ASSESSMENT

Featuring:

Unpacking the

Instructional Framework

Communicative

Competence

Augmentative and

Alternative

Communication (AAC)

Assessment

Resources

Unpacking the Alternate Instructional Framework

Multi-State Alternate Assessment Autumn 2017

The alternate instructional framework (right) uses a triangle to illustrate three key interconnected parts: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. At the base of the triangle is Communicative Competence, a set of behaviors that students must have to communicate what they know and to get their needs met. At the top of the triangle, three post-secondary options crown the framework as goals for all students: college, career, and community.

Students who attend public schools have the opportunity to learn to read and write, solve mathematics problems, and utilize their academic skills across all content areas. Federal guidance requires that students with disabilities have the same opportunities and are exposed to the same curriculum as their general education peers.

What is meant by “the same curriculum for all students?”

For students with significant cognitive disabilities, the academic content is aligned to the chronologically age-appropriate grade-level content standards at a less complex performance expectation. This alternate instructional content matches the general education curriculum but varies in the depth, breadth, or complexity of the learning outcomes. In other words, the instructional content is the same but the performance expectations are less.

For example, in a third grade mathematics class, the students would organize data provided to them to create a simple line graph while the general education students would collect, organize, and analyze the data to create a graph which illustrates their findings. Despite differing academic rigor, the content is the same because the students are doing the same general activity that addresses the content standard.

College Community

Career

Curriculum State Content Standards

Learning Progressions

Core Content Connectors

Instruction Grade Level Lessons

Accessible Instructional Materials

Accommodations

Assessment Formative (ongoing during

school year; monitors learning)

Summative (end of year or end of course; evaluates

learning)

Communicative Competence

Adapted from the NCSC Instructional Framework

Real World Learning

Skills of daily living can be incorporated into instruction rather than having them exist as a supplement to instruction. In English/language arts, students locate information in a newspaper or conduct an internet search. Through mathematics, students gain skills by shopping for groceries, cooking a meal, or negotiating a map. Experiences in science and social studies classes may lead to lifelong hobbies or careers. Practice with social skills can be embedded throughout the student’s day in all content areas. With improved skills, students with significant cognitive disabilities have increased opportunities for achieving post-secondary outcomes in college, career, and community.

When given the opportunity, all students can learn, including those students who have significant cognitive disabilities.

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Imagine living in a world

where sounds surround

you. You are able to grasp

the meaning of some of the

‘words.’ You have a sense

of the expectation that you

will convey some important

information back to those

who care for you. You don’t

understand why when you

make a certain sound, you

don’t get the hug you are

asking for or when you lean

toward the table when

walking by, you aren’t

getting something to eat.

Communication should be

identifiable for all students

regardless of their

functional level. This

recognition is the starting

point for developing

COMMUNICATIVE

COMPETENCE.

No more fundamental outcome of education exists for students than

the right and ability to communicate what they know.

In order to address communicative competence, there must be a commonly understood definition of communication. Communication involves both the ability to understand what is heard (receptive) and “what I want to tell someone” (expressive). Students with significant cognitive disabilities often understand much more than they can express. A focus on communicative competence ensures that we learn to “read” our students and not underestimate their understanding or expressive attempts.

The first component of the equation is INTENT or function. We must determine whether the student is trying to request or refuse, or trying to ask or answer a question. Once the student has a reason to communicate, they will typically demonstrate the intent to communicate. The way a student communicates is referred to as the MODE or form of expression. There are endless forms that communication behaviors may take. Some are verbalization, speech, manual signs, clear gestures or facial expressions. Some students, however, may not be able to use such modes and their means of communication may be unique. This may mean that their mode of communication has not developed enough for the listener to understand their intent.

The listener has been mentioned a number of times. If the listener is observant and recognizes information then they are reinforcing the student’s attempts and providing an avenue for success. This is called Listener Comprehension. If the Intent/Reason, Mode/Method, and Listener Comprehension criteria are met, then the student will have successful communication!

Continued on next page.

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Communicative Competence is at the base of the alternate instructional framework as shown on page one. When students are able to show us what they know and have learned, their mode of communication is consistent, meaningful, and reliable enough for the listener to understand. Therefore, it is crucial for each IEP team to work toward developing a student’s functional and interactive communication system through persistent and consistent interventions that are used across their daily settings. We know from experience that for some students with complex communication needs, the use of Augmentative and Alternate Communication (AAC) supports provide a “bridge” while supporting them to develop functional speech. For others, the use of AAC is the alternative mode that maximizes their access to the community and the world of learning.

Communication serves as the foundation for access to curriculum.

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Data from the Learner Characteristic Inventory (LCI) project shows that about 90% of students with significant cognitive disabilities have symbolic or emerging symbolic expressive and receptive communication skills (see Figure 1 below).

