Assessement documentation can be difficult to understand,
and without proper understanding an assessment can not be used effectively when
implementing a program for a student.
The following glossary has been created to provide
information on the types of scores used in standarized assessments, as well as
additional measurement terminology, and it includes terms used to describe
cognitive functions. In addition, to helping understanding an assessment
report, it will hopefully help in understanding information found on a
student's Individual Education Plan. Link to glossary.
Assessments provide information on an individuals attributes
and abilities. These may include, but are not limited to, cognitive
functioning, visual-motor integration, attention, behaviour, academic
achievement, and adaptive functioning. There are numerous standardized
assessments available, too numerous to explain, but the following are explained
as examples of what information an assessment might provide, as well as how
that information is obtained.
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth
Edition
What is the WISC-IV?
The WISC-IV is a clinical tool used to:
Measure
skills and abilities (not knowledge)
Help
identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses as they relate to learning
disabilities, executive functioning, attention disorders, brain injuries,
and level of intellectual ability
Investigate
the process used to develop a response
Help
develop effective strategies to assist individuals
How is the WISC-IV structured?
The WISC-IV is made up of:
Note: The supplemental tests are not used when
generating the Full Scale IQ score
The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Third Edition
What is the WIAT-III?
The WIAT-III is a tool used to:
Help
identify academic strengths and needs
Assist
in decision making regarding educational services, placements, and
diagnoses
Assist
in planning instructional objectives and appropriate strategies for
assistance
How is the WIAT – III structured?
The WIAT-III is made up of:
Chart reference: http://pearsonassess.ca/haiweb/Cultures/en-CA/Products/Product+Detail.htm?CS_ProductID=WIAT-III-CDN&cs_Category=psychological-achievement-literacy-basic-skills&cs_Catalog=TPC-CACatalog
Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System - Second Edition
What is the ABAS-II?
A tool
to assess adaptive skills over a lifetime (birth – 89 years)
A measure of what one can actually do (daily living skills) without
assistance from others
It can
be used to diagnose and classify disabilities and disorders and identify
strengths and limitations
Information
is also used in decision making and the development of effective
interventions
Individuals complete a rating form based on age range and
who is responding. Multiple raters will provide information on how an
individual functions in a variety of settings.
Parent/primary
Caregiver Form (0 – 5 years)
Teacher/Daycare
Provider Form (2 – 5 years)
Parent
Form (5 – 21 years)
Teacher
Form (5 – 21 years)
Adult
Form (16 – 89 years)
*Respondents can be any individual who is familiar with the
daily activities of the individual being assessed.
The
ABAS-II assesses individuals within three broad areas. Each area
addresses multiple skills.
- Conceptual
– communication, functional academics, self-direction
- Social
– social, leisure, self-care, home/school living
- Practical
– community use, work (for adults and working age youth; motor for
infant/preschool), health and safety
Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor
Integration 6th Edition
What is the Beery VMI?
The Beery VMI is:
- Screening
tool used to asses visual-motor integration, or the degree to which an
individual can integrate their visual and motor abilities (hand-eye
coordination)
- Early
indicator of problems related to visual perception, motor coordination, or
visual-motor integration
How is the Beery VMI structured?
- A test
of visual-motor
integration
- There
are two supplemental tests, the VMI Visual Test and the VMI Motor Test,
which can be used after interpreting the results from the Beery VMI
Reference for WISC-IV
Brainy-Child.com. (2012). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for
Children – fourth edition (WISC-IV). Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://www.brainy-child.com/expert/WISC_IV.shtml
Jepsen, D. (2008). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
(WISC-IV) [weblog]. Retrieved from http://www.schoolpsychologyblog.com/wechsler-intelligence-scale-for-children-wisc-iv/
Pearson Education, Inc. (2012). Clinical assessment:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – fourth edition (WISC-IV). Retrieved
March 29, 2012, from http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments.com/HAIWEB/Cultures/en-us/Productdetail.htm?Pid=015-8979-044
Think Tonight. (2012). WISC-IV (Wechsler): Subtests and
suggestions. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://www.thinktonight.com/WISC_IV_subtests_s/331.htm
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (2012). Wechsler Intelligence
Scale for Children. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wechsler_Intelligence_Scale_for_Children
References for WIAT - III
Dumont Willis. (2001). Wechsler Individual Achievement Test,
2nd ed. (WIAT-II), The Psychological Corporation, 2001. Retrieved March 29,
2012, from http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/WIATII_descrp.htm
Jepsen, D. (2009). Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
(WIAT) [Weblog]. Retrieved March 29, 2012 from http://www.schoolpsychologyblog.com/wechsler-individual-achievement-test-wiat/
Pearson Canada Assessment Inc. (2012). Wechsler Individual
Achievement Test – Third Edition: Canadian. Retrieved March 29, 2012 from http://pearsonassess.ca/haiweb/Cultures/en-CA/Products/Product+Detail.htm?CS_ProductID=WIAT-III-CDN&cs_Category=psychological-achievement-literacy-basic-skills&cs_Catalog=TPC-CACatalog
Petrosky, E. (2009). Wechsler Individual Achievement Test –
3rd Ed. (WIAT-III): A primer. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://www.toolsforstudents.info/WIAT-III_A_Primer_by_Petrosky.pdf
References for ABAS-II
Stoelting Co. (unknown). Adaptive Behaviour Assessment
System – Second Edition (ABAS – II). Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://www.stoeltingco.com/stoelting/3206/1467/1497/Psychological/Adaptive-Behavior-Assessment-System--Second-Edition-ABAS-II-------
Western Psychological Services. (unknown). Adaptive
Behaviour Assessment System – Second Edition (ABAS-II). Retrieved April 3,
2012, from http://portal.wpspublish.com/portal/page?_pageid=53,241092&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
References for Beery VMI
Pearson Education, Inc. (unknown). Beery VMI classroom
screening options: A Pearson Assessments occasional best practices paper.
Retrieved April 6, 2012, from http://www.pearsonassessments.com/NR/rdonlyres/43AEFB0A-4D54-4365-B0D4-D87A67185910/0/429410_Beery_VMI_WP_Lr_f.pdf%22
Pearson Education, Inc. (2012). Assessment and information:
The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration.
Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://www.pearsonassessments.com/HAIWEB/Cultures/en-us/Productdetail.htm?Pid=PAg105
Therapro, Inc. (2012). The Beery-Buktenica Developmental
Test of Visual-Motor Integration 6th Edition. Retrieved April 3, 2012,
from
http://www.therapro.com/Beery-Buktenica-Developmental-Test-of-Visual-Motor-Integration-6th-Edition-BEERY-VMI-The-P322093.aspx
Western Psychological Services. (unknown). Developmental
Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) 6th Edition. Retrieved April 3,
2012, from http://portal.wpspublish.com/portal/page?_pageid=53,272841&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL