EuleApp©: a computerized adaptive assessment tool for early literacy skills

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Educational Technology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Early literacy assessment is vital for academic success and school readiness.
• Limited availability of effective tools hinders early identification of literacy needs.
• Digital tools offer potential for enhanced and accessible early literacy assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychometric properties, specifically reliability and concurrent validity, of the adaptive digital assessment tool EuLeApp©.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of EuLeApp© in assessing a range of early literacy skills.
• To explore the potential of digital adaptive testing in early childhood education.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) based on Item Response Theory (IRT) with 307 German kindergarten children (mean age 64 months).
• Employed an automatic item selection procedure using difficulty and discrimination parameters for a 183-item pool.
• Applied the 4-parameter Logistic (4PL) model for precise ability estimation.

Main Results:

• The 4-parameter Logistic (4PL) model demonstrated the best fit for adaptive assessment.
• EuLeApp© showed high precision in estimating children's early literacy abilities.
• The study confirmed the reliability and concurrent validity of the digital assessment tool.

Conclusions:

• EuLeApp© is a viable digital tool for assessing early literacy skills in young children.
• The assessment provides a foundation for individualized and adaptable learning opportunities.
• This technology can be integrated into daily routines in daycare centers to support early literacy development.