Toward a Collaborative Approach: Early Childhood Education's Role in Kindergarten Assessment Objectives

• In Event: Assessment and Evaluation in Early Childhood Settings

Abstract

As significant research demonstrates the value of early learning, kindergarten education has become an international priority area, with substantial revisions to policies and curriculum worldwide. Research has shown the potential benefits for increased student learning and greater long-term success when ECEs and teachers collaborate to use play-based pedagogies and assessment to support learning. With the addition of ECEs into the kindergarten environment what now remains absent in the research is an examination of how ECEs contribute to the assessment of student learning. A two-phase qualitative research design was used, including classroom observations, video-elicited interviews, and focus groups. The findings revealed how ECEs contributed to assessment as part of the kindergarten team as well as a varied conceptualized approach to collaboration.

Author

• Christine Tiffany Tappin, Loyalist College