Pilotní studie využitelnosti nástroje CLASS Pre-K v českých mateřských školách

The pilot study presents the quantitative observational tool Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Pre-K and verifies its suitability for use in the conditions of Czech preschool education. Using structured observation using video recording, we obtained data in kindergarten classes (N = 10), coded them according to the CLASS Pre-K tool manual. Content analysis assessed the consistency of the tool’s domains and dimensions with the objectives of the Framework Educational Program for Preschool Education (RVP PV) and further verified the agreement of three raters in coding the observations. The results demonstrated a high level of content compatibility of the CLASS Pre-K tool with the RVP PV and medium to high agreement of raters. The pilot study suggests that the CLASS Pre-K tool is applicable in the Czech context, especially for observing pedagogical interactions in kindergartens, and possibly also as a means of teacher professional development, however, it still requires verification of the validity of the tool’s scales using confirmatory factor analysis on a larger set of observed classes.