Types of Ecological Assessment

• Authentic Assessment
  Demonstration of a skill or behavior in a real life context.

• Curriculum-Based Assessment
  A broad approach to linking assessment to instruction.

• Dynamic Assessment
  An approach in which the assessor actively engages the learner in learning. Interactions between the evaluator and the child that mediate the world to the child by framing, selecting, focusing, and feeding back environmental experiences in such a way as to produce appropriate learning sets and habits (Feuerstein, 1979).

• Performance Assessment
  Demonstration of the behavior that has been specified by the assessor.

• Product Assessment
  An analysis of the product of the child's performance.

• Portfolio Assessment
  A deliberate or purposeful collection of the products of a child's play and work that demonstrates the child's efforts, progress, and achievement.

Organizing Young Children's Portfolios

• Art Activities (Fine Motor Development)
  • drawings
  • photographs of block constructions
  • samples of printing
  • artwork using various media
• Movement (Gross Motor Development)
  • teacher's comments or videotapes of class and playground activities
  • photographs of participation in music activities
  • observations of the child's play
• Math and Science Activities (Concept Development)
  • photographs and videotapes of the child working on math and science projects
  • work samples
• Language and Literacy
  • audiotapes and videotapes of the child reading
  • samples of the child's writings
  • interviews with the child
  • journal or log entries written about the child
• Personal and Social Development
  • teacher's comments and observations
  • interviews with parents
  • videotapes

Evaluation of the Contents of a Young Child's Portfolio

• Narrative
  Teacher relates what a child knows or has accomplished and strengths and weaknesses can be delineated

• General Impression Scoring
  Uses a scale (e.g., 1-4) and provides one score

• Focused Holistic Scoring
  Provides one score and is quick, superficial based on looking for a previously identified characteristic

• Analytic Scoring
  Provides a detailed evaluation using a scale or rubric to assign points to different levels of performance and several scores are produced.

• Cautions When Using Portfolios
  • Are the contents of the portfolio representative of the child's work?
  • Are the criteria for selection and evaluation clear?
  • Who evaluates the contents?
  • Who owns the portfolio?

Portfolio Assessment

• provides a rich portrait of what children know and are able to do
• depicts the processes children use when they work and play in a natural environment
• serves as a source of continuous information about children's work and play in order to depict development, give feedback and plan interventions
• aligns assessment with the goals of instruction
• links assessment with intervention

  Arter & Spandel, 1991

Observational Assessment

• Anecdotal Record
  
• Running Record
  
• Specimen Record
  
• Interval Recording
  
• Duration Recording
  
• Event Recording
  
• Intensity Measure
  
• Latency Recording
  
• Category Recording
  
• Product Evaluation
  
• Rating Scale
  
• Checklist

Suggestions for Environmental Assessment

• Team members should make sure that the assessment incorporates all aspects of the child's environment including home, child care settings, community programs, and family life. An assessment that reflects all the areas is referred to as ecologically valid
• Use scaled drawings
• Trace a child's path
• Complete environmental checklists
• Complete environmental rating scales

Cohen, L. G. & Spenciner, L. J. (1994). Assessment of young children. New York: Longman Publishing.

Martin, S. (1994).Take a look. Don Mills, Ontario: Addison-Wesley Publishers Limited.