Gesell Assessment System Administration and Results Workshops

Gesell Assessment System workshops prepare early childhood professionals and parents to understand and better meet the unique needs and abilities of young children through a comprehensive training in the administration and interpretation of Gesell assessment tools.

Learn more about Gesell Assessment Tools

The Gesell Assessment System uses direct observation, coupled with the unique perspective of parents and educators who know the child, to objectively examine a child’s cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional responses in five strands: Developmental, Letter/Numbers, Language/Comprehension, Visual/Spatial, and Social/Emotional/Adaptive.

While not all Gesell assessment tools require training, some do. In all cases Gesell strongly recommends that to ensure the most reliable results all examiners take a workshop to learn to use their tool of choice. In-depth workshops are offered to new and experienced users alike. Hybrid (live in-person & asynchronous virtual) and online (synchronous and asynchronous virtual) workshop formats are available to meet a variety of learning modalities and preferences.

A Certificate of Completion is provided for all workshops.

Gesell Assessment System Workshop Options:

The Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised Fundamentals: 2½-6-Year-Old Child

The Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised (GDO-R) is Gesell's hallmark tool and has since it's development it has been repeatedly validated and improved with the use of strand scoring and performance levels that allow for detailed evaluation in specific domains of growth.

For more information about the Gesell Developmental Observation click here

Hybrid and Online workshop options available.

Please see calendar for dates and to register.

In this workshop participants will learn the fundamentals needed to administer and interpret the results of the Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised (GDO-R) as they relate to a child's neuro-motor, language, cognitive, social, emotional and adaptive responses. Our GDO-R Fundamentals course begins with all the tasks used with children 2½ to 6-year-old, and will all be applicable to those examiners wishing to further their assessment expertise with additional training needed to assess the 6 to 9-year-old child or to assess children virtually, using a web camera.

Specifically, this workshop will address these areas of knowledge and skill needed to responsibly utilize the GDO-R:

Foundations of child development for children 2-6 years old
Art and science of objective observation inspired by wonder
How to administer and then interpret the results of the GDO-R for children 2-6 years old

Workshop Components:

In-depth study of developmental behaviors of the 2½ to 6-year-old child
Comprehensive overview of developmental age and its implications for learning
Demonstration of the administration of the GDO-R with the 2½ to 6-year-old child
Hands-on practice of administration of tasks
Training and practice on how to interpret and communicate the results of the GDO-R

Workshop Materials Included:

GDO-R Examiner's Manual
GDO-R Examiner's Script
sample forms

Note: Registration fees do not include an assessment kit and must be purchased separately, as many of our workshop participants work in schools that already have a kit.

HYBRID Workshop Requirements: The HYBRID workshop includes 2.5 days of live training as well as pre and post homework completed online. Please plan for 8-10 hours of online work in the two weeks prior to and 5-10 hours of online work in the two weeks following the live meetings.

Pre workshop homework including a set of asynchronous online videos to review and online assignments to complete. These will be released for your review in the two weeks prior to the live in person meetings. It is essential to complete this work before attending the live meetings.
Live in person workshop meeting dates (2.5 days)
Online quiz to complete to demonstrate proficiency and understanding
Post training homework including a set of asynchronous online videos to review and an online evaluation in the two weeks after the live meetings.
Full attendance and submission of the above items is necessary to receive a certificate of completion.
Optional: You are invited to submit a recorded assessment with accompanying child recording form, for review by an expert examiner, in the month after the end of the workshop

ONLINE Workshop Requirements: The ONLINE workshop lasts for 4 weeks and includes asynchronous online homework as well as weekly synchronous virtual meetings. Plan for 30-40 hours of time over the 4 weeks; 5-10 hours per week.

Spread out over a 4-week training period, there will be:

2 synchronous virtual meetings, each about 2 hours (see calendar) via Zoom
A set of asynchronous online videos to review and assignments to complete. Courses are shared with participants weekly, one set at a time, corresponding with the discussion in the live meetings. As such, course work must be completed week-to-week so as to be sufficiently prepared for each live session. No material will be offered early, nor is it recommended to save all homework for the end of the training.
Evaluations to complete in order to demonstrate sufficient proficiency to move forward to the next course, requiring an estimated 20-30 mins per week. Evaluations will be shared weekly, and no evaluations will be offered early, nor is it recommended to save all evaluations for the end of the training.
Post training evaluation
Attendance and submission of the above items is required to receive a certificate of completion.
Optional: You are invited to submit a recorded assessment with accompanying child recording form, for review by an expert examiner, in the month after the end of the workshop

The Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised: 6-9-Year-Old Child - Add-On Webinar Training Package COMING SOON!

