Assessment and Adult Learners: Getting the Most from Standardized and Informal Assessment Instruments.