Observation descriptions
These examples show that there are lots of different ways to record what children are doing, and each of the approaches gives different information about the child.
Activity 3 Matching observation techniques
Match and drag the types of observation into the blank description boxes to see what types of information each one can provide.
Comment
Each of these observation techniques creates a different record, as shown by the examples that you’ve seen for the different approaches. Alongside these formal records of observations other information can be used: photos, videos, drawings, sound recordings, post-it notes – anything that tells us something about the child.
Observations recorded using a tablet can also be a helpful way to capture information, allowing the practitioner more time with the child and less time writing on paper during the session. It may also capture some events or actions that are difficult to articulate on paper, such as evidencing a child’s emerging schemas.