Novel software assesses phonologial awareness

Date:
October 14, 2020
Source:
Michigan State University
Summary:
Understanding sounds in language is a critical building block for
child literacy, yet this skill is often overlooked. Researchers have
now developed a new software tool to assess children's phonological
awareness -- or, how they process the sound structure of words.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Understanding sounds in language is a critical building block for child literacy, yet this skill is often overlooked. Researchers from Michigan
State University have developed a new software tool to assess children's phonological awareness -- or, how they process the sound structure
of words.


==========================================================================
The ATLAS, or Access to Literacy Assessment System, program -- the first
test of its kind for children with speech and/or language impairment
-- can help parents, early childhood teachers and paraeducators more
accurately measure progress for children with a range of skill levels.

Research conducted by the MSU ATLAS team, published in the journal
Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, demonstrated that the software was effective when tested with over 1,100 children between the
ages of 3 and 7 - - both with and without speech and language impairments.

"Phonological awareness is one of the strongest predictors of literacy
skill development later in life," said Lori Skibbe, professor of human development and family studies at MSU and study lead author. "It can
include rhyming, recognizing how sounds go together to make words
and understanding how words can be broken apart into sounds." Skibbe
explained that the software, available free of charge, is adaptive,
which means that test items are unique for each child. Children can take
the test without speaking, and the test is shorter than many others in
the field.

ATLAS is also helpful for many children with disabilities, including
those with speech and/or language impairment.

"For children with a primary speech and/or language impairment, meeting educational literacy goals can be difficult," Skibbe said. "However,
the ATLAS software allows children to demonstrate what they know, even
if they struggle to answer questions verbally. This ensures their skills
are accurately assessed, and that they receive the right support to keep
them on track to meet literacy milestones."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Michigan_State_University. Original
written by Elizabeth Schondelmayer and Caroline Brooks. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lori E. Skibbe, Ryan P. Bowles, Sarah Goodwin, Gary A. Troia, Haruka
Konishi. The Access to Literacy Assessment System for Phonological
Awareness: An Adaptive Measure of Phonological Awareness Appropriate
for Children With Speech and/or Language Impairment. Language,
Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 2020; 51 (4): 1124 DOI:
10.1044/2020_LSHSS- 19-00006 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201014160512.htm

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