Accessible Test Design Enabling Technology to Enhance Assessment Michael Russell June 2010

Access - Two Perspectives Examinee Access to the Test Test Accessing the Construct Two ways to think about accessibility, one from student view, another is from the instrument developers. We have approached access from the test developers perspective - putting the burden on the developer to create instruments that can access the construct of interest.

Accessing the Construct We can have different versions of an instrument, or the instrument can take different forms, in order to measure the same construct.

How Test Item Functions Interact with Content Apply Construct Quantitative Score Measure of Construct Inference Statement About Construct Produce Response Visible Product of Construct Present Information Stimulate Construct

Barriers to Access Accurate intake of item content Interaction with content Accurate production and recording of response Barriers to accessing the construct occur at each stage of operating with an item.

Overcoming Barriers to Access Adapted Presentation Display of content Representational form of content Adapted Interaction Adapted Response Mode We can decrease these barriers by anticipating challenges that may occur during each stage of operating with the item.

Accessible Test Design Accessible Test Design customizes one or more stage of the item operation based on each individual’s access needs. these changes are produced by tools embedded in the delivery system itself, information embedded in an item, and the interaction between both.

How We Get Here? Universally Designed CB Interfaces Accessible Portable Item Profile (APIP) Standards Accessible Test Design customizes one or more stage of the item operation based on each individual’s access needs. these changes are produced by tools embedded in the delivery system itself, information embedded in an item, and the interaction between both.

APIP Test Model Accessible Test Design Requires a standard structure for: A. defining user access needs; B. Quality default item content; C. Supplementary Information for some content.; D. Alternate versions of the item; and E. A Flexible test delivery interface.

Default Item Alternate Version Default Content Information Companion Material Information Accessibility Information Inclusion Order Default Item Information Default Item Alternate Content Alternate Version How Supplementary and alternate information differ

APIP Provides Structure for Item Development Specifies Behaviors for Test Delivery Requires Specifications of Student Needs Comprehensive Integrated Solution for Accessible Test Design

Supporting Presentation Access Needs Display (System Elements) Magnification Reverse Contrast Alternate Contrast Color Tints White Space Access supports that APIP provides

Supporting Presentation Access Needs Representational Forms (Item Elements) Audio text Audio visual elements (tables, graphs, figures) Audio for Blind Braille Sign Alternate language Keyword translation Simplified language Tactile visual elements Interactive tactile

Supporting Interaction Needs (Most Interact with Item Elements) Masking Auditory Calming (System element only) Prompts Flags Keyword Highlighting Scaffolds Breaks (System element only) Increased Time (System element only) Chunking Item placement Reduced answer options

Supporting Response Needs (System Elements) Mouse input Keyboard input Touchscreen input Intellikeys input Tab-Enter navigation/input (Interacts with Item Elements) Speech-to-text