DLM Assessment Design 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In DLM, what is the primary purpose of using Essential Elements (EEs) as the basis for assessment design?
- To align assessments with grade-level standards while maintaining appropriate complexity for students with significant cognitive disabilities (Correct answer)
- To replace Common Core standards entirely for all special education students
- To ensure all students take identical assessments regardless of ability level
- To eliminate the need for individualized education programs in assessment planning
Correct answer: To align assessments with grade-level standards while maintaining appropriate complexity for students with significant cognitive disabilities
Essential Elements are derived from grade-level standards and are designed to be appropriately challenging for students with significant cognitive disabilities while maintaining academic rigor.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'linkage levels' in DLM assessment design?
- Grade bands that group students by chronological age
- A progression of complexity within each Essential Element ranging from Initial Precursor to Target level (Correct answer)
- The connection between different subject areas in the curriculum
- Administrative tiers that determine which students qualify for DLM
Correct answer: A progression of complexity within each Essential Element ranging from Initial Precursor to Target level
Linkage levels represent a learning progression within each EE, from Initial Precursor (most foundational) through Distal Precursor, Proximal Precursor, Target, and Successor levels.
Question 3: A DLM assessment designer is reviewing testlets for a student who communicates using eye-gaze technology. Which design consideration is MOST critical?
- Ensuring response options are spaced appropriately for eye-gaze selection (Correct answer)
- Limiting testlet length to exactly three items regardless of content
- Using only text-based stimuli to maintain standardization
- Requiring verbal responses as a backup to technology-based responses
Correct answer: Ensuring response options are spaced appropriately for eye-gaze selection
When designing for eye-gaze users, response options must be positioned to allow accurate selection, which is a fundamental accessibility requirement.
Question 4: What distinguishes a 'testlet' in DLM from a traditional test item?
- Testlets are always administered verbally rather than in written form
- Testlets consist of a shared context or stimulus followed by multiple related items (Correct answer)
- Testlets contain only one question to reduce cognitive load
- Testlets are used exclusively for summative assessment purposes
Correct answer: Testlets consist of a shared context or stimulus followed by multiple related items
A DLM testlet uses a shared instructional context or scenario followed by several items that measure the same Essential Element at a specific linkage level.
Question 5: When assigning a First Contact Survey linkage level for a student, which factor is given the MOST weight?
- The student's chronological grade placement alone
- The teacher's knowledge of the student's current academic and functional performance (Correct answer)
- State-level demographic data for students with similar disabilities
- The student's score on a general education standardized test
Correct answer: The teacher's knowledge of the student's current academic and functional performance
The First Contact Survey relies primarily on the teacher's professional judgment about the student's current performance, communication, and learning characteristics.
Question 6: In DLM assessment design, which characteristic defines the 'Successor' linkage level?
- It represents the most foundational skills prerequisite to an Essential Element
- It represents skills that go beyond the Target level and approach or exceed grade-level expectations (Correct answer)
- It is the level assigned to students who have mastered all DLM content
- It is used only for students in the 11th and 12th grade
Correct answer: It represents skills that go beyond the Target level and approach or exceed grade-level expectations
The Successor level represents performance beyond the Target and may approach grade-level complexity, serving students who have demonstrated mastery at the Target level.
Question 7: Which of the following is a key principle guiding the development of DLM alternate assessment blueprints?
- Coverage of a large number of EEs to mirror the breadth of general education assessments
- A focused set of EEs selected to represent the most critical academic content for students with significant cognitive disabilities (Correct answer)
- Equal weighting of all subject areas regardless of state academic priorities
- Random selection of EEs each year to ensure fairness across student populations
Correct answer: A focused set of EEs selected to represent the most critical academic content for students with significant cognitive disabilities
DLM blueprints intentionally focus on a prioritized subset of EEs that represent the most educationally significant content, rather than covering all possible standards.
DLM Assessment Design 2
In DLM, what is the primary purpose of using Essential Elements (EEs) as the basis for assessment design?