Linking Informal Assessment with Classroom Intervention Tools for Adults with Learning Disabilities

Christopher M. Lee

Electronic Handouts:

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Today’s Agenda

• Reviewing Learning Disabilities (LD)

• Phases of Assessment

  • Formal Assessment

  • Informal Assessment

• Taking a Look at Adults with LD Succeeding

• Technology Intervention Tools

  • Free Accessible Mainstream Technology

  • Free Alternative Media

  • Free Assistive Technology (AT)

• Georgia Adult Literacy Alternative Media & AT Pilot

• Resources

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Three Phases of Assessment
(not mutually exclusive)

• A comprehensive assessment process includes collecting data on meeting the demand in work, vocational training, education, and daily living environments.

• The vehicle: Medical, Formal, and Informal Assessment

• Breakdown includes (medical history, related illness, medical/physical conditions, functional interviewing, rating scales, questionnaires, psychological and neuropsychological tests, situational assessments and simulations, and direct observation)

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National Adult Literacy Survey

• 58% of adults with self-reported learning disabilities were in prose Level 1;

  • 22% in Level 2

  • 14% in Level 3

  • 4% in Level 4

  • 2% in Level 5

• The high school dropout rates were:

  • 44.9% for woman with self-reported LD, compared to 16.5% of women without self-reported learning disabilities

  • 57.6% for men with self-reported LD, compared to 15.3% of men without LD

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Learning Disability Review

• A specific learning disability is a disorder in one or more of the central nervous system processes involved in perceiving, understanding and/or using concepts through verbal (spoken or written language) or non-verbal means.

  • Could effect: Attention, reasoning, memory, communications, reading, writing, spelling, calculations, coordination, social competence, and emotional maturity.

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Formal = Cognitive & Linguistic Processes

• Auditory discrimination

• Contextual visual learning

• Crystallized knowledge

• Executive functioning

• Fluid reasoning

• Incidental learning

• Learning

• Listening comprehension

• Memory

• Naming speed/rapid automatized naming

• Nonverbal reasoning

• Orthographic awareness

• Phonemic awareness

• Psychomotor speed

• Quantitative reasoning

• Reasoning

• Rote verbal learning and memory

• Verbal learning

• Verbal working memory

• Verbal reasoning

• Visual learning

• Visual memory

• Visual-motor integration

• Visual-spatial abilities

• Visual-spatial integration

• Vocabulary

• Word fluency

• Word retrieval

• Working memory

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Text Comprehension

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Information Processing
(ways of perceiving, organizing & storing)

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Information Processing = Learning Styles

• Visual Print

• Visual Non-print (pictures/color)

• Auditory (listening)

• Verbal (speaking)

• Kinesthetic (doing)

• Tactile (touching/feeling)

• Visual-Motor (write/draw)

• Tasting, Smelling & Emotions

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90 % of what is SAID

as a Task is PERFORMED

50% of what is SEEN & HEARD

70 % of what is SAID & WRITTEN

100% of what is

TAUGHT TO ANOTHER

Hearing Seeing Saying Doing

People Generally Recall:

READ

Instructional Practices

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The Informal Assessment Model

• Does not replace formal assessment

• Helps concretely define what’s working & what’s not working

• Is practical and frequently more useable than formal assessment data

• Addresses needs and goals of “today” (e.g. cell phone)

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The Informal Assessment Model

1. Who is being assessed?

2. Who will do the Informal Assessment?

3. When should the Informal Assessment begin?

4. What is the goal or purpose of Informal Assessment?

5. Why is Informal Assessment necessary?

6. What will an Informal Assessment identify or provide?

7. When will the informal assessment information be used?

8. Where and how will the Informal Assessment take place?

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Four Primary Elements:
Informal Assessment Model

1. Observation of student characteristics and manifestation within the classroom,

2. Use of checklists and surveys (screening tool) to gather information to identify a need for further informal assessment,

3. Analysis of task demonstration (Payne Learning Needs Inventory) to evaluate student performance,

4. Implementation of an intensive interview or self-report questionnaire.

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Informal Observation

• Appearance

• Punctuality

• Rapport

• Eye contact

• Manner

• Mood/ affect

• Judgment

• Insight

• Expressive language

• Receptive language

• Attention

• Impulsivity

• Behaviors

• Problem-solving

• Pace of work

• Organization

• Motor

• Vision

• Effort

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Informal Assessment: Guidelines

• Interviewer should have training

• Ongoing

• Openness

• One-to-one

• Oral interview process

• Prior learning experiences

• Variety of Settings

  • Academic

  • Non-academic

• Lead to Solutions

  • Interventions & modifications

• Use familiar language

• No assumptions

• Done in the beginning

• Confidential

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Example: Payne Learning Screening/Inventory
(www.payneandassociates.com/)

• Payne Learning Needs Screening Tool (handout)

  • Public domain

  • Welfare clientele

  • 13 Questions

• Inventory (expansion of screening tool)

  • Critical Elements

    • Background

    • History of Medical/Special Needs

    • Behaviors & Manifestations

    • Weaknesses or Limitations

    • Modalities

      • Strengths or Successes

• Additional Screening Tools

• • to Adult Basic Learning
    

  • EMPIRE STATE SCREEN: Learning Needs Screen for Spanish Speaking

Adults ()

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Learning Needs Inventory Self-Report Questionnaires:
Cross Section of Questions
( )

