Observing from a Different Point of View - Sharing Perspectives Provides Richer Insight
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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 ...