Through this webinar training package participants will learn to administer the Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised (GDO-R) to the 6 to 9-year-old child and interpret results as they relate to neuromotor, language, cognitive, social, emotional and adaptive responses.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised Fundamentals: 2½-6-Year-Old Child workshop is required. That content will not be revisited in depth, but some is required for administration to the 6-9-year-old child. Participants are recommended to have completed some practice child assessments with 2-6 year old children prior to completing the GDO-R 6-9 Add-On Webinar. This will best prepare the participant to seamlessly amend the protocol for the 6-9-year-old child.

Specifically, this workshop will address two areas of knowledge and skill needed to responsibly utilize the GDO-R with children age 6-9:

Foundations of child development for children 6-9 years old
How to administer and then interpret the results of the GDO-R for children 6-9 years old

Workshop Components:

In-depth study of developmental behaviors of the 6 to 9-year-old child
Demonstration of the administration of the GDO-R with the 6 to 9-year old child
Hands-on practice of administration of tasks
Training and practice on how to interpret and communicate the results of the GDO-R

Workshop Materials:

All participants should have their GDO-R Examiner's Manual with them for the training.
GDO-R Complete Kit can be ordered directly on our bookstore.
Separate from the GDO-R Kit, Right and Left Cards and Visual III Cards needed for the 6-9 year-old administration can also be purchased on our bookstore.

The Gesell Developmental Observation-Revised Renewal

Gesell strongly recommends examiners renew their certificate of completion every 5 years. New protocols rolled out in 2021 compel us to encourage examiners trained before this date to return as soon as possible. If you were trained in the last 5 years or less, you may renew your certificate of completion by participating in a live or online GDO-R workshop at a reduced rate. Please visit the first tab above for details.

Gesell Early Screener (GES) Administration and Scoring Webinar

The Gesell Early Screener (GES) assists parents, educators, and other professionals in quickly producing a snapshot of a 3 to 6 year old child’s development, compared to other children of the same age. The GES can be administered to a child by persons with varying levels of experience in less than 20 minutes. Unlike the GDO-R, no training is mandated to administer the GES. However, Gesell strongly encourages users to complete a new asynchronous online training to ensure reliability and validity in administration and scoring of the GES.

Purchase GES Administration and Scoring Online Training

Gesell Foundations of Child Development

Dr. Gesell documented what happens to children cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically during each stage of development, and subsequent research has confirmed his findings. Yet for those of us working with children, their behaviors can often seem mysterious and confusing. In this training study the foundations of child development and the Gesell approach to understanding children at each stage of development from 2 to 6 years of age. This understanding of the ages and stages of child development can assist teachers and parents in setting appropriate expectations for children and support their learning and development.

Virtual Recorded Webinar: Rolling admission. Start anytime! Purchase here.

How to Virtually Administer the Gesell Assessment System - Add-On Webinar Training Package

In this webinar training package we offer best practice for virtually administering the GDO-R or GES using a web camera. This may sound like a daunting task, but it is possible for experienced examiners to accomplish a virtual administration with validity. The package includes sanctioned guidelines as well as examiner tips and material to share with families to help prepare them in the role of proxy.

Includes:

How to Virtually Administer the Gesell Assessment System: Recorded Webinar
How to Virtually Administer the Gesell Assessment System: Sanctioned Guidelines Supplement (e-book )
Gesell Virtual Administration Proxy Instructional Video
Sample Virtual Administration Video
Certificate of Completion

Note:

This does not take the place of a GDO-R workshop and only certified examiners will be able to use this guide to reliably administer the GDO-R.
Gesell strongly discourages examiners from completing a video administration without this information.

Purchase Virtual Administration Webinar Training Package here

Beyond Admissions and Placement: A Guide for School Leaders and Teachers in How to Use the Results of the GDO-R and GES to Create Developmentally Appropriate Learning Environments

FREE Recorded Webinar

This FREE recorded webinar takes you BEYOND looking at the GDO-R as a placement tool. Find out how the GDO-R can effectively help educators with individualized instruction, differentiated instructional techniques and strategies, and make the classroom environment developmentally appropriate.

View Recorded Webinar Here

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Feedback from our workshop participants:

"Excellent workshop. It is exciting to have a trainer who is so skilled and knowledgeable!"

"A very informative and useful workshop. I learned a lot about child development and feel comfortable applying what I've learned in a practical setting."

"I love the information the Gesell Developmental Observation gives me about each student I have in my classroom! It helps me present learning and activities in a way best suited for each child's developmental stage."

“Great training on a fascinating assessment. [Our trainer] was informative and kind about working with the novice assessor, and linked theory to practice. We were also offered plenty of time to experience the materials in a hands-on way. Thanks!” - Greta from Washington

“This was a great experience and I am eager to keep learning about the GDO-R. I will begin to start practicing!” - Amanda from Flourtown

“[Our trainer] was PHENOMENAL! The way that she connected with each person and went out of her way to get to know us was delightful. Her perspective of the child and the way that she walked us through each step of the GDO-R was awesome.” - Lauren from High Point