In the video from the previous page, Katie presented the assessment strategy of teachers sitting beside children to engage in discussion about their experience to capture the learning as it is occurring in ‘real time’. By engaging in discussion with students about learning about their play, teachers are also able to extend the student’s learning and bring their attention to specific concepts. Edwards (2017) identifies this as an intentional teaching approach in play-based learning, whereby teachers engage with students in the play to improve learning outcomes. To assess learning through these discussions, teachers can use open-ended questions, prompt students to ask questions and explain their ideas or discoveries, provide students with explanations or clarifications about concepts, prompt students to extend their thinking and encourage reflection on experiences.

Case study – voices from the field

In the Differentiated/Play-based inquiry learning in the early years of schooling project, teachers identified the usefulness of listening while having discussions with students during play. The tool of listening was identified to support the assessment of student’s understandings or misconceptions of concepts.

In particular, teachers in the project shared how open-ended question support children to share their ideas about their plays in authentic ways that did not use prompts from the teachers but rather expanded on what the children focusing on in their play.

Read, look, or listen

The DET case study also provided rich video creations that featured the voices and perspectives of practicing teachers. Watch the video (1:03) below and listen to the teachers as they share their experiences in the classroom. Their insight is encouraging because it demonstrates that play-based approaches develop over time.

An insightful view of student learning video (1:03)

Engage and extend

Now that you have moved through chapter three, consider and reflect on the prompt questions below. Take some time to record your reflections by either writing down or adding to a digital note-book.

Reflective questions on assessing learning in a play-based approach:

1. How do you assess student learning in your play-based learning program?
2. What challenges do you encounter assessing during play?
3. What would help/ or has helped you to embed assessment when taking a play-based and inquiry learning approach in your classroom?
4. Reflect on observational methods that you have used which do you use the most and why?