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Validating the Heirarchy of the iStartSmart® Academic Content

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Title: Validating the Heirarchy of the iStartSmart® Academic Content
Language: English
Authors: McManis, Perry, W., McManis, Mark, H.
Source: Online Submission. 2016.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2016
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Preschool Education
Early Childhood Education
Descriptors: Validity, Vertical Organization, Computer Assisted Instruction, Preschool Children, Preschool Education, Factor Analysis, Skills, Educational Games, Goodness of Fit, School Readiness
Abstract: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the validity of skill groupings in an instructional technology learning system designed for use by children in early childhood education classrooms. A Principal Component Analysis was performed to measure the fit of 18 skill games to their 5 assigned groupings in the system, covering a range of academic school readiness literacy and math skills. Using data from the developer's online reporting system; achievement in those 18 skills was analyzed from a selected group of 274 preschool children from the United States with a high degree of game-play. These outcomes were loaded onto factors selected using an eigenvalue evaluation in an effort to determine the validity of the system's representation of those groupings as they exist in the broader educational context. Results indicate a robust fit between system hierarchy and pedagogical hierarchy, with strong initial loadings along the existing hierarchy, minimal deviation, and weak subsequent loadings. These results suggest that the existing system hierarchy is a good match for the pedagogy which it purports to represent, and in this manner is appropriate for its intended purpose. This lays the groundwork for a future Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and modifications to the system to create an even better fit between the learning system and pedagogy.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 11
Entry Date: 2016
Accession Number: ED565861
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED565861
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PubType: Report
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  Data: Validating the Heirarchy of the iStartSmart® Academic Content
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Submission%22"><i>Online Submission</i></searchLink>. 2016.
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  Data: 8
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Validity%22">Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vertical+Organization%22">Vertical Organization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Assisted+Instruction%22">Computer Assisted Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Analysis%22">Factor Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skills%22">Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Games%22">Educational Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goodness+of+Fit%22">Goodness of Fit</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Readiness%22">School Readiness</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the validity of skill groupings in an instructional technology learning system designed for use by children in early childhood education classrooms. A Principal Component Analysis was performed to measure the fit of 18 skill games to their 5 assigned groupings in the system, covering a range of academic school readiness literacy and math skills. Using data from the developer's online reporting system; achievement in those 18 skills was analyzed from a selected group of 274 preschool children from the United States with a high degree of game-play. These outcomes were loaded onto factors selected using an eigenvalue evaluation in an effort to determine the validity of the system's representation of those groupings as they exist in the broader educational context. Results indicate a robust fit between system hierarchy and pedagogical hierarchy, with strong initial loadings along the existing hierarchy, minimal deviation, and weak subsequent loadings. These results suggest that the existing system hierarchy is a good match for the pedagogy which it purports to represent, and in this manner is appropriate for its intended purpose. This lays the groundwork for a future Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and modifications to the system to create an even better fit between the learning system and pedagogy.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 8
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Validity
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      – SubjectFull: Vertical Organization
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Assisted Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
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      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
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      – SubjectFull: Factor Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Games
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      – SubjectFull: Goodness of Fit
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      – SubjectFull: School Readiness
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      – TitleFull: Validating the Heirarchy of the iStartSmart® Academic Content
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              Type: published
              Y: 2016
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