Formal and Informal Assessment

This class and the different videos we have been watching have helped confirm for me that informal assessment is just as valuable, if not more valuable than formal assessment.  Far too often people want a test to help with a diagnosis.  They want to look at the data.  Interestingly enough, the data can be taken in an informal format.  Interviews, observations, checklists, goals etc really can give a clear picture of what a child looks like.

I think formal assessments can be used to back up informal assessments but personally, informal assessments are more important.  As a teacher for students with emotional disabilities and students on the spectrum, the staff and I are often taking data and applying it to the day-to-day activities the students are required to do.  Using the data we have, I am able to call the parents and talk about the changes from baseline and see if there have been changes at home as well as the changes we see at school.  There is no formal test for that that can show change over time without worrying about testing validity.

In addition to the formal and informal assessment information I found that when the speaker talked about executive functioning it helped make sense of some of the other issues kids on the spectrum deal with.  Executive functioning helps and allows a person to make plans, keep track of time, keep track of more than one thing at once, evaluate on ideas and reflect on work, change your mind, engage in group work, and wait to speak until you’re called on to name a few things.  If a student struggles with executive functioning then they will definitely struggle with school.  It’s important to use the formal and informal data and see where the kids need help in order to have a successful day at school and in life.  With that being said, collaboration is key for success of all students.  If collaboration is working correctly, there is constant communication and there is the availability of numerous services for a student. 

Students with autism are complex and need collaboration of home, school and outside services to help make life easier for them on a daily basis.  Our world is hard enough for people without disabilities, never mind people with disabilities.