Part I. Basic description of the assignment you completed. observational exercise
Date, Time and Location that you completed the information gathering (running notes or interview/activity).
Description of participants (children observed or people involved)
Part II. Notes.
Attach a scanned copy or picture of your handwritten notes or type out your notes.
Do NOT make any alterations to the notes.
Abbreviations/shorthand and incomplete sentences are expected when you are taking notes in field!
Part III. Analysis
Connect what you have observed to concepts that have been presented in the textbook and other course materials and discussions.
Use appropriate terms and vocabulary that we are learning in this course to describe what you observed.
Compare what you observed to what you have learned in class: note similarities and/or differences between the 2.
If we have not yet covered the topic/age group relevant to your assignment, look ahead in the book and the online classroom to find relevant information.
Part IV. Reflection
Connect what you have observed to larger cultural and societal influences. (review Module 2: Biocultural Foundations for help)
Consider who was present (and who was NOT present) at your activity/observation and discuss how social, cultural and environmental factors may have influenced this.
For example: You observe children at dance lessons. Do all children have the opportunity to take dance lessons, or may it be easier for some children to participate than others? (SES-socioeconomic status, work obligations of parents, value of physical activity and the arts, genders represented in the dance class)
Consider the behaviors you observed and discuss how the home and cultural environments may influence these behaviors
Consider the gender/class/race/ethnicity/etc. of participants and typical gender roles and discuss how gender/class/race/ethnicity/etc/ and culture may influence what you observed.
If completing an observational exercise, also address the additional topics/guided questions provided within exercise instructions. 