Instruments

The Student’s Spatial Learning Attitudes (SLA) instrument is valid and reliable instrument designed for secondary students to share their ideas about spatial learning that involves using maps and technologies (e.g., mobile devices and computers that use map-based imagery) for learning.  The instrument underwent a validation process with experts in the STEM education and the geospatial technology teaching and learning field.  Further, to ensure that the items were comprehensible for English language learners, the items were reviewed by an educator with expertise with teaching English learners.  During the two-year study, the survey measures were optimized using both classical analyses and item response theory through iterative prototype testing and pilot testing with secondary students from a population that have been historically marginalized with access to STEM-related career fields. The SLA measure includes 9 Likert items.  The measure had high internal consistency reliabilities (Cronbach’s alpha) as well as acceptable Rasch reliabilities.