Toby? He does not have any to play. Essie thought for a while, looked at other children who are busy playing except Toby. She called Toby, he came and she gave few toys to him. The observer took few photographs of the events while the children were engaged in various activities focusing on Essie. The drawing that Essie made is kept by the author as document sample; the verbal representation during the post play session is recorder by the observer in audio visual device. Through the observation the observer felt that the Essie demonstrates behavior that is the result of not following the procedures narrated by the instructors initially but after repeating it to her she follows them properly. The observer followed proper regulations while describing the tasks to the students. She did not intervene in the activities unless it was necessary or required. During the art class Essie did not respond to the observers instruction as she left the drawing books and materials unorganized. However she corrected this in the book reading activity where she organized the book in the right place. While dealing with the puzzle pieces Essie showed impatience and failing to compete with others made her frustrated. She developed the vocabulary easily and identified the pictures well. The observer feels that Essie should be provided with easier materials and tasks that are capable of encouraging her to express more actively.