Description
The main aim of the project is to improve the academic success and well-being of children in school (age 7-15) in Estonia, through more inclusive education and capacity-building of personnel. This will be achieved through developing and piloting a computer-based battery of tests for school psychologists for assessing students’ psychological processes and personalities. This widens the possibility to support development of students with special educational needs. As a result, psychologists will have reliable tests, manuals and grade-based norms for grades 1-9 and a unified system of assessment of children with special educational needs all over Estonia. Additionally other personnel in Rajaleidja regional youth guidance centres will be educated in areas of child development, assessment, and support, and psychologists in skills of using tests and interpreting the results. The project is carried out in partnership with Tallinn university for the preparation of tests; standardization and publishing of manuals; training and contributing to the organization of trainings; testing of students (i.e., data collection).
Summary of project results
Aim of the project: The main aim of the project was to improve the academic success and wellbeing of children (age 7-15) in school by enabling early identification of children in risk and providing them support based on their individual educational needs. The first objective was to develop reliable and valid tests for assessing psychic processes and personality qualities that can be used by school psychologists. The second objective was to raise the competence of school psychologists in Rajaleidja centers as well as in schools and also improving the competence of other support specialists working in Rajaleidja centres. The third objective was to implement a unified computer environment that can be used for assessing the psychic processes and personality qualities of school-age children. Results: 1. Reliable and valid tests for assessing psychic processes (perception, attention, working memory, long-term memory, reasoning, planning, motivation) and personality (beliefs, interests) of 1-3th , 4-6th and 7-9th graders. 2. Reliable grade-based norms collected from 9000 students from all over Estonia. 3. Competent (school) psychologists all over Estonia who are able to use the tests and interpret the results, also able to councel the child and consult the parents as well the teachers. 4. Competent specialists (psychologist, speech therapist, special education teacher, social pedagog, career counsellor, career information specialist) in Rajaleidja centers who understand the specifics of the work of psychologists and their role in teamwork. 5. Unified system of assessment of school children all over Estonia. 6. A unified computer environment that can be used for assessing the psychic processes and personality of children.
Summary of bilateral results