Improving Observation Skills

Writing an aim for an observation.

Observations need a clear statement of what you intend to do.

What is an aim? Click to find out.

Having a clear aim will help you to focus on specific areas and make sense of what you observe.

An aim may include:

The purpose of the observation - To observe ...

Who is observed e.g. an individual child of a specified age, or a group of children.

The developmental area being observed e.g. social development

Specific details about the developmental area e.g. physical development is more specifically described as fine manipulative skills, gross motor skills, hand-eye co-ordination.

The activity or routine the child is performing.

Where the observation is taking place e.g. indoors, the sand area.

Are these aims appropriate?

To observe physical development.
To plan and evaluate a lotto game for 4 year old children.
To observe a 3 year old child's gross motor skills during an outdoor climbing activity.

Look at this aim more closely to find the constituent parts.

The aim starts "To observe" (this is the purpose)
The aim states what is to be observed "a 3 year old"
Observations are of the child's stage of development not of an activity. The focus is the child. It is helpful to include the age of the child as this makes the aim more precise. The reader now knows the observation refers to a young child rather than a baby or school child.
The aim states the area of development to be observed "gross motor skills"
Physical development is a broad area. It is more meaningful to state the aim precisely.
The aim gives additional information "during an outdoor climbing activity"
The aim is made more specific by the extra information. Outdoor play is different to an indoor situation and the precise activity is named.

A clearly stated aim allows the observer to focus carefully one one aspect of development and gain as much relevent information about the child as possible.

Be clear! Stay focused!

Read the following aims and consider if they are appropriate.

Observe the spoken language of a 2 year old in a small group.

To observe two children drawing similar pictures.

To observe a child's reaction to their first day at nursery.

To observe a baby playing.

Now practice your new skill of writing a clearly stated aim for your observations.
If you find it difficult.
Don't be an ostrich! The observations still need completing when you get your head out of the sand.
Be a winner and ask for help AND practice!

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Observe the spoken language of a 2 year old in a small group.
To observe two children drawing similar pictures.
To observe a child's reaction to their first day at nursery.
To observe a baby playing.