Ala Samarapungavan|Panayota Mantzicopoulos|Hugh T. Patrick|Brian F. French
The Development and Validation of the Science Learning Assessment (SLA): A Measure of Kindergarten Science Learning
Purdue University System|Purdue University System|Purdue University System|Purdue University System
science learning assessment sla individually administered instructionally sensitive science assessment kindergarten students sla 24item objective test broken two subtests scientific inquiry processes subtest consists 9 items designed measure young childrens functional understanding nature processes scientific inquiry life science concepts subtest consists 15 items designed measure childrens understanding specific science concepts related living things physical world results sla items assess life science concepts indicate kindergarten children able develop rich knowledge base living things results sla indicate even young children begin develop understanding scientific inquiry appropriate instructional support findings consistent recent work researchers metz 2004 argue richer conception childrens developmental capacities context science instruction educators develop new science curricula programs address lack rich challenging science instruction early grades need document children learn efforts order develop researchbased pedagogically effective science curricula need assessments clearly described theoretical psychometric characteristics sla one example assessment used aggregate compare learning outcomes well provide empirical information kindergarten childrens capacities science learning