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TPO 13
Conversation 1
Professor
Good afternoon, Alex, can I help you with something?
Student
Well, I want to talk with you about the research project you have assigned today. I um…I hope you could clarify a few things for me.
Professor
I'll certainly try.
Student
Ok, all we have to do is do two observations and take notes on them, right?
Professor
Ur, that's the start, but you need to do some research, too. Then you will write a paper that is not so much about the observations, but a synthesis of what you have observed and read.
Student
Ok….And what about the children I am suppose to observe?
Professor
Not children, a single child observed twice.
Student
Oh…Ok, so I should choose a child with a permission of a child's parents of course and then observed that child a couple of times and take good notes, then?
Professor
Actually after your first observation, you go back and look through your textbook or go to a library and find a few sources concerning the stage of development, the particular child is in. Then, with that knowledge, you will make the second observation of the same child to see if these expected developmental behaviors are exhibited.
Student
Can you give me an example?
Professor
Well, en, if you observed a 4 year-old child, for example, my daughter is 4 years old; you might read up on cushy stage of cognitive development we covered those in class.
Student
Aha…
Professor
And most likely, what stage would a child of that age be in?
Student
Um… the pre-operational stage?
Professor
Exactly, if that's the case, her languages used to be maturing and her memory and imagination would be developed.
Student
So she might play pretend like she can pretend when driving her toy car across a couch that the couch is actually a bridge or something.
Professor
That is right. In addition, her thinking would be primarily egocentric.
Student
So she would be thinking mostly about herself and her own needs, and might not be able to see things from anyone else perspective.
Professor
En hums…
Student
But what if she doesn't? I mean, what if she doesn't demonstrate those behaviors?
Professor
That's fine; you'll note that in your paper. See, your paper should compare what is expected of children at certain stages of development with what you actually observed.
Student
Ok, I have one more question now.
Professor
What's that?
Student
Where can I find a child to observe?
Professor
Ur, I suggest you contact the education department secretary. She has a list of contacts at various schools and with certain families who are somehow connected to the university. Sometimes they are willing to help out students with projects like yours.
Student
Ok, I'll stop by the educational department office this afternoon.
Professor
And if you have any trouble or any more questions, feel free to come by during my office hours.
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