Source: Thurlow, M.L., Wu, Y., Quenemoen, R.F., & Towles, E. (2016, January). Characteristics of students with significant cognitive disabilities (NCSC Brief #8). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center and State Collaborative. Only students for whom LCI data were available are included in the percentages shown here.

90% Symbolic or

Emerging Symbolic

Figure 1. Communication Skills of Students with Significant Cognitive

Disabilities

10% Presymbolic

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Augmentative and

Alternative

Communication

Communication is an essential life skill and an essential building block for the development of language. It is required for access to curriculum and instruction and is a basic human need and right. With access to a means of effective communication, all students can interact and exchange information with others, develop relationships, and participate fully in society.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies include all forms of communication with the exception of oral speech. Imagine a time when you attended a football game in a noisy stadium. You wanted to order something to eat from the vendor but it was too noisy to use speech to communicate your request. You may have waved your hand to get the vendor’s attention and then made a gesture with your hands indicating how many items you wanted. Whenever the ability to use speech in a functional manner is impacted, an alternative form of communication is required.

Developing an appropriate means of communication eliminates the need to consider prerequisite skills and offers a functional mode of communication that matches the student’s current skill set and needs. AAC aids and devices such as picture and symbol communication displays or speech generating devices allow the user to use objects, picture symbols, letters, and/or words and phrases to create messages. Recommending an AAC system for a student requires a team approach and should include the speech language pathologist and/or assistive technology staff to identify the most appropriate communication intervention.

Typically, students with complex communication needs use a range of AAC systems and access methods to communicate in a variety of communication situations. For example, a student may use a speech generating device such as a tablet to participate in a classroom discussion. The same student may use a communication book when chatting with friends. Students relying on eye gaze to communicate may use an electronic device to participate in instruction and at home may utilize a non-electronic visual display to communicate.

Anyone, regardless of age, developmental or cognitive level, physical disability, language level, or sensory impairment, who lacks intelligible speech (whether temporary or long-term) will benefit from using AAC. Furthermore, using AAC does not interfere with a student’s ability to learn to speak. In fact, for some students, using AAC may facilitate their development of speech and language as they hear words over and over.

A AC

Teaching written communication skills to students with significant cognitive disabilities

Imagine not being able to express yourself because you have never been taught to write. Nationwide, this is

the reality for many students with disabilities. Reading and writing have a reciprocal relationship - each

builds on the other to improve communicative competence. Reading supports the development of writing

and writing supports the development of reading skills. This interconnected relationship is similar to the

“two sides of the same coin” analogy—one cannot exist without the other. Many of the terms and concepts

found in reading standards are also included in writing standards: sequencing events; text evidence; and

descriptive details.

Students with significant support needs follow the same stages of writing development as their non disabled

peers, though not necessarily at the same age or grade as their non disabled peers. The developmental

stages are as follows:

Pre-emergent: Imitates spontaneous scribbles on paper Imitates vertical and horizontal strokes and circles on paper

Emergent: Student distinguishes between writing and drawing Uses upper and lower case letters in letter strings Knows the direction of writing on the page

Transitional: Writes using invented spelling Uses letters and sight words to tell stories Develops improved handwriting, adds spaces between words, punctuation, and basic grammar

Fluent: Writes for purpose: narrative, persuasive letters, informative reports Creates more complex sentences Has a good grasp on the mechanics of writing

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BEST PRACTICES:

Provide access to all 26 letters of the alphabet.

Utilize primitive sounds as an opportunity to make a word. Example: A student may say “ta-ta-ta.” Attach meaning to the sound by pointing to and saying, “table.”

Acknowledge that scribbling is a pre-writing skill.

Respond to the intended meaning of your student’s marks on paper. Example: A student may tell you their scribble is the word “cat.” No matter how readable it is, respond to the meaning of their writing.

Provide feedback on all attempts to write to increase competency in written expression.

Support writing development by having materials (pencils, crayons, assistive technology) readily available.

Display student work to instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Reading and writing are not innate skills. What students

learn depends greatly on what they have been exposed

to and taught. For the teachers of students with

significant cognitive disabilities, the first steps to

eliminating barriers that impede student progress may

be:

Providing accommodations that support access to

the 26 letters of the alphabet;

Identifying the student’s “writing tool” (low tech or

high tech assistive technology, images, letter tiles,

etc.);

Determining the student’s current communication

and writing level;

Choosing attainable outcomes to ensure success;

Offering topic choices and allowing the student to be

in control of their choice.

Developing writing skills for students with significant

cognitive disabilities provides the foundation for success

in school and in life. Academic learning and most jobs

require some level of writing to perform basic tasks. In

the past, writing instruction has sometimes been

overlooked because of preconceived notions that

students would not be able to acquire the skills or that

developing other life skills was more important.

