Blog 4 Documentation & Assessments

Weekly Readings: (Week Five)

• Devon E. McKenna (spring 2003) Developmental pedagogy in the Swedish Preschool: The Portfolio as a Vehicle for Reflection, Learning, and Democracy

• AoYC: Chapter 5 PDF 
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Democracy in Preschool 

Devon E. McKenna (spring 2003) discusses how democratic rule is evident in preschools across Sweden. The article states that democracy forms a foundation for preschools which allows a preschool to run sufficiently as parents and teacher work together (McKenna, 2003). In a democratic rule citizens are able to share their views, imputes and concern about how the country is being run. So having democracy in a preschool makes sense because it allows the staff of the preschool and the parents to collaborate ideas on how to make the child's experience meaningful.  There are many evidences that shows how a democratic rule runs significantly, for example: documents. Documents are an official form stating important pieces of information. Devon E. McKenna (spring 2003) states Documentation brings democracy into the pedagogical activities and decision making of the preschool by offering a means for those within, along with those outside the preschool, to observe and reflect on its activities and development.  There are many things to document when it pertains to a child and their development. Yet I wonder is there a wrong way to document ? Who is effect the most, the child, parents, or teacher when it comes to wrong documentation? 

Authentic Assessment 

In preschool there is authentic assessments. Authentic assessment is a teacher guide in making sure that the information that is obtains is accurate and meaningful to the child's development. In Chapter five AoYC states that many ECE educators uses alternative assessments  as a way to obtain documentation instead of test. The alternative assessments are developmentally age appropriate for children.  There are several ways to conduct assessments on children without using test and these assessments will give the teacher an idea of where the child is successful and where the child needs further development.  One example of an authentic assessment for documentation is a child's portfolio. A child's portfolio consist of many samples of work that the child has done through out the school  year. It may include samples of art work, such as; drawings, or paintings, writing samples, gluing and or cutting samples. The child portfolio is an authentic document because the child has created the work  their selves and the teacher and parents can see the child's progress through a period of time. Chapter five states that authentic documentation consist of variety of assessments strategies and goals within the assessments process which collaborates with inputs from children, teachers and parents (83).  With that said I feel it is important to ask since we now know the pros to Authentic assessments what are the cons to authentic assessments? How do you feel that  authentic assessments connect to democracy.?