ECE/512 - Early Childhood Assessment

Course Description

This course examines the role, purpose, and applications of assessment in early childhood education. Participants explore developmentally appropriate assessment techniques and strategies in early childhood education to meet the needs of diverse learners, as well as approaches to effectively select, design, and record assessments. Participants examine how to interpret and evaluate assessment outcomes to evaluate student development and to enhance curriculum planning. Additionally, this course provides an overview of collaborative partnerships such as school districts, parents, and community resources in the assessment process.

This graduate course is 4 weeks.

PLEASE NOTE:
Attendance and participation are mandatory in all university courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

This course is not available for enrollment to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

Course Objectives

Role, Purpose, and Types of Assessment

• Describe the role and purpose of assessments in an early childhood learning environment.
• Identify the roles of family, medical professionals, and educators in the early childhood assessment.
• Define assessment in the use of curriculum and intentional teaching.
• Examine types of assessment tools.
• Define assessment goals and key elements of assessment with regard to developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood.
• Define relevant components in selecting an appropriate assessment tool.
• Describe the essential characteristics of a good measurement instrument for evaluating children’s learning.

Designing Quality Assessments

• Define the purpose of systematic assessment practice and setting goals for instructional design.
• Examine multiple developmental domains interrelated to assessment goals.
• Identify the importance of selecting a variety of assessment tools to achieve assessment goals.
• Analyze the importance of evaluating assessment tools to influence effective instructional activities, enhance curriculum, and modify the learning environment to achieve learning goals.
• Understand the multiple influences of culture, family, technology, and language in the design and implementation of assessments.
• Develop documentation, recording, and evaluation techniques.

Interpretation and Application of Assessments; Record Keeping

• Understand the role of learning models and learning theories in the interpretation and application of assessments.
• Interpret differences in assessment tools and outcomes.
• Evaluate strengths, learning potentials, and differences in assessment outcomes.
• Apply assessment results to instructional strategies including curriculum development, materials, learning activities, and classroom environment.

Communication of Assessment Process With Stakeholders

• Identify stakeholders to include in the communication of assessment.
• Examine the benefits, effectiveness and appropriateness of community and family collaboration.
• Identify barriers in a collaborative process.
• Develop appropriate and mutually beneficial venues for communication.
• Identify additional community, school, or district resources for children and families based on assessments.
• Explain the role of government funding and mandates in the assessment process.

Disclaimers

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.

Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.

While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with an Enrollment Representative.