The Words We Use: A Glossary of Terms for
Early Childhood Education Standards and Assessment
Definition
Documentation is the process of keeping track of and preserving children's work as evidence of their progress or of a program's development.
Related Terms (Not Synonyms)
Alternative assessment; Authentic assessment; Documentation strategies; Informal assessment; Observational assessment; Performance-based assessment; Portfolio assessment; Process documentation
Explanatory Comments
- Preserving evidence of children's work, progress, a teacher's professional development, or the program's progress can take many forms (e.g., artifacts, photographs, records, recordings (video, audio-cassette) written interviews, written observation, socio-grams, questionnaires, surveys, concrete objects, and/or work plans).
- Use of documentation typically includes samples of work at different stages and is accompanied by interpretive written comments of adults or the children themselves as they acquire literacy skills.
Web Sources
Katz, L.G., & Chard, S.C. (1996). The contribution of documentation to the quality of early childhood education. ERIC Digest ED393608.ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education Urbana IL. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed393608.html
Right Words New Zealand, Limited. Successful process documentation. Author. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.rightwords.co.nz/procman.html
Other Resources
Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (Eds.). (1998). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia approach-Advanced reflections (2nd Ed.). Greenwich, CT: Ablex.
Helm, J.H., Beneke, S., & Steinheimer, K. (1998). Windows on learning: Documenting young children's work. (Early Childhood Education Series). New York: Teachers College Press.
Jones, J., & Courtney, R. (2003). Documenting early science learning. Young Children, 57(5), 34-40.
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