Validity and reliability study of the "Learning and innovation skills scale" for preschool (48-60 months) children

The early childhood period is a crucial stage in which individuals exhibit the highest levels of curiosity and motivation for learning while also possessing the greatest potential to acquire essential skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and productivity. In the 21st century, these skills have gained significant importance in terms of societal development, as the demand for individuals who can think scientifically, engage in critical inquiry, communicate effectively, and collaborate efficiently is continuously increasing. In this context, it is essential to assess and foster the four fundamental competencies - Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration - referred to as learning and innovation (4C) skills from an early age. The aim of this research is to develop a valid and reliable assessment tool to evaluate the learning and innovation skills of children aged 48-60 months. Accordingly, children's performances in a structured environment with science-based tasks were assessed using a holistic rubric scored by an expert educator. The study employed an exploratory sequential design, integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the qualitative phase, interviews were conducted with five preschool teachers to identify the behaviors associated with 4C skills observed in children. The findings were combined with relevant literature to formulate the initial rubric items. In the quantitative phase, content validity was assessed through expert opinions from 12 experts using the Lawshe technique (0.85). Subsequently, the finalized rubric was implemented with 60 children aged 48-60 months, and their performances were independently scored by two raters. The inter-rater reliability of the rubric was verified through Cohen's Kappa analysis (0.879). As a result of these processes, a valid and reliable assessment tool for measuring learning and innovation skills in early childhood was developed. The results of the implementation conducted on the study group indicate that the children possess a high level of 4C skills. Anahtar kelimeler: Learning and innovation (4C) skills, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication and Collaboration, Early Childhood Period