The High Scope informational material discusses assessment approaches that can help streamline teaching and learning success. The resource is tailored to support educators and students by giving evidence-based insights. Early childhood evaluation is a process of obtaining information concerning a child reviewing and using data to plan educational strategies that match the necessary level (High Scope, n.d a). Different tools and techniques like checklists, scaling, or observations can be integrated to learn more about children’s weaknesses and strengths. A tool like a classroom coach, the quality of learning environments and diverse early childhood education can be assessed (High Scope, n.d b). Educators can know better ways to channel teachings for the best outcomes.
Ethically, program quality assessment (PQA) is a reliable and scientifically proven approach that reflects research-based practices to help children develop. PQA is an approved program to examine the school environment and teacher-children relationship. The program is structured to assess the quality of daily routines, parent involvement, and staff qualification (High Scope, n.d). The focus is to help build strong interactions in the learning process while supporting connections with families to foster optimal growth. PQA is not designed to help children only but to support educators in discovering opportunities for improvement (High Scope, n.d). A program like PQA is compliant with the national standards to give teachers data-driven directions to nurture, support, and stimulate learning.
Early childhood educators and researchers must consider whether the assessment approaches employed in the compulsory education system are relevant to children as a new field of study. While reflecting on challenges or issues linked to young children, there is a change towards better-standardized techniques to examine children to know their learning process, development, or growth. Although early childhood evaluation in learning is crucial to tailor their needs, it is critical to consider existing cultural differences, socioeconomic conditions, and diversity. Typically, it can be unethical to apply tools that are only suitable for gauging the learning of children who possess cultural experiences that match what is measured. Essentially, it is better to draw on social, cultural, or ecological theories that focus on understating a child in context.
References
High Scope. (n.d a). Program Quality Assessment – High Scope. High Scope. Web.
High Scope. (n.d b). Assessment-High Scope. High Scope. Web.