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Learning Needs Inventory Self-Report Questionnaires: Cross Section of Questions

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Learning Needs Inventory Self-Report Questionnaires: Cross Section of Questions

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Learning Needs Inventory Self-Report Questionnaires: Cross Section of Questions

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Reading, Language (Vocabulary & Spelling),
& Mathematic Activities

• Use colored papers and tinted transparencies

• Have the student use a ruler, bookmark, or tracking guide

• Encourage the use of alternative media

• Have the student see and hear text simultaneously (screen reader)

• Teach the student to use “self-talk”

• Video will integrate the auditory to visual use of learning characteristics

• Computer Highlighter tracking

• Use reading outlines or graphic organizers

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Reading, Language (Vocabulary & Spelling),
& Mathematic Activities

• Avoid printing text on glossy paper or bright white

• A cap (with a bill or hat (with a brim) will aid in reducing glare and visual sensitivity.

• Enlarge print

• Always provide verbal explanation of assignments

• Be careful of cursive materials

• Graph paper may assist in maintaining sequence and order visually.

• Color-code calculator key-pad, especially “+” and “x”.

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Tapping Into Technology Intervention Success

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Text Readers Research:
Kentucky's Universal Design for Learning Initiative
Initiate pilot project in use of text readers

• 2000-01 Kentucky first UDL Initiative

• Identified 27 teachers from 8 regions

• Elementary, middle and high school

• Teachers had a range of computer skills

• Teachers were trained for two days on concept UDL, text readers and OCR software.

• 6 month later teachers were brought back for a project evaluation.

• What were the impacts of the use of technology on their student’s performance.

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Kentucky's Universal Design for Learning Initiative
Initiate pilot project in use of text readers

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Use What you have:

• Accessibility Solutions
  Learn about accessibility features and settings in Microsoft products and specialty assistive technology products.

• Tutorials and Training
  Find tutorials, demonstrations, and experts to help.
  

• More Information
  

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Microsoft Accessible Technology

• Accessibility Resource Centers

• Resource Guide for Individuals with Learning Difficulties and Impairments

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Microsoft Word

• Auto-Correct

• Auto-Text

• Right Click Spelling

• Line Spacing

• Templates

• Formatting

• Highlighters

• Microsoft Office Outlook

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Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL+C: Copy

• CTRL+X: Cut

• CTRL+V: Paste

• CTRL+A: Select All

• CTRL+Z: Undo

• CTRL+B: Bold

• CTRL+U: Underline

• CTRL+I: Italic

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Technology Solutions

• Refers to a broad range of devices, services, strategies, and practices Technology that helps an individual to carry out a functional activity is termed assistive technology

• • Inexpensive devices

  • Simple to make

  • Easy to obtain

  • Limited training

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Video List

• Adapted Art Interpreted Version

• Documenting AT in the IEP Interpreted Version

• Math - Calculator III Interpreted Version

• Portable Word Processor Interpreted Version

• Tape Recorder Player Interpreted Version

• Adaptive Books Interpreted Version

• Dynamic Display Communication Device Interpreted Version

• Math - Calculator 4 (Talking)

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• Electronic Textbooks Formats

  • Audio/Readers

  • Large Print

  • Electronic Text

  • PDF

  • DOC

  • HTML

  • XML

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Premier Assistive Software Suite

• Complete Reading System

• E-Library/E-Text reader

• Talking Internet Browser

• PDF Magic Pro

• Scan and Read Lite/Pro

• Scan and View

• Talking Word Processor

• Text Cloner Pro

• Ultimate Talking Dictionary

• Universal Reader

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Georgia Adult Literacy Pilot Project

• University System of Georgia AMAC Project

• Spring 2008 through Spring 2009

• Accessible GED Textbooks (PDF, MP3, DASIY Formats)

• Access textbooks and assistive technology downloads

• Spring/Summer 2008 Workshop

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Current GED Pilot Books

• GED Language Arts, Reading

• Contemporary’s GED Language Arts, Writing

• Contemporary’s GED Mathematics

• Contemporary’s GED: Social Studies

• Passing the Mathematics Graduation Test in Georgia

• Passing the Writing Graduation Test in Georgia

• Passing the Social Studies Graduation Test in Georgia

• Passing the Science Graduation Test in Georgia

• New Practice Readers: Books A - G

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• Project Gutenberg is the brainchild of , who in 1971 decided that it would be a really good idea if lots of famous and important texts were freely available to everyone in the world.

• 13,000 e-books

• Free

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Leaning Disabilities Resources

• NIFL ()

• LDA ()

• Georgia VR ()

• Regents Centers for Learning Disorders ()

• Jan ()

• LDAG ()

• IDA ()

• NLD ()

• Independent Living ()

• TFL ()

• Cast (

• AMAC ()

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• National Cristina Foundation (NCF) provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives

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Shareware and Freeware

• ReadPlease -http://readplease.com

(text-to-speech software)

• Easy Office - tucows.com

(offers 30,000 freeware/shareware downloads)

• Talk To Me - http://talk-to-me.net

(20 free trials)

• Click ‘n Type - www.lakefolks.org/cnt/

(on-screen virtual keyboard for problems with normal typing)

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Linking Informal Assessment with Classroom Intervention Tools for Adults with Learning Disabilities

Christopher M. Lee

Electronic Handouts: