5.9.7: Work Sample
- Page ID
- 232030
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Define what a work sample is.
- Explain how a work sample provides authentic evidence of a child’s learning and development.
- Identify appropriate types of work samples that represent growth across all developmental domains.
What is a Work Sample?
Professionals and parents have been collecting and posting children’s artwork on the walls forever. Not only do the children enjoy seeing their work of art on display, but parents appreciate seeing their child’s work as well! To create an official work sample, however, takes more effort than hanging a picture on the wall. What exactly is a work sample? A work sample is tangible evidence showcasing a child’s effort, progress, and achievement. More specifically, not only does a work sample highlight the final product, it can also highlight the process by emphasizing the child’s problem-solving efforts, experimentation methods, or collaboration skills. Work samples are authentic artifacts that provide information about the child’s learning experience.
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\). A Child's Masterpiece. Image by Dragos Gontariu on Unsplash.
Advantages and Disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Provides tangible/ visible evidence that teachers can use to track a child’s learning, growth, and development over time | Can be time-consuming, adding anecdotal documentation and creating documentation boards |
| Parents and children both enjoy seeing the work on display | Requires ample storage space |
| Provides authentic documentation, which is ideal for assessment | Requires a financial investment in technology (camera, video, or audio recorder) |
| Professionals can use information to plan and adjust the curriculum to help children achieve their learning goals | Concerns over confidentiality and privacy when using photos, audio,o or videos |
| Families can see how children learn through play | Intentionally left blank. |
| Children can share their insights as to how they created the work sample and offer their perspectives as to what they were thinking (authentic evidence) | Intentionally left blank. |
Collecting Data
Work samples can be gathered throughout the school year. Typically, you would collect various samples that highlight the child’s overall development in each developmental area: Physical, Cognitive, Language, and Social-Emotional. More specifically, you might include a child’s drawing or painting, a writing sample from their journal, a cutting sample, or photographs of the child engaged in activities such as building a block tower, sandcastle, or riding a bike.
Organizing Data
Whether you post a work sample for viewing (using a documentation board) or collect a sample for a child’s portfolio, you must add documentation. Not only will documentation help families recognize the value of play, it reinforces the concept that every activity is an opportunity to learn. For accuracy, be sure to include the following information:
- Child’s Name;
- Date; Setting; and
- An Anecdotal Note with a description about how and why the sample was collected.
Work samples should be organized chronologically to showcase progress over time. Be sure to store them in a safe place, such as a file folder or portfolio, or electronically in a computer file.
References, Contributors and Attributions
This section is a derivative from:
Peterson, G., Elam, E. & Studinka, D. (2020). Observation, assessment, and participation in early childhood. College of the Canyons, CA. https://www.palomar.edu/childdevelop...rly-childhood/ CC BY 4.0.