TECHNOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTING: THE MCLASS SYSTEM AND PREVENTATIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTRUCTION

The effect of technology has snowballed into almost every aspect of our global society. From the oldest to the youngest, virtually everything has the capacity to be processed and analyzed at a rate at which any other method would be considered antiquated. This paper describes the technological training of a partnership with the Frank Porter Graham Institute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with not-for profit organizations, community –based childcare centers and public schools. This venture was funded by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation. The training coordinator for the Early Identification Initiative, a subsidiary of the Maryland Committee for Children was responsible for identifying and coordinating Maryland area early childhood educators to participate in the study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if teachers found the Recognition and Response an acceptable and easy tool to use in the classroom. One of the features was the mCLASS: CIRCLE system. The mCLASS: CIRCLE system was developed by Wireless Generation. It was designed for universal screening and progress monitoring. With multiple early childhood organizations utilizing this technology, FPG/UNC was able to conduct a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of this system for future use. It was posited to make early literacy observation, analysis, planning and administration a seamless process for educators. Although modified version mCLASS: CIRCLE DIBELS Next is the most current device, this participant had the opportunity to use the aforementioned system.