Mixed Deck — All DLM Topics Flashcards

How many linkage levels does DLM use for each Essential Element?

Answer: 5

DLM uses five linkage levels: Initial Precursor, Distal Precursor, Proximal Precursor, Target, and Successor.

When a student's DLM Educator Portal profile indicates 'switch access' as the response mode, what does this mean?

Answer: The student responds using a switch device rather than a keyboard or mouse

Switch access is an assistive technology response mode where students use one or two switches to interact with the test, supporting those with limited motor control.

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Answer: Mass is the amount of matter; weight is the gravitational force on that matter

Mass is constant regardless of location and measures the amount of matter. Weight varies with gravity and is a measure of gravitational force.

How does DLM ELA accommodate students who communicate using picture symbols instead of words?

Answer: Essential Elements are designed with entry points that accept symbol-based or picture-supported responses

DLM ELA is designed with flexible entry points that allow students to demonstrate knowledge through symbol-based communication, recognizing diverse expressive modalities.

Which linkage level is the closest precursor to the Target level in DLM?

Answer: Proximal Precursor

Proximal Precursor is the linkage level immediately below Target, meaning students at this level are very close to performing Target-level skills.

Which statement best describes the instructions provided in DLM assessments?

Answer: They use simplified language tailored to the student's needs.

To ensure comprehension for students with significant cognitive disabilities, DLM assessment instructions are carefully crafted. They use simplified language, clear sentence structures, and are often tailored or adapted to meet the individual communication and cognitive needs of each student.

How are DLM assessment results typically reported at the end of a testing window?

Answer: Through Individual Student Score Reports showing performance levels on Essential Elements

DLM produces Individual Student Score Reports that describe performance across Essential Elements using performance-level descriptors rather than a single numeric score.

Which of the following best describes the 'complexity band' concept used in DLM technology-delivered assessments?

Answer: A range of linkage levels within an Essential Element representing lower to higher cognitive demand

Complexity bands group linkage levels within an Essential Element along a continuum from Initial Precursor to Target, reflecting varying degrees of conceptual difficulty.

What does 'peer review' mean in scientific publishing?

Answer: Other experts in the field evaluate the research for accuracy and validity

Peer review is a process where other qualified scientists evaluate a study's methods, data, and conclusions before it is published.

What does DLM ELA assess when targeting 'literary text' comprehension?

Answer: Understanding stories, characters, settings, and events in fiction

Literary text comprehension in DLM ELA focuses on understanding narrative elements such as characters, setting, and events within fictional or story-based texts.

Which type of graph is most appropriate for showing how temperature changes over a 24-hour period?

Answer: Line graph

A line graph is best for showing continuous change over time, making it ideal for displaying temperature trends across 24 hours.

What is dead reckoning in navigation?

Answer: Estimating current position based on a known past position and course/speed

Dead reckoning calculates the current position by applying known speed, time elapsed, and course steered from the last known position.

What does it mean when scientists say a result is 'statistically significant'?

Answer: The result is unlikely to have occurred by chance

Statistical significance means the result is unlikely to be due to random chance, suggesting the experimental variable had a real effect.

What is the primary purpose of the Kite Student Portal in the DLM assessment system?

Answer: To deliver testlets to students during assessment windows

The Kite Student Portal is the secure online platform used to deliver DLM testlets directly to students during assessment windows.

A student reads that scientists 'disagree' about climate change. What is the most science-literate response to this claim?

Answer: Check the degree of scientific consensus using peer-reviewed sources and major scientific organizations

Science literacy means consulting authoritative, peer-reviewed sources and understanding that a strong scientific consensus (97%+ of climate scientists) exists on human-caused climate change.

A hypothesis must be:

Answer: A testable prediction about the relationship between variables

A hypothesis is a testable, falsifiable prediction that states the expected relationship between an independent and dependent variable.

A student answers 'yes' by activating a symbol when asked if they enjoyed an activity. According to DLM, this demonstrates:

Answer: Responding to a yes/no question using a symbolic form

Activating a 'yes' symbol in response to a yes/no question is a foundational symbolic communication skill on the DLM map.

How does documentation support quality in Instructional Planning?

Answer: It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement

Proper documentation creates accountability, ensures consistency, supports quality improvement, and provides legal protection.

What type of support might a student receive during a DLM assessment?

Answer: Adjustments like alternative response formats or assistive tools

DLM assessments are designed to provide individualized support to ensure fair and accurate measurement of student knowledge. This includes offering adjustments such as alternative ways for students to respond (e.g., verbal, pointing) or providing assistive tools (e.g., communication devices, magnifiers) to help them access and complete the assessment.

What does it mean if experimental data has high accuracy but low precision?

Answer: Measurements are near the true value but spread widely around it

High accuracy means values are close to the true value on average, but low precision means individual measurements are spread out rather than clustered.