DETERMINING DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

• US 20080187893A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Network for Instructional TV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Network for Instructional TV, Inc.
• Inventors: Shively, David W., Blaustein, Mari Elizabeth Blume
• Application Number:
  US11/847,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20080187893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

Techniques are described for assisting educators and parents in developmental assessment and learning experience and play activity planning for infants, toddlers, preschool, and Prekindergarten children age 0-66 months. Data identifying multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress is stored in electronic storage and user input related to observations of a preschool child interacting in a learning experience or play activity is received. The observations indicate the ability of me preschool child to perform an associated behavior. The ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors is determined and a developmental age or level is associated with the preschool child based on the observations. Data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child is analyzed and an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child is determined based on the analysis of the developmental age or level of the preschool child.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to determine developmental progress, the computer system comprising:

an electronic data store including data identifying multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress of preschool children; and

executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform operations comprising;

receiving user input indicating an observation of a preschool child interacting in a learning activity, the observation being associated with one or more of the multiple behaviors and indicating the ability of the preschool child to perform an associated behavior;

determining the ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors based on the observation;

associating a developmental age or level with the preschool child based oh the observation, the developmental age or level being related to developmental progress of the preschool child;

analyzing data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child; and

determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein:

the multiple behaviors are associated with multiple skill or developmental domains,

associating the developmental age or level with the preschool child based on the observation, the developmental age or level being related to developmental progress of the preschool child includes;

associating a first developmental age or level with the preschool child for a first skill or developmental domain; and

associating a second developmental age or level with the preschool child for a second skill or developmental domain* the second developmental age or level being different than the first developmental age or level and the second skill or developmental domain being different than the first skill or developmental domain,

analyzing data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child includes analyzing data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill or developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age or level of the preschool child for the second skill or developmental domain, and

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child includes determining ah appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill or developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age of level of the preschool child for the second skill or developmental domain.

3. The computer system of claim 2 wherein determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill or developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age or level of the preschool child for the second skill or developmental domain includes determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior directed to improving developmental progress of the preschool child in the first skill or developmental domain more than the second skill or developmental domain when the first development age for the first skill or developmental domain is less than the second developmental, age or level for the second skill or developmental domain.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein:

the preschool child is associated with a group or class including one or more other preschool children;

analyzing data indicative of the developmental age of level of the preschool child includes analyzing data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child and indicative of a developmental age or level of the one or more other preschool children, and

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child includes determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the group or class based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child and indicative of the developmental age or level of the one or more other preschool children.

5. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:

correlating the multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress with respect to a set of government or organization standards; and

determining the progress of the preschool child with respect to the set of government or organization standards based on the determined ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress, wherein

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child includes determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior based on the progress of the preschool child with respect to the set of government or organization standards.

6. The computer system of claim 5 further comprising executable instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:

determining progress of one or more other preschool children with respect to the set of government or organization standards, the one or more other preschool children being associated with a group or class associated with the preschool child; and

determining an indication of progress of the group or class with respect to the set of government or organization standards based on the determined progress of the preschool child and the one or more other preschool children with respect to the set of government or organization standards, wherein

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child includes determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the group or class based on the determined indication Of progress of the group or class with respect to the set of government or organization standards.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein:

determining an indication of progress of the group or class with respect to the set of government or organization standards includes;

determining that progress of a first group of preschool children in the group or class with respect to a first standard included in the set of government or organization standards needs improvement; and

determining that progress of a second group of preschool children in the group or class with respect to a second standard included in the set of government of organization standards needs improvement, the second group of preschool children being different than the first group of preschool children and the second standard being different than the first standard, and

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the group or class includes;

determining a first learning activity or behavior for the first group of preschool children directed to improving developmental progress with respect to the first standard, and

determining a second learning activity of behavior for the second group of preschool children directed to improving developmental progress with respect to the second standard.

