Please check, just in case…

Announcements 1.Second classroom-based assessment tool due next week. 2.Please look at the feedback I provided on last week’s assignment to make changes for next time. 3.Bring last week’s draft to class next week. 4.I am pushing back the terminology treasure hunt by one week – now due October 29.

Quick questions, quandaries, comments or concerns?

APA Tip of the Day: Page numbers Page numbers should start on the title page, starting with #1. The page number should be at the top of the page, in the page header (don’t enter it manually). The page number should be flush right, with the running head on the same line, flush left. Do not write “page” or “#”, just include the roman numeral.

APA example Running head: BILINGUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION 1 A Review of the Research Literature in Bilingual Special Education J. S. de Valenzuela University of New Mexico Author Note

Topic: Observations and miscellaneous data collection formats September 24, 2014

Definitions Objective: “Free from personal feelings or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased…” Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary

Definitions Subjective: “…not directly caused by external stimuli…” Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary

Small Group Activity: Group leaders pass out the envelopes provided. Sort the contents along a continuum of objective to subjective

Definitions Objective: “Free from personal feelings or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased…” Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary

Definitions Subjective: “…not directly caused by external stimuli…” Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary

Objective vs. Subjective Statements

interpretations Did you really observe what you said you observed or are your “observations” really interpretations?

motivated... off task... interested... thinking hard... manipulative... trying...

descriptive descriptive observable observable measurable measurable

While you can and should assess students via observation and dialogue, you must have a focus and criteria for evaluation, and you must document your assessment. MISCONCEPTION ALERT!

In other words... “Observation”

I will observe… What? How will I document my observations? How I will evaluate (and use the results of) my observations?

Small group discussion: What are the different ways that you typically use observation with your students or clients? To what extent are those as systematic and objective as they should be? To what extent to they capture important aspects of context? To what extent to they capture meaningful learning or performance?

Quick Write: Individually reflect on the previous small group discussion. What changes do you think you might need/want to implement in your assessments?

Functional Behavioral Analysis

Want to know more about FBA?

Behavioral Recording 1.Event recording 2.Duration recording 3.Latency recording 4.Interval recording

1. Event recording aka Frequency recording. How many times does a particular behavior occur during a specific period of time? NOTE: This is not a very useful technique for behaviors that occur very frequently or those that occur over a long period of time (e.g. humming).

Event Recording Examples bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertoolshttp:// bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertools LRBIpdfs/Data.pdfhttp:// LRBIpdfs/Data.pdf

Event/Frequency

2. Duration Recording How long does the student engage in a particular behavior? Example: humming

bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertoolshttp:// bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertools LRBIpdfs/Data.pdfhttp:// LRBIpdfs/Data.pdf Duration Example

3. Latency Recording How long does it take for the student to respond to a particular stimulus? NOTE: This can be particularly useful with students who have had a head injury and have difficulties with response delay.

Latency Example bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertoolshttp:// bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertools LRBIpdfs/Data.pdfhttp:// LRBIpdfs/Data.pdf

Latency

4. Interval Recording Does the target behavior occur during particular time periods? This is different from event recording because the time intervals for recording the behavior are specified – such as every 30 seconds. This can be difficult for a classroom teacher to use, however it is very useful for assessing frequently occurring behaviors.

Billy biting own hand 0x1x2x3x 8:15-8:30 8:30-8:45 8:45-9:00 9:00-9:15 9:15-9:30 9:30-9:45 9:45-10:00 12/112/212/312/4 Interval-Event Recording: Scatterplot

Interval Recording Example bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertoolshttp:// bin/cgiwrap/specconn/main.php?cat=asse ssment&section=main&subsection=ddm/te achertools LRBIpdfs/Data.pdfhttp:// LRBIpdfs/Data.pdf

How long should my interval be? It depends!!! What if the child engages in the behavior twice a day? What if the child engages in the behavior multiple times an hour? What if the child engages in the behavior multiple times a minute?

Direct Observation Tips Record data from multiple days on a single observation form. Record data on at least a part of all relevant time periods. Keep data recording forms in a consistent location accessible to all relevant staff. Collect data on at least occurrences of the behaviors over at least 2-5 days before beginning to look for patterns. O’Neill et al., (1990)

Main Points about Observations 1. Observation can and should be an important part of your overall assessment strategy.

Main Points (cont.) 2. Effective observations: have a clear purpose and focus are documented rely on objective reporting, not subjective impressions, and are systematic.

Please take a minute for the minute paper. And don’t forget to turn your phone back on.