Universally Designed Assessments: Opening the Door to More Appropriate Assessment for All Students

Martha Thurlow, Sandra Thompson & Christopher Johnstone, National Center on Educational Outcomes

University of Minnesota

Goals

• Define “universally designed” assessments within the current context of large-scale assessments and accountability

• Identify elements of universally designed assessments

Universally designed assessments:

• are designed from the beginning to be accessible and valid for the widest range of students

• provide optimal standard assessment conditions

Who Benefits?

• Universal design does not apply exclusively to people with disabilities or limited English proficiency

• It applies to all individuals, with wide ranging characteristics

Think about universal design in architecture and tool design

Curb cuts and ramps

Elevators that talk to you

Door handles rather than knobs

Special pen shapes that are easier to hold

Proposed Title I Regulations (open to comment at this time) introduce the need for universally designed assessments –

[Assessments must be] designed to be accessible and valid with respect to the widest possible range of students, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency.

Sec. 200.2(b)(2)

Remember this?

OFFICIAL BALLOT, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

REGULAR PEOPLE GET TRIPPED UP BY THE SIMPLEST THINGS

What’s obvious to someone who knows the answer is not always obvious to everyone.

It Matters!

Why Might We Want Universally Designed Assessments for Students

with Disabilities?

Current wide ranges in use of accommodations – from 8% to 84% of students in latest NCEO survey

Possible misuse (over or under use) of accommodations (in some cases)

Better measurement of students with disabilities

Elements of UD Assessments

Inclusive assessment population

Precisely defined constructs

Accessible, non-biased items

Amenable to accommodations

Elements of UD Assessments (continued)

Simple, clear, and intuitive instructions and procedures

Maximum readability and comprehensibility

Maximum legibility

Inclusive Assessment PopulationElement #1:

Universally designed assessments are responsive to:

A commitment to serve and be accountable for ALL students

Equitable participation for all students, regardless of Cognitive ability

Cultural background

Inclusive Assessment PopulationElement #1:

Universally designed assessments field-test:

A sample of every type of student expected to participate in the final assessment administration

Precisely Defined ConstructsElement #2:

Universally designed assessments reflect good measurement qualities:

Actually measure what they are intended to measure

Remove all non-construct-oriented cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical barriers

An Example:

Mathematics Tests

The reading requirements of a math test often prevent students with marginal reading ability from demonstrating competency in math.

Ordering Pizza (Original Item)The cafeteria manager surveyed the students in a middle school to find out if they would buy Brand X pizza on Friday if the manager sold it. She made a circle graph to display the results of her survey.

NO

YES

Based on the results of the survey, answer the following questions:

1.1. What fraction of students would buy Brand X pizza on Friday?What fraction of students would buy Brand X pizza on Friday?

2.2. What percent of students would buy Brand X pizza on Friday?What percent of students would buy Brand X pizza on Friday?

3.3. There are 1200 students in this school. How many students will There are 1200 students in this school. How many students will buy Brand X pizza on Friday if the manager’s survey is accurate?buy Brand X pizza on Friday if the manager’s survey is accurate?

Ordering Pizza (Revised Item)Maria surveyed the students in her school to find out if they liked pizza on Friday. She made a circle graph to display the results of her survey.

NO

YES

1.1. What What fractionfraction of students said “yes”? of students said “yes”?

2.2. What What percentpercent of students said “yes”? of students said “yes”?

3.3. There are 1200 students in Maria’s school. There are 1200 students in Maria’s school. How manyHow many students said “yes”?students said “yes”?

The language used in questions on tests that assess subjects other than language needs to become as “transparent” as possible

Accessible, Non-Biased ItemsElement #3:

According to the National Research Council (1999), bias arises when:

“Deficiencies in the test itself result in different meanings for scores earned by members of different identifiable subgroups.”

Bias includes anything in an item that could potentially advantage or disadvantage any subgroup of examinees.

It takes special thinking and review to ensure that items are not biased for each and every student who will be tested.

Universally designed assessments incorporate accessibility as a primary dimension of test specifications

Insist that item developers are trained

Form Bias Review Panels that include individuals who know disability and language issues, as well as cultural, gender, and other issues

Amenable to AccommodationsElement #4:

Universally designed assessments allow needed accommodations to be used

Plan for students who continue to need accommodations

Facilitate the use of accommodations such as assistive technology

No More Accommodations?

• universally designed assessments will not eliminate the need for accommodations

• universally designed assessments may reduce the need for accommodations

• universally designed assessments will reduce threats to validity and score comparability when accommodations are used

Simple, Clear, and Intuitive Instructions and Procedures

Element #5:

Universally designed assessments focus on the knowledge and skills assessed, not on seeing whether the student can figure out how to respond Applies regardless of experience, knowledge,

language skills, or concentration level

Not knowing how to respond can invalidate a student’s test score

Maximum Readability and ComprehensibilityElement #6:

Universally designed assessments attend to various factors that affect readability

Students’ previous experiences, achievement, and interests

Features such as word and sentence difficulty, organization of materials, and format

Sample Readability Guidelines

Use simple, clear, commonly used words, eliminating any unnecessary words

Clearly define any technical terms that are used

Break compound complex sentences into several short sentences. State the most important ideas first

Introduce one idea, fact, or process at a time

Maximum LegibilityElement #7:

Universally designed assessments use text that enables people to read quickly, effortlessly and with understanding

The physical appearance of text – shapes of letters and numbers – conforms to several dimensions that characterize legible text

Contrast – Black type on matte pastel or off-white paper produces good contrast and reduces eye strain

Type Size – Print larger than 12 point increases legibility

Spacing – Space between letters and between words in wide

Leading – White space between lines of type (leading) is larger

Typeface – Standard typeface, with upper and lower case letters, is better than italic, small caps, or all caps

Justification – Unjustified text is easier to read, especially for poor readers

Line Length – Text should be about 40-70 characters, or about 8-12 words per line

Blank Space – Space around paragraphs and between columns of type increases legibility

Universally designed assessments use non-text materials just as carefully as text materials

Symbols are highly distinguishable

Only essential illustrations are used (ones referred to in text and necessary to answer question) [illustrations for interest often draw attention away from construct being assessed]

Universally designed assessments consider the design of the response venue as well as the assessment itself

Large bubbles that avoid most challenges of low vision or difficulty with fine motor skills

Consideration of age of students in selecting format (avoid separate answer sheets for younger students)

More information?

Visit: www.education.umn.edu/nceo

or Search for NCEO

Web site includes: Topic introduction

Frequently Asked Questions

Online and Other Resources

Question: Are All Universally Designed Assessments Computerized?• No, universal design principles

apply to all media used for assessments, including the current dominant one – pencil

and paper tests.

• But, it may be easier to provide an array of options to students through computerized assessments.

Computer-Based Assessments

• Must maintain each element of universal design

• Can be poorly designed and inaccessible in much the same way as paper and pencil assessments

• Should be used with great caution unless equity issues have been addressed

Equity Issues

• Access to computers

• Experience using computers

• Training and practice with assistive technology devices and software (e.g., screen readers, speech synthesizers)

Choice allowed by computer-based testing is a

significant benefit for students – they can use the options that are most useful

to them!

Caution

While universally designed assessments can make tests more equitable, producing

results that are more valid for all students, they cannot

replace instructional opportunity!