EC-S2: Ability to gather, document, and share information about the performance of individual children in all developmental domains under the direction of a licensed professional.

Facilitator Supplement

Worksheets in this Unit

All worksheets are Adobe pdf files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print the worksheets.

Lesson 1a: Collecting Data Using Naturalistic Observation

• Strategy To Practice

Lesson 1b: Collecting Data Using Time Sampling Observation

• Strategy To Practice
• Data Collection Form

Lesson 1c: Collecting Data Using Event Frequency Sampling

• Strategy To Practice
• Data Collection Form

Lesson 1d: Collecting Data Using Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence Observation

• Strategy To Practice
• Data Collection Form

Lesson 1e: Collecting Data Using Checklists

• Strategy To Practice
• Data Collection Form

Facilitated Activity

The activities in this unit provide paraprofessionals with the opportunity to practice the observation strategies covered in the lessons. Paraprofessionals will practice observing children’s behavior, growth and development using naturalistic observation, time sampling observation, event frequency sampling, antecedent-behavior-consequence observation, and checklists. For each strategy, paraprofessionals will observe a child and record their observations and reflections on a data collection form and worksheet.

These activities provide a valuable opportunity for group discussion led by the facilitator. The group members can discuss their reactions to each observation activity. What went well? What was frustrating or difficult? Which observation strategy was the easiest to use? Which strategy was the most difficult to use? Were any of the strategies confusing?

Discussion Ideas

Additional discussion ideas are listed below:

• As a group, identify different situations in which you might use each observation strategy. Make a list for each type of observation, and discuss the results.
• Share any experience you have observing or monitoring children’s growth and development. What type of observation strategy did you use, and how was it similar or different from the observation strategies described in the unit?
• Which observation strategies would you feel most comfortable using in your work as a paraprofessional?
• How would an antecedent-behavior-consequence observation help educators address a young child’s challenging behavior? What useful information would be gathered through this type of observation?
• How do time sampling observations differ from event frequency observations? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of observation?
• How could observation data be useful for IEP and IFSP planning and implementation?
• What could you do to make sure that your observation data is reliable and valid?

The Para eLink is sponsored by the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, located at the Institute on Community Integration in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

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