Comparison of two methods of teaching early childhood professionals to score a developmental screening test

Increasingly, computer-assisted learning is becoming an educational method of choice. This study compared the effectiveness of in-class versus Internet-based training in achieving reliability when administering a developmental screening test, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Forty-eight early childhood professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and infant development consultants, took part in the study. Participants in this convenience sample were each assigned to one of the two learning groups. We assessed interrater reliability and participants' satisfaction with training method. Disciplines were equally distributed within the two groups, but geographical locations differed significantly. There was no difference in intraclass correlation coefficients for interrater reliability between the two groups. Although there was no difference in overall satisfaction with the quality of the courses, significant differences were found in the trainees' satisfaction with certain aspects of the courses. Although several study limitations existed, Internet-based training provides a feasible option for training practitioners to reliably use developmental screening tests such as the Alberta Infant Motor Scale.