Applications of Dynamic Assessment Related to Language and Literacy
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Episode Summary
How does the opening scene of Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan help us better understand test validity? Tune in to find out as Dr. Doug Peterson and Dr. Trina Spencer return to the Nerdcast to continue the discussion on dynamic assessment (DA). If you haven’t already, beam back to Part 1 of the series to set the scene. In this follow-up, Trina and Doug weave just the right amount of side-tracked laughter, nerdy sci-fi narrative, and evidence-based discussion to rev up your DA engines and have you racing to the literature to explore a different assessment frontier that is more ethical, less biased, and much more versatile than norm-referenced assessment alone. Crack the jargon of norm-referenced assessment and gain some tangible DA tips and rationale as this crew unpacks the value of uncovering how children learn rather than what they’ve already learned when making a diagnosis and setting a functional and effective intervention plan across learning domains. Boldly go where few SLPs have gone before, enjoy some leftover cake and sandwiches, and get those ASHA CEUs that give you the gold you can apply to your caseload today!
You can learn more about Trina and Doug here.
Summary Written by Tanna Neufeld, MS, CCC-SLP, Contributing Editor
Learning Outcomes
Explain how dynamic assessment differentiates between language disability and language difference.
Describe different applications of dynamic assessment that identify a disorder.
Explain how dynamic assessment can inform intervention.
References
Petersen, D. B., Tonn, P., Spencer, T. D., & Foster, M. E. (2020). The Classification Accuracy of a Dynamic Assessment of Inferential Word Learning for Bilingual English/Spanish-Speaking School-Age Children. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 51(1), 144-164. doi:10.1044/2019_lshss-18-0129
Petersen, D. B., Chanthongthip, H., Ukrainetz, T. A., Spencer, T. D., & Steeve, R. W. (2017). Dynamic Assessment of Narratives: Efficient, Accurate Identification of Language Impairment in Bilingual Students. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60(4), 983-998. doi:10.1044/2016_jslhr-l-15-0426
Petersen, D. B., Allen, M. M., & Spencer, T. D. (2014). Predicting Reading Difficulty in First Grade Using Dynamic Assessment of Decoding in Early Kindergarten. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 49(2), 200-215. doi:10.1177/0022219414538518
Petersen, D. B., Gragg, S. L., & Spencer, T. D. (2018). Predicting Reading Problems 6 Years Into the Future: Dynamic Assessment Reduces Bias and Increases Classification Accuracy. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools,49(4), 875-888. doi:10.1044/2018_lshss-dyslc-18-0021
Disclosures:
Dr. Petersen financial disclosures: Dr. Petersen is a co-authors of the Story Champs curriculum and PEARL dynamic assessment. They receive royalties from the sales of those items. Dr. Petersen has no financial relationships to disclose.
Dr. Spencer financial disclosures: Dr. Spencer is a co-authors of the Story Champs curriculum and PEARL dynamic assessment. They receive royalties from the sales of those items. Dr. Spencer has no financial relationships to disclose.
Kate Grandbois financial disclosures: Kate is the owner / founder of Grandbois Therapy + Consulting, LLC and co-founder of SLP Nerdcast. Kate Grandbois non-financial disclosures: Kate is a member of ASHA, SIG 12, and serves on the AAC Advisory Group for Massachusetts Advocates for Children. She is also a member of the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT), MassABA, the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and the corresponding Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis SIG.
Amy Wonkka financial disclosures: Amy is an employee of a public school system and co-founder for SLP Nerdcast. Amy Wonkka non-financial disclosures: Amy is a member of ASHA, SIG 12, and serves on the AAC Advisory Group for Massachusetts Advocates for Children.
Time Ordered Agenda:
10 minutes: Introduction, Disclaimers and Disclosures
20 minutes: Descriptions of how dynamic assessment differentiates between language disability and language difference.
15 minutes: Descriptions of different applications of dynamic assessment that identify a disorder.
10 minutes: Descriptions of how dynamic assessment can inform intervention.
5 minutes: Summary and Closing
Disclaimer
The contents of this episode are not meant to replace clinical advice. SLP Nerdcast, its hosts and guests do not represent or endorse specific products or procedures mentioned during our episodes unless otherwise stated. We are NOT PhDs, but we do research our material. We do our best to provide a thorough review and fair representation of each topic that we tackle. That being said, it is always likely that there is an article we’ve missed, or another perspective that isn’t shared. If you have something to add to the conversation, please email us! Wed love to hear from you!
Credits:
Summary Written by Tanna Neufeld, MS, CCC-SLP, Contributing Editor
Key Terms and Additional Information provided by Maria De Leon, MS, CCC-SLP, Contributing Editor
Audio File Editing provided by Caitlan Akier, MA, CCC-SLP/L, Contributing Editor
Promotional Content provided by Ashley Sturgis, MA, CCC-SLP, Contributing Editor
Web Editing provided by Sinead Rogazzo, MS, CCC-SLP, Contributing Editor
This course is offered for .1 ASHA CEU (Introductory Level, Professional Area)
Additional Resources Mentioned
In this episode we describe a cartoon. Please see said cartoon below:
Several assessments were mentioned during the episode. You can learn about / purchase those assessments here:
There are several free trainings available through Language Dynamics Group