PROFFILO: a new digital assessment tool to evaluate learning difficulties in secondary school

• In Event: Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Topic - Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Although different screening tools for learning difficulties are available in previous literature, only few are based on digital gaming. The aim of the present study is to validate PROFFILO, a digital assessment tool for the recognition of learning difficulties in secondary school. We are collecting two-hundred students (age range: 11 – 16 years) attending two Italian secondary schools. PROFFILO is composed by two parts: a 30 items likert scale for the teachers, evaluating the severity of student’s learning difficulties in four domains (reading, spelling, writing and math abilities); a videogame including multiple neurocognitive tests evaluating phonological, motion perception, visuo-spatial attention, verbal memory, and problem solving abilities. The data will be collected online and automatically analyzed offline. Validated and standardized tests assessing writing (BHK test), reading and spelling (DDE-2) and math ability (MT test) are collected by two psychologists and are used to evaluate convergent validity and predictive validity of PROFFILO. The Pearson’s correlation analysis will be used to assess the convergent validity. Logistic regression and ROC curves will be used to analyze the predictive validity of PROFFILO. We expect to find good convergent and predictive validity index. We expect that PROFFILO could be used as a reliable screening tool for the assessment of learning difficulties in secondary school population. The data collection will start the second week of October and will finish the last week of November. The study is feasible because the PROFFILO data are automatically collected and because the clinical data collection has been already started.

Authors

• Mariagrazia Benassi, University of Bologna
  Presenting Author

• Sara Magri, University of Bologna
  Non-Presenting Author

• Valentina Lunghi, University of Bologna
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lorenzo Bartolini, University of Bologna
  Non-Presenting Author

• Samuele Bertani, University of Bologna
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alessia Baglivo, Istituto Tecnico Economico Serra
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sara Giovagnoli, Bologna University
  Non-Presenting Author