Improving writing skills allows students to communicate

what they are thinking and demonstrate often other

wise hidden competencies.

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How do students show what they know?

Through assessment!

Ms. Jones is a middle school teacher looking for ways to see if her students are learning the material taught to them. She wants to compare their performance to other students in the district but also wants to have a sense of what each student has mastered. This can be accomplished in a number of ways through assessment.

Assessment is the process of analyzing student work to make educational decisions. Teachers assess students to develop or adjust instructional strategies. Having an accurate picture of a student’s skills and knowledge ensures that instruction leads to and supports higher achievement.

There are two major types and goals of assessment: assessment for learning and assessment of learning. Both types of assessment are important for determining the effectiveness of instruction and student progress.

Assessment for learning supports the student learning and improving skills; it is a snapshot of a student’s current level of performance. It provides the teacher with information and data on the “next steps” to promote learning and progress. Assessment for learning is ongoing and may include teacher-made tests, drills, quizzes, or observations.

Assessment of learning focuses on student achievement. It compares assessment results with curricular and instructional targets. This type of assessment is often summative, given at the end of course work, school year, or other predetermined times. Assessment of learning ensures accountability of teachers, schools and districts.

Assessments can be formal or informal. Formal assessments, or standardized tests, have a set of expectations for all students who are taking the test including the questions and the manner in which the test is administered. There are specific criteria used for scoring and interpreting the scores. The goal of a formal assessment is to compare students with a larger group of students from within the same classroom, school, district, state, or country. Formal assessments are usually assessments of learning.

Assessment

Types

Assessment for Learning

Assessment of Learning

Formal

Informal

Summative

Formative

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Informal assessments are used to measure how well a student is able to understand and remember specific content and their progress in the curriculum. Informal assessments can be individualized to meet the needs of the student. The information and data gleaned from an informal assessment provides the teacher with feedback that can be used to adapt teaching. Informal assessments are assessments for learning.

Assessments can be formative or summative. Formative assessments are used to monitor student learning and provide feedback to the teacher to adapt or modify instruction to improve student learning. Formative assessment is ongoing throughout instruction and may come in the form of asking students to orally summarize text, answer questions on a drill, or complete a graphic organizer to demonstrate their understanding of a topic. Formative assessments are informal and are assessments for learning.

Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit or school year. The results of summative assessments are compared against standards or benchmarks and can be formal or informal assessments. They are assessments of learning and may be a mid-term or final exam, a final project, or statewide assessment.

The importance of assessment is illustrated in the alternate instructional framework on page one. It describes the interdependency of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The arrows are multi-directional because each component of the triangle is used to inform the other components. In other words, curriculum informs instruction; instruction informs assessment; assessment informs instruction, and so on. A good educational system uses assessment information to make changes to the curriculum, instruction, and assessment framework.

Assessing students is important for Ms. Jones because the results will yield important information that she can use to improve instruction so that the performance of her students is improved. She can use a variety of informal formative assessments to guide daily instruction and formal summative assessments to ensure her students are meeting curricular benchmarks.

The Multi-State Alternate Assessment is a summative standardized assessment in English/language arts and mathematics administered at the end of the school year.

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Preparing for the Multi-State Alternate Assessment

PRE Assessment of student readiness:

1. Utilize the Learner Characteristics Inventory (LCI) early in the school year to identify students

who may not be able to participate in the assessment due to not having a consistent, reliable, and

observable mode of communication (communicative competence). A copy of the LCI is available

here: http://www.ncscpartners.org/Media/Default/PDFs/LCI-Project-Report-08-21-12.pdf

2. Utilize components of the Student Response Check (SRC) to conduct ongoing assessment of

the modes of communication the student uses in instruction. The SRC is a 3-question content-

neutral task during which a student is asked to demonstrate their preferred mode(s) of

communication. There are two ways that the SRC can be conducted: (1) using the computer or (2)

using a paper version of the questions. The student is given a task and asked to respond using each

of the following response modes:

Using the mouse to select an answer

Verbalizing the answer

Gesturing or pointing to the answer

Using assistive technology (AT) to indicate the answer

Using an eye gaze chart to select the answer

Circling or marking the answers on a paper copy

3. Utilize the Communication Matrix to identify areas of need. The Communication Matrix is a

free assessment tool created to help families and professionals easily understand the

communication status, progress, and unique needs of anyone functioning at the early stages of

communication or using forms of communication other than speaking or writing. You can find

more information about using the Communication Matrix on the next page and here:

www.communicationmatrix.org.

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What is the Communication Matrix? The Communication Matrix is a research based assessment tool that is designed to measure how a student is communicating covering seven levels of development starting in the earliest stages of communication. The Matrix includes alternative forms of communication including picture systems, electronic devices, Braille, sign language, and 3D symbols.

