The purpose of this professional learning is to view and reflect on an example of how one teacher documents children’s learning in kindergarten.
The Queensland kindergarten learning guideline (QKLG) lists observation as one way teachers can document children’s learning. The below observation sample includes annotations to explain the teacher’s thinking behind their documentation choices.
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Video transcript
Facilitator
Nhi selected the story Ruby Makes a Friend and asked her teacher to read the story to everyone. They were all excited by the pictures of the cloud shapes in the book.
Nhi said that she could see shapes in the clouds outside. The teacher built on this emerging interest to promote the opportunity for learning.
The children went outside to look for shapes in the clouds. The teacher used intentional teaching by challenging the children to use iPads to capture cloud shapes.
Child 1
Oh, look behind.
Teacher
Almost like a scary monster face over there a bit.
Nhi
Where?
Teacher
Look, it’s like round and it’s got sharp teeth sticking out.
Nhi
Yes, oh I can even see a monster F.
Teacher
Oh, a monster F.
Nhi
Aha. I’ll take a picture of the monster F.
Teacher
Go on, take a picture of the monster F.
Child 1
That cloud moved.
Teacher
It did move, too.
Facilitator
The sample video shows evidence of learning in the key focus area of Active learning: exploring tools, technologies and information and communication technologies. Nhi uses her iPad to explore and capture images of the shapes in the clouds.
Teacher
There. Straight up there, Edward. It’s a really big dolphin, not a little dolphin.
Edward
I can’t take a photo.
Nhi
Oh, I can see it.
Teacher
You’ve got to press done, now there you go. Up there, straight up there, it’s moving now. Did you see it, Nhi?
Child 1
I can’t …
Teacher
What else can you see?
Child 1
… I can’t see it.
Nhi
Well, I can see a big …
Child 1
I took a photo of it.
Teacher
Did you?
Child 1
Yes.
Nhi
I can see a tornado there.
Teacher
A tomato?
Nhi
No, a tornado.
Teacher
Oh, tornado.
Nhi
In the middle of a cloud.
Teacher
A tornado in the sky? That’s a bit dangerous.
Nhi
No, a tornado.
Remy
What’s a tornado?
Teacher
What’s a tornado, Nhi? Remy wants to know what a tornado is.
Nhi
A tornado is a wind that sucks up everything and it breaks when it’s in front of it.
Teacher
That’s true, that’s what it is.
Facilitator
The sample video can also be used to show evidence of learning in the key focus area of Communicating: exploring and expanding ways to use language.
Nhi uses appropriate vocabulary and clear sentence structure when communicating with her teacher and her peers to explain her tornado cloud and what a tornado is.
- Last updated:
- 11 June 2024
