Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact
Rationale/Reflection
InTASC Standard: Standard #1: Learner Development
The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing patterns of learning development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences (InTASC, 2013).
Brief Description of Evidence:
During the fall semester of 2018 as a part of my EDUC 121- Child and Adolescent Development class, I had the opportunity to complete a child case study. During the child case study, I had to include information, including the child identifier, child’s age, child caregiver, current state of medical status, and use of supportive devices. I made observations, documentation, and analyses of each of the required domains, including social, emotional, physical, linguistic, and cognitive. I was also able to design and implement learning experiences for the child to complete. The child case study gave me the opportunity to observe a child in each of the required domains and see where they are at and where they are supposed to be according to the developmental milestones chart.
Analysis of What I Learned:
Through the child case study, I learned about the importance of understanding that each learner’s cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development influences their learning. I learned that it is important to know how to make instructional decisions that build on the learner’s strengths and needs. I also learned that it is important to respect each learner’s differences in their strengths in order to further each learner’s development. Through this experience, I have learned how to use Piaget’s theory of cognitive development to complete a child case study that will help me to understand how the learners grow and develop. I used his theory to help me to see what stage the child should be at according to their age. According to his theory, the child was in the Concrete Operational Stage, which is where a child begins to use logical thinking.
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASCStandard:
I have demonstrated my competence of Standard 1- Learner Development by completing a child case study. Through the child case study, I was able to assess the child in each of the required domains. I was also able to think of different ways that I can design and modify instruction to meet the learners’ needs. I was also able to see how the child constructs knowledge, acquires skills, and develops disciplined thinking processes. I was also able to design and implement learning experiences for the child to complete. By ensuring that I will be able to recognize patterns of learning development, I will be able to ensure that I can design and implement learning experiences that meet the learners’ needs.