Course Description
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) assessment tool available for use in ECE programs in CT. Students will learn about the Documentation for Observation and Teaching System (DOTS) and how to use it to support child development and learning. Students will learn about the guiding principles, the role of observation and assessment in the cycle of intentional teaching, and the structure of the tool in planning for observation and assessment of young children. (1 credit)
Prerequisite
- ECE 273: Early Learning Standards – Strategies for Use
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Charter Oak State College uses the ‘Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators’ to develop its students for work in a variety of early childhood settings. The Student Learning Outcomes listed below reflect the Professional Standards and Competencies that are focused on in this course.
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Explain the purpose, structure, and guiding principles of the CT DOTS assessment system and its alignment with early learning standards. [Standards 3a, 5b]
- Identify and describe a range of assessment methods used in CT DOTS and their role in supporting observation, documentation, and planning. [Standards 3b, 3d]
- Apply ethical, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive assessment practices when collecting and interpreting data. [Standards 3c, 6b]
- Demonstrate strategies for building reciprocal partnerships with families in the assessment process. [Standards 2b, 3d]
- Use professional communication skills to present CT DOTS data and engage families in meaningful ways. [Standards 6c, 6e]
- Reflect on professional growth and practice while using CT DOTS and aligning it with NAEYC’s foundational documents. [Standards 6d, 6e]
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-5) | 25% |
Assignments (Weeks 1-4) | 30% |
CT DOTS Scavenger Hunt - Quiz (Week 2) | 15% |
Key Assessment (Week 5) | 30% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
- This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are at little or no cost for students.
- Resources used for course:
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Introduction to the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS)
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2 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Exploring the DOTS Progressions
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3 | 1,2,3 | Topics: Observing and Documenting Children's Learning and Development
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4 | 2,3,6 | Topics: Analyzing, Summarizing, and Interpreting Documentation
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5 | 4,5,6 | Topics: Communicating and Partnering with Families and Other Professionals Using CT DOTS
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.