Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/observing-from-a-different-point-of-view-sharing-perspectives-provides-richer-insight/5009541/
In a course I teach - "The Art of Observation" - two students compared their notes on an environment they had just observed. Patricia, a director of 20 child care sites, noted the condition of each piece of equipment, the safety of the playground, and the level of cleanliness and order. Ana, a teacher trained in early childhood education who is now working with children with special needs, talked about the quality of play for the child in that environment: "If I were a child, I'd go directly to the climbing structure. It looks exciting." Patricia replied: "I never thought about looking at the environment in that way. I am usually concerned about the children's health and safety. Ana's observation gave me a different perspective."We do observe from different perspectives. Roles, education, and our own childhoods foster these differences. As a director, Patricia needs to be concerned with the overall health and safety of the environment. Ana, the person who spends direct contact time with the children in her classroom, needs to think about health and safety issues as well as the quality of play that the environment offers. ...