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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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