Observing Behavior

Observing and Recording Student Performance
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Teachers are required to make frequent decisions about how to best teach and motivate students. The quality of these decisions depends on the information teachers have about the student and their performance. Observation and recording of students' performance and behavior is an important role of the paraeducator and an important tool forteachers. Accurate behavior observation is essential in identifying students' needs and developing effective instruction. This unit discusses issues and techniques involved in gathering and reporting student performance data.
The purposes of this instructional module are to:
1. Improve the accuracy of observation skills of paraeducators,
2. Increase the amount of information collected for thepurpose of improving instructional programs, and
3. Contribute to instruction that is both efficient and provides sufficient information for accurate educational decisions.
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Objectives

After completing this unit and its activities the paraeducator should expect to be able to:
1. Identifying the purposes and problems inherent with using behavior observation as an informationsource.
2. Defining behavior in observable, measurable terms
3. Using systematic procedures for observing and recording behavior including:
1. Frequency
2. Duration
3. Rate
4. Percentage
5. Time sampling
6. Anecdotal records
1. Charting results of behavior observation using graphs.

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Contents

Lessons[pic]Lesson 1: Purposes of Data Collection and Observation
[pic]Lesson 2: Concerns about Data Collection and Observation
[pic]Lesson 3: Observable Behaviors
[pic]Lesson 4: Observation Techniques
[pic]Lesson 5: Charting Student Performance

Learning Activities

[pic]Activity 1: Observable and Measurable Behavior Activity
[pic]Optional Activity: Observingand Recording Student Behavior
A fast connection to the World Wide Web is suggested to complete this activity.

Additional Information & Activities

[pic]Suggestions for Further Reading

Related Practicum Activities

Lesson 1:
Purposes of Data Collection and Behavior Observation
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Data collection and behavior observation are important activities in thespecial education classroom. One of the ways in which special education programs provide more intensive services to students with learning difficulties is by more carefully monitoring and adjusting the learning/teaching process. The paraeducator can play an important role in gathering and organizing information about student progress. This information is particularly important when the paraeducatoris providing all or part of the instruction during a tutoring or small group format. The systematic collection of data allows the teacher to continue to make instructional decisions without being physically present during the learning activity.
Data collection and systematic behavior observation provide an objective basis for making decisions and documenting student behaviors and performance. Itcan make teacher judgment more accurate and reliable. When carried out systematically, it also provides more frequent information on student progress.
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Supporting Classroom Instruction

Teachers gather information about student performance in order to determine where to begin instruction, in order to determine which instructional approaches might be the most effective, and to assessstudent mastery of skills. This information is most helpful when it is collected as early as possible. This avoids students making repeated errors and missing vital basic information or skills. It allows the teacher to employ additional resources or to fine-tune educational strategies for students. To maximize the benefits to students it is important to find out what is working and what is not...