Syllabus Information

1.1. Introduction

The subject “Observation in the school” is part of the basic training of the teacher in Infant Education and it is placed in the first term of the first year of this degree. It will provide the student with the appropriate knowledge and techniques that will allow him/her to capture, in an appropriate way, all the relevant information created in the educational context, indispensable for the knowledge and the evaluation of people and contexts.

2.1. Learning goals

The student, to be able to pass the subject, will have to demonstrate the following results:

1. Comparing different types of observations and adapting their use to specific situations; being able to identify the main contributions of observations in Infant Education. Also, identifying and defining the functions and phases to follow in the process of observation.
2. Describing the characteristics that observations must have, as a technique for collecting valid and reliable data.
3. Analyzing and assessing the process of production and application of different tools of observation.
4. Creating an instrument of observation that guarantees the quality of the data and being capable of recording and interpreting the information gathered by using it.
5. Evaluating and interpreting scientific articles following the guidelines given in class.

5.1. Methodological overview

The methodology followed in this course is oriented towards achievement of the learning objectives. It is based on active participation, case studies, teamwork etc. that favors the development of communicative skills and critical thinking. A wide range of teaching and learning tasks are implemented, such as lectures, practical activities, practice sessions, autonomous work, tutorials, and academic guidance.

Further information regarding the course will be provided on the first day of class.

5.2. Learning tasks

The course includes 6 ECTS organized according to:

- Lectures (3  ECTS): 30  hours.

- Practice sessions (2  ECTS): 20 hours.

- Autonomous work ( ECTS): 87 hours.

- Tutorials (1  ECTS): 10  hours.

- Assessment (0,3 ECTS): 3 hours.

5.3. Syllabus

The contents of this subject are going to provide for the future teacher in Infant Education the necessary competences for the best knowledge of the students, the context in which they develop, the teaching-learning process, formal and informal evaluations, etc.

All of these aspects, certainly, will contribute to his quality as an educator, something that will help the integral development of his/her future pupils. The contents that they are going to deal with are in the areas of:

1. Introduction to observation and the Infant school: observation in the educational process of children. Professional ethics.
2. The process of systematic observation: planning and design. Instruments of observation and registration. Registration and data codification. Quality control of the data collected.
3. Analysis of data depending on the aims and design of observation.
4. Preparation of the observation report.

5.4. Course planning and calendar

For further details concerning the timetable, classroom and further information regarding this course please refer to the Facultad de Educación de Zaragoza website (http://educacion.unizar.es/); the Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales de Teruel  website (https://fcsh.unizar.es/) and the Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación de Huesca (https://magister.unizar.es/).

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

[BB: Basic bibliography / BC: Complementary bibliography]