Identify and explain the 5-step procedure, APPLY, used for developing, implementing, and evaluating formative curriculum-based assessments.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Student response should include:
• Apply the curriculum.
o Regardless of the age or functional level of the students, the first step is to analyze the curriculum or content being taught. Curriculum for students identified for special education services should be identified primarily through the IEP process. State curriculum guides and standards should also be considered. The curriculum may involve academic, social, behavioral, and/or vocational content. IEP annual goals and short-term objectives provide a framework for analyzing the curriculum.
• Prepare items to match curriculum objectives.
o The next step in the process is selecting or creating test items that match the objectives and sequencing them. The sequence may be random, or if the objective deals with completing a task in a specific sequence, then the items may include a checklist of the steps to be followed.
• Probe frequently.
o The frequency with which formative CBAs are administered may vary, but teachers usually administer CBAs at least weekly and oftentimes they administer them daily. The individual testing periods should be short periods of time.
• Load data using graphs.
o Once data are collected, they are recorded on a graph. Then the visual display of their results can be interpreted. Graphing also provides students with motivation and responsibility for improving their own learning.
• Yield to results—revisions and decisions.
o Data on student performance are not collected simply as an exercise in collecting data. This information must be analyzed to determine whether the student is progressing. If not, then changes in the instructional program need to occur.