Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Roberta Schomburg
Committee Member
Rebecca R. Montano
Keywords
anecdotal record, checklist, confidence, early childhood, elementary education, event sample, in-service training, observation techniques, observations, skills, teacher education
Abstract
This practicum was designed to enhance the skills and confidence in the use of observation techniques by early childhood teachers in a public school setting. Workshops providing in-service training were designed and implemented at an elementary school.
The writer developed and implemented a series of workshops utilizing pre/post questionnaires, lesson plans, and evaluation instruments. The pre/post questionnaire, observation survey and reflections tool was administered to all participants.
Analysis of the data revealed that the participants were able to identify six observation techniques and over the series of in-services increased their confidence in the use of informal observations. The teachers reported a gain in confidence from their first experience with a technique when they had an additional opportunity to experience, record, and reflect on a particular technique more than once.