Example and Modelling

Example: Assessing the Learner’s Skills in the Selected Domain
Learning Objectives

• Assess the learner’s skills in accordance with the instructions provided in the CALI Administration Guides.
• Efficiently record the data collected through the questionnaire, observation, interview, or structured assessment.

Context
Mrs. Cole, James’s resource teacher, is ready to assess the targeted domains Social Interaction Skills and Daily Living Skills (Eating and Drinking Skills and Dressing Skills). She contacts James’s mother and tells her that she will place two envelopes in James's school bag containing the relevant questionnaire sections to be completed. She reminds James’s mother of the purpose of the questionnaire and reviews the various response options with her. She also invites her to provide any other information in the Comments column.

Mrs. Cole places the envelope containing the relevant questionnaire sections for Mrs. Brown (James’s teacher) on her desk while she is away for lunch. She also leaves a note indicating that she is available if Mrs. Brown has any questions.

A few days later, Mrs. Cole does the first observation session during recess. Since James is playing on the swings, Mrs. Cole stands close to the structure, but remains discreet. She hears the discussions between the children very well and notes her ongoing observations in her scoring protocol.

The next day, Mrs. Cole goes back to the playground to do her second observation session. This time, James is playing ball with friends, and Mrs. Cole stands very close to the field. She manages to observe other skills, but she is afraid that James will feel observed and does not take her scoring protocol outside. She notes all the details of her observation when she returns to her office. She writes additional details in the Comments column. She puts a check mark in the Not Observed column for the skills she was unable to assess (e.g. Shares, Offers to help peers, Asks what others want).

James’s mother returned the completed questionnaire to Mrs. Cole, who makes an appointment with her to clarify some responses and conduct the interview. Since Mrs. Cole is only assessing the Eating and Drinking Skills and Dressing Skills subdomains, she thinks that a phone conversation with James’s mother will be sufficient and more efficient. During the interview, Mrs. Cole records all the details provided by James’s mother and confirms which skills James demonstrates independently. She questions James’s mother about the conditions that contribute to James’s success at home or in other settings.

Note how Mrs. Cole followed the advice for each of the chosen methods of assessment (questionnaire, observation, and interview) and data collection. Also note some possible areas for improvement.