8. The computer system of claim 6 wherein:

determining an indication of progress of the group or class with respect to the set of government or organization standards includes;

determining that progress of a first group of preschool children in the group or class with respect to a first standard included in the set of government or organization standards needs improvement, and

determining that progress of a second group of preschool children in the group or class with respect to a second standard included in the set of government or organization standards needs improvement, the second group of preschool children being different than the first group of preschool children and the second standard being different than the first standard; and

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the group or class includes;

determining a first learning activity or behavior directed to improving developmental progress with respect to me first standard for the appropriate learning activity or behavior conditioned on the first group of preschool children being larger than the second group of preschool children, and

determining a second learning activity or behavior directed to improving developmental progress with respect to the second standard for the appropriate learning activity or behavior conditioned on the second group of preschool children being larger than the first group of preschool children.

9. The computer system of claim 6 wherein:

determining an indication of progress of the group or class with respect to the set of government or organization standards includes;

determining that progress of a first group of preschool children in the group or class with respect to a first standard included in the set of government or organization standards needs improvement, and

determining that progress of a second group of preschool children in the group or class with respect to a second standard included in the set of government or organization standards needs improvement, the second group of preschool children being different man the first group of preschool children and the second standard being different than the first standard; and

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the group or class includes;

determining a first learning activity or behavior directed to improving developmental progress with respect to the first standard for the appropriate learning activity or behavior conditioned on the first group of preschool children being smaller than the second group of preschool children, and

determining a second learning activity or behavior directed to improving developmental progress with respect to the second standard for the appropriate learning, activity or behavior conditioned on the second group of preschool children being smaller than the first group of preschool children.

10. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the appropriate learning activity or behavior is a first appropriate learning activity or behavior/further comprising executable instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:

receiving information related to observations of the preschool child interacting in the first appropriate learning activity of behavior;

updating the developmental age or level of the preschool child based on the observations of the preschool child interacting in the first appropriate learning activity or behavior;

analyzing data indicative of the updated developmental age or level of the preschool child; and

determining a second appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the updated developmental age or level of the preschool child, the second appropriate learning activity or behavior being different than the first appropriate learning activity or behavior.

11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein:

the preschool child is associated with a group or class including one or more other preschool children,

the group of class is associated with a school including one or more other groups or classes,

the school is associated with a school district or educational organization including one or more other schools, further comprising;

enabling a user to access progress information for preschool children, groups or classes, and schools included in the school district or educational organization.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the developmental age or level of the preschool child is greater than or less than a chronological age of the preschool child.

13. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the preschool child is a natural person that is between a developmental age of 0 to 66 months.

14. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the preschool child is a natural person that is between a chronological age of 0 to 66 months.

15. At least one computer readable medium storing one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs including instructions, when executed, perform operations comprising:

accessing data identifying multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress of preschool children in an electronic data store;

receiving user input indicating an observation of a preschool child interacting in a learning activity, the observation being associated with one or more of the multiple behaviors and indicating the ability of the preschool child to perform an associated behavior;

determining the ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors based on the observation;

associating a developmental age or level with the preschool child based on the observation, the developmental age or level being related to developmental progress of the preschool child;

analyzing data indicative of me developmental age or level of the preschool child; and

determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child.

16. The at least one medium of claim 15 wherein:

the multiple behaviors are associated with multiple skill or developmental domains,

the instructions for associating the developmental age or level with the preschool child based on the observation, the developmental age or level being related to developmental progress of the preschool child include instructions for;

associating a first developmental age or level with the preschool child for a first skill or developmental domain; and

associating a second developmental age or level with the preschool child for a second skill or developmental domain, the second developmental age or level being different than the first developmental age or level and the second skill or developmental domain being different than the first skill or developmental domain,

the instructions for analyzing data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child include instructions for analyzing data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill of developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age or level of the preschool child for the second skill or developmental domain, and

the instructions for determining the appropriate learning activity of behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child include instructions for determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill or developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age or level of the preschool child of the second skill or developmental domain.

17. The at least one medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for:

correlating the multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress with respect to a set of government or organization standards; and

determining the progress of the preschool child with respect to the set of government or organization standards based on the determined ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress, wherein

the instructions for determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child include instructions for determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior based on the progress of the preschool child with respect to the set of government or organization standards.

