Developmentally Appropriate Technology for Science Assessment in Early Elementary Grades

In this project, researchers will develop a prototype of Science Quest, a tool to assess the science skills and understanding for students in grades 1 to 3. The prototype will deliver psychometrically validated assessment items in a game-like format. Educators will be able to assign and monitor completion of science assessments, view assessment results in real-time with reports at the individual and classroom levels, and link early elementary students' assessment scores to Next Generation Science Standards -aligned lesson plans. At the end of Phase I, in a pilot study with 100 grade 1 to 3 students, the researchers will examine whether the prototype can be feasibly used by students, whether the results are useful for teachers, and whether the assessment produces valid and reliable representation of student science knowledge.