To complete this assignment successfully, you should:

1. Observe, using the PEPSI charts or other observation tools that will increase your understanding of youth and adolescent behavior patterns.
2. Fill in your Name and Email address.
3. Send the Observations.

Observations of Adolescents

French Cartoonist, Andre Franquin

The essence of increasing our understanding of human nature and working more effectively with youngsters is tied into our ability to observe. Observing includes more than what we behold. What we choose to attend to, what we give meaning to, and how we frame our perceptions provide context for our observations. We provide personal meaning as well, through our social and affective filter, things like our mood, social constructs, expectations and level of well being and development. Here is an example:

A teen is crying
I rush over to help, for she is bright red, and doesn't seem to be able to catch her breath.

I feel remorse, for she is sobbing an apology.

I feel panicky for everyone in the room looks over at us.

I feel anger, for a youngster from another peer group is attacking her.

I try to ignore the whole thing, since its graduation and they are playing the alma mater.

I understand, for one of the star athletes was killed in a car accident.

I see a youngster looking at another student's paper during an exam.
I am immediately angry because "he knows better"; and I tell him so right then.

He gets a zero for the test, since what he did is not fair to others.

I ask him to move away from his study partner and remind him that we take tests alone.

I talk with him later, explaining the importance of following rules and ask him to comply.

I am excited that he wants to achieve, and make time to teach him better ways to succeed.

Another dimension comes from our foundational belief system. If I am a behaviorist, I view things distinctly differently from a humanist, and probably look for solutions in rather different ways. The Rice text provides an example of this. Review the material on pp. 25- 47. Go over the thought questions on page 49.

These questions can provide a frame of reference for observation of adolescents. As you do the observations for this class, work to recognize the perspectives you bring to the task.

Ground yourself as clearly as you can, to enhance the value of the time spent and those things that you observe.

In these exercises, do not try to be objective about what you see, but rather introspective.

Attend to your personal viewpoints and belief systems.

Honor and reflect on what you bring to observing.

If you can, go a step beyond and reflect on your observations from a distance, a more omniscient viewpoint.

Once you have completed the readings and thought questions, go on to complete the assignment on observations.

Make accurate observations, descriptions and inferences about student development

Observations

Preparation

1. Review the five areas of PEPSI (physical, emotional, philosophical, social, intellectual) by reviewing the text readings.

2. Review the PEPSI developmental charts, looking at the summary V charts for each discrete area of development. Make copies of the charts for ages 11, 12, early adolescent and late adolescence.

3. Print off the observation charts for looking at different areas of development.

4. Review the ethical guidelines for research and observation. Complete any advance notification or seeking of permission before beginning observations.

NOTE: If you have a set of observations that are student centered and geared toward adolescence,, feel free to use them instead of the PEPSI charts. The purpose of this exercise is to sharpen the ability to see and value students and to become more clear about normal behavior in teens.

Observations

1. Choose three of the five PEPSI areas for observation. [If taking this for a second credit, please choose two different areas than those observed in the previous course work. For the third area, you may want to observe language, and in particular with adolescents, the jargon, use of profanity, "inside" words, markers that suggest group identification and pass words or membership tokens. For even more fun, why not collect and categorize the jokes students tell one another. [What do they find humorous? What purpose do the jokes serve? Is there any ethnic, religious or cultural slamming?]

2. Use the observation chart to make a note of your initial observations, then respond by filling out the matching reflection sheet.

3. Report the areas observed, and a note that all three observations were completed.

4. Write a short essay, responding to the following:
   1. Insights about this age group
      
   2. Questions I now have as a result of the observations
      
   3. Observations I plan to do in the future

   Rubric

   Excellent	Performed three observations and completed the reflection sheets. Essay includes insights gained about adolescents, new questions that emerged as a result of the observations and a list of new questions for further study. Insights show depth of reflection, clarity of the purposes of observation and cogent follow-up questions that would emerge from the type of developmental concerns being observed.
   Good	Performed three observations and completed the reflection sheets. Essay includes ideas about adolescents, new questions that emerged from observing and at least one question for further study. Insights show some reflection and an awareness of the value of observing.
   Marginal	Observations were performed but there is little reflection or recognition of value from the experiences. Additional time or readings will be required to assist the student to grasp observation and reflection skills.

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   For grading purposes, please provide the following information:

   Your Name:
   Your Email address:

   Once you have filled in the areas above, click the Send button below to send your response to the instructor.

     

   E-mail J'Anne Ellsworth at Janne.Ellsworth@nau.edu
   Course developed by J'Anne Ellsworth

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