One way to standardized testing methods is dynamic assessment because evaluating children from culturally and linguistically varied backgrounds can be a complex task. Dr. Elizabeth Peña, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, has conducted extensive research in the area of dynamic assessment with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Dynamic assessment (DA) is an approach of conducting a language assessment which seeks to identify the skills that an individual child possesses as well as their learning potential. The dynamic assessment procedure highlights the learning process and accounts for the amount and nature of examiner investment. It is highly interactive and process-oriented.
Two Major Outcomes of Dynamic Assessment
Help differentiate between a language difference and a language disorder, especially for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Children who are able to make significant changes in short term teaching sessions likely have a language difference.
Children who are unable to make these changes likely have a language impairment.
Results can have direct insinuations for intervention by examining the child’s response to a mediated learning experience.
Basic Framework of Dynamic Assessment
Pretest
Assess child’s current performance
Teach
Using a mediated learning experience (MLE)
Help the child develop strategies
Observe the child’s modifiability
Post Test
Compare performance to pretest
Assess transfer of strategies