Practical Work, Internship and Project/Portfolio
What this domain tests
Practical assessment checks your observation records, activity plans, teaching aids, case study and portfolio, plus viva questions on why you chose each practice.
Core rules
- Observation methods to name. Anecdotal record, running record, checklist, rating scale, time sampling and event sampling. Keep entries short, dated, factual and free of judgement - write 'hit the table twice' rather than 'was angry'. Use initials instead of full names.
- Activity plan format. Age group and theme, two or three behavioural objectives, materials, motivation, step-by-step procedure, likely difficulties, evaluation and follow-up. Objectives must be observable: 'will sort ten beads into two colours' rather than 'will know colours'.
- Teaching aids. Low-cost or no-cost, locally available, safe and non-toxic, child-sized, durable, with no small detachable parts for under-threes, and no sharp edges or lead paint.
- Portfolio contents. Index, self-profile, observation records, five to ten activity plans, teaching-aid inventory with photographs of the aids (not of children's faces without consent), one case study, a reflective journal, attendance certificate during internship and supervisor remarks.
- Internship conduct. Punctuality, dress and hygiene, following the routine, seeking permission before photographing, and never handling a child roughly.
Worked example
A trainee writes the objective 'children will learn about fruits'. Reasoning: this cannot be observed or evaluated, so it will lose marks. Rewrite it in behavioural terms: 'Each child will name three fruits and place them in the fruit basket during the sorting game.' Then the evaluation is straightforward - note who named three, who needed prompting - and the follow-up writes itself.
Traps that cost marks
Copied activity plans; vague objectives; unsafe or tiny loose parts in aids for toddlers; photographs of children without consent; observations that record opinions instead of behaviour.