18. The at least one medium of claim 17 former comprising instructions for:

determining progress of one or more other preschool children with respect to the set of government or organization standards, the one or more other preschool children being associated with a group or class associated with the preschool child; and

determining an indication of progress of the group or class with respect to the set of government or organization standards based on the determined progress of the preschool child and the one or more other preschool children with respect to the set of government or organization standards, wherein

the instructions for determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child include instructions for determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the group or class based on the determined indication of progress of the group of class with respect to the set of government or organization standards.

19. The at least one medium of claim 15 wherein the appropriate learning activity or behavior is a first appropriate learning activity or behavior, further comprising instructions for:

receiving information related to observations of the preschool child interacting in the first appropriate learning activity or behavior;

updating the developmental age or level of the preschool child based on the observations of the preschool child interacting in me first appropriate learning activity or behavior;

analyzing data indicative of the updated developmental age or level of the preschool child; and

determining a second appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the updated developmental age of level of the preschool child, the second appropriate learning activity or behavior being different than the first appropriate learning activity or behavior.

20. The at least one medium of claim 15 wherein:

the preschool child is associated with a group or class including one or more other preschool children,

the group or class is associated with a school including one or more other groups or classes,

the school is associated with a school district or educational organization including one or more other schools or programs;

further comprising instructions for;

enabling a user to access progress information for preschool children, groups or classes, and schools or programs included in the school district or educational organization.

21. A computer-implemented method for determining developmental progress, the method comprising:

maintaining data, in an electronic data store, the data identifying multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress of preschool children;

receiving user input indicating an observation of a preschool child interacting in a learning activity, the observation being associated with one or more of the multiple behaviors, and indicating the ability of the preschool child to perform an associated behavior;

determining the ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors based on the observation;

associating a developmental age or level with the preschool child based on the observation, the developmental age or level being related to developmental progress of the preschool child;

analyzing data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child; and

determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein:

the multiple behaviors are associated with multiple skill or developmental domains,

associating the developmental age or level with the preschool child based on the observation, the developmental age or level being related to developmental progress of the preschool child includes;

associating a first developmental age or level with the preschool child for a first skill or developmental domain; and

associating a second developmental age of level with the preschool child for a second skill or developmental domain, the second developmental age or level being different than the first developmental age or level and the second skill or developmental domain being different than the first skill or developmental domain,

analyzing data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child includes analyzing data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill or developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age or level of the preschool child for the second skill or developmental domain, and

determining the appropriate reaming activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the developmental age or level of the preschool child includes determining an appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the first developmental age or level of the preschool child for the first skill or developmental domain and indicative of the second developmental age or level of the preschool child for the second skill or developmental domain.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

correlating the multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress with respect to a set of government or organization standards; and

determining the progress of the preschool child with respect to the set of government or organization standards based on the determined ability of the preschool child to perform the multiple behaviors used to assess developmental progress, wherein

determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child includes determining the appropriate learning activity or behavior based on the progress of the preschool child with respect to the set of government or organization standards.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the appropriate learning activity of behavior is a first appropriate learning activity or behavior, further comprising:

receiving information related to observations of the preschool child interacting in the first appropriate learning activity or behavior;

updating the developmental age of level of the preschool child based on the observations of the preschool child interacting in the first appropriate learning activity or behavior;

analyzing data indicative of the updated developmental age or level of the preschool child; and

determining a second appropriate learning activity or behavior for the preschool child based on the analysis of the data indicative of the updated developmental age or level of the preschool child, the second appropriate learning activity or behavior being different than the first appropriate learning activity or behavior.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein:

the preschool child is associated with a group or class including one or more other preschool children;

the group of class is associated with a school including one or more other groups or classes,

the school is associated with a school district or educational organization, including one or more other schools, further comprising;

enabling a user to access progress information for preschool children, groups or classes, and schools included in the school district of educational organization.