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Scaling up early language intervention in educational settings : First steps matter
Ramacciotti, Mirela Sousa, Helena Silveira, Heloisa Hulme, Charles Snowling, Margaret Newbury, Dianne Puglisi, Marina
Ramacciotti, Mirela
Sousa, Helena
Silveira, Heloisa
Hulme, Charles
Snowling, Margaret
Newbury, Dianne
Puglisi, Marina
Abstract
Objective
To report how improvements on a Brazilian language intervention for early childhood education settings (PROLIN) were made and evaluated.
Study Design
In the first phase, the programme layout and materials were improved. This involved redesigning the guidelines for the programme, adding videos (using a learning management system) and creating an observation checklist to monitor the fidelity of implementation. The second phase was a two-week pilot study (a seven-session intervention) involving two teachers and 22 students. Checklists and video footage were analysed to investigate implementation.
Results
Quality of implementation was generally good, but we identified additional areas for improvement. Teachers had some difficulties with aspects related to session dynamics, implementation of activities and use of techniques that reinforce learning.
Conclusions
The pilot study was instrumental in identifying obstacles for a scaled-up, high-quality implementation. The design of these materials took into consideration ways of guiding and supporting teachers to: (1) offer students adequate participation time; (2) help include children who are shy or have behaviour problems; (3) use teaching strategies properly; (4) bring sessions to a close; and (5) reach the objectives of each session. Further modification is still needed, especially in the manual, videos and supplementary materials.
Keywords
teacher training, quality of implementation, pilot projects, early intervention, child language
Date
2023
Type
Journal article
Journal
Oxford Review of Education
Book
Volume
49
Issue
1
Page Range
29-47
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE)
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open