Module 8: Physical Development

Contents

Module Objectives

In this module you will:

  • Explore infant physical development
  • Brainstorm how infant teachers can support the physical development of babies
  • Write an objective, detailed observation of an infant

Activity #1: Infant Physical Development

Complete this handout as you:

      • Read Honig (2007)
      • Read Pica (2010)
      • Watch Infants: Physical Development

Submit the completed handout on Blackboard (under ‘Assignments’ in ‘Module 8: Physical  Development Readings & Video Handout’)

 

Link to Honig (2007) 

Honig(2007)PD

 

Link to Pica (2010)

Pica(2010)

 

Watch the video  Infants: Physical Development (Learning Seed, 2010)  which is located in the BMCC library Kanopy video database; follow  these instructions or watch this video explains to access the video.

Upload your completed Physical Development Readings & Videos Handout to Blackboard (in ‘Assignments’ under ‘Module 9 Readings & Video Handout).

Activity #2: Week 8 Goal Monitoring

Link to Week 8 Goal Monitoring Guidelines

Week 8 Goal Monitoring Guidelines

 

Link to Week 8 Goal Monitoring Questions

Link to Week 8 Goal Monitoring Questions (MS Word)

Week 8 Goal Monitoring Questions

Activity #3: Observing an Infant

We will use this virtual observation for your observation of an infant.  Watch this video and use this footage as your observation of an infant.  To ensure your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of the families, this video is the only observation that will be accepted for your Observation of an Infant Paper.

 

In this process, you will continue to develop your muscle as an observer. As you watch the video, I follow these steps:

  1. Watch the video
  2. Re-watch the video, focusing on:
    • What is in the physical environment where the setting happens? You will need to describe the items and how they are located in relation to each other for the paper.
    • What happens at the start of the observation/ video? What is the baby doing? Do they know you are observing?  How do they respond? What do they do/ say?  (This info will go into your paper)
    • Identify 3 parts (called vignettes or mini-stores) of the videos that you feel are important and would like to document in your paper. Identify vignettes that you feel capture the infant and who they are.
    • What happens as you end the observation/ video? What is the baby doing? Do they know the observation is finishing?  How do they respond? What do they do/ say? (This info will go into your paper)
    • Try to own the observation; give the baby a name — it can be the same as the name of the child in your Infant-Family Case Study Family — try to imagine yourself in the setting and actually being in the same room with the infant.  Weave those details into your paper.
  3. Each vignette should describe the baby engaged in an activity. Each activity should be 2 minutes of the video, and you should document the entire activity — don’t stop writing your vignette in the middle of the activity.  In other words, you should have 3 vignettes that capture 3 activities and each activity/ vignette should be 2 minutes of video
  4. Watch the video a third  time — or more — this time take very detailed notes.  These notes are called field notes.  Use this Field Notes Form to guide you as you take notes.  The field notes should describe the child’s behaviors, actions, and reactions during each vignette and activity. Specifically, you should document what happens in the vignette in sequential, chronological order, capturing:
    • What does the infant do during the vignette?
    • How does the baby move — include all types of movements)?
    • What does the infant looks at, gaze at?
    • What seems to attract the baby’s interest? How can you can tell?
    • What toys, materials, and/or furniture does the infant use during the vignette How?
    • How does the baby vocalize, including cries, babbling, and using real words?
    • What other ways does the infant communicate, including facial expressions and gestures?
    • How does the baby interact with people?
    • Anything else you notice.
  1. Your field notes will help you write your paper.  I suggest using the link to the Field Notes Form to record your notes as you watch and re-watch the video.  Jot down info that will help you – don’t worry about spelling or writing full sentences.  Keep the field notes for yourself.
  2. Describe your vignettes in sequential, chronological order; vignette #1 should happen 1st in the video, vignette #2 next, etc.
  3. This is a sample vignette

Your observation to be as detailed, descriptive and as non-judgmental (objective).  This Power Point  focuses on being a skilled observer.

 

Obervation Overview

 

What to look for when watching the video:

  • Where the observation takes place? Describe the space in detail. Who was present?
  • What the baby look like –hair, skin, facial features, body type, and clothing?
  • What the baby does, in general, during your observation?
  • What routines (eating, sleeping, toileting/ diapering, bathing, playing, transitions, etc.) you observe the family engage in? What happens during the routines? How does the baby react?
  • Pick sequential 4 segments of video that are about 2-3 minutes each – identify sections that have natural beginning and end points (do not stop in the middle of an activity). Describe what occurs in these scenarios or situations in detail.
  • Describe in chronological order, using rich vivid details with  objective language:
    • How the baby moves (please include all types of movements)?
    • What the baby looks at, gaze at?
    • What seems to attract the baby’s interest? How can you tell?
    • What toys, materials, and/or furniture the baby uses while you are observing? How?
    • How the baby vocalizes, including cries, babbling, and using real words?
    • What other ways the baby communicates, including facial expressions and gestures?
    • How the baby interacts with people?
    • Anything else you notice

 

Link to Field Notes Form

Link to Field Notes Form (MS Word)

Observation of Infant Field Notes Form

 

Activity #4: Self-Assessment

At Week 16 of the semester you will monitor your progress towards achieving your goals. Your learning, growth and progress towards achieving your goals will help to determine your grade for ECE 209. To monitor your progress towards meeting you goals,  answer the questions below at the end of each module to document your progress over the semester.

  • What did you learn in this week’s modules for ECE 209-Lecture and Seminar that connects to your goals?
    • Information/ knowledge
    • Skills
    • Insights (connections you made or “ah-ha’s” you had about the material)
  • How will the material from these modules help and support you to meet your goals

CLICK HERE TO POST YOUR SELF-REFLECTION