How can the information from the Matrix be used? The Matrix provides a visual representation and qualitative and quantitative descriptions of the student’s current functioning and developmental level. This information can be used to identify communication deficits and align IEP goals with present levels of performance. From left to right along the bottom, the Matrix shows the four major purposes or functions for which communication is used: refuse, obtain, engage, and provide. Seven levels of communication are listed vertically along the left side in order starting with pre-intentional behavior and ending with language (see below). Descriptions of each level are provided on the Communication Matrix website: www.communicationmatrix.org.

What are best practices for using the Matrix? After determining the student’s current developmental level of communication using the Matrix, teachers and practitioners can track progress quarterly (along with IEP goals) and clearly see how a student’s communication skills are developing. The Matrix is a helpful resource that provides information to share with parents and enhances the home-school connection. For students with significant cognitive disabilities, developing communicative competence is an essential life skill and should be addressed on an ongoing basis.

Sample Communication Matrix (left): Seven developmental levels of communication are tiered vertically along the left side. Four major purposes or functions of communication line the base of the Matrix: refuse things that we don't want; obtain things that we do want; engage in social interaction; provide or seek information. Practitioners and teachers can use the Matrix to identify a student’s skill level and target IEP goals to improve communicative competency.

Image source: Screenshot of sample student profile

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Pre-Symbolic Communication refers to communication that does not have shared meaning for others because it does not use symbols such as words or signs. The use of body movements, cries, and facial expressions that must be interpreted by caregivers are examples of pre-symbolic communication. Emerging Symbolic Communication uses pictures, signs, and gestures to communicate a variety of intents expressively. Symbolic Communication refers to communication that involves a shared message between the sender and receiver. Examples include speech, sign language, writing (print or braille), picture and/or tactile communication systems. Expressive Communication encompasses the many ways of conveying a message. These include oral speech, body movements, facial expressions, signs, or use of augmentative or alternative communication (AAC); including pictures, switch devices, and words. Receptive Communication is the ability to understand or comprehend language that is heard or read. Response Mode is the specific behavior used by an individual to communicate. Examples include conventional forms such as print, sign, speech, and graphic symbols; or unconventional forms such as vocal output, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and body movement.

Observable Response Mode: a predictable and

consistent behavior or movement that is able to be understood by a communication partner as intentional communication (modalities may include use of eye-gaze, reliable gestures, sign language, partner-assisted scanning, scanning on a device, direct-selection from an array of choices, activation of a voice-output device, use of a speech-generating device, or use of other reliable means): demonstrating the

intent toward the task responding or sharing

information about the stimulus (test item)

Assigning meaning to habitual or uncontrollable motor movement or vocalization without communicative intent are not considered response modes.

The Early Stopping Rule is applied when

the student does not display a consistent, reliable, and observable response mode.

Immediately Prior to the MSAA Assessment:

1. Conduct the Student Response Check (SRC).

2. Document that the student has no observable response mode.

3. Administer the first four questions of one of the content areas

(the student does not have to answer the items correctly).

4. Close the test if student does not demonstrate an observable

response mode (The test may only be closed by the School

Testing Coordinator and not the Test Administrator to ensure

the procedure has been followed).

5. Next Steps: Complete the NCSC Communication Toolkit Training

https://learn.hdi.uky.edu/ to learn more about communicative

competence. Does the district have access to a specialist who

can help put a plan in place to address communicative

competence?

6. Put specific interventions in place that address communicative

competence.

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CONSIDERATIONS:

Appropriateness of IEP goals and

objectives related to

communicative competence.

Nature and need of professional development

related to communicative competence. The

Communication Toolkit on the NCSC wiki is an

excellent source of information: https://wiki.ncscpartners.org/index.php/Communication_Tool_Kit

Use of

Augmentative

and Alternative

Communication

Systems

Specific implications and intervention

recommendations and solutions for students who

are at an EMERGING or PRE-SYMBOLIC level of

EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION.

Data related to

communication

in the LCI and

Communication

Matrix.

Student strengths and

weaknesses and any

barriers to participating

in instruction and

assessment.

Recommendations for students who do not alert to

others or demonstrate an uncertain response to

sensory stimuli.

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Communicative Competence Resources:

Communication Matrix

https://communicationmatrix.org

Curriculum, Instructional, & Support Materials:

National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)

https://wiki.ncscpartners.org

NCSC News and Newsletters

http://www.ncscpartners.org

Guidance Documents

United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services

https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/index.html

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Notes

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This MSAA Assessment document is published annually by consortium States: Arizona, Arkansas,

Maine, Maryland, Montana, the Pacific Assessment Consortium, South Dakota, Tennessee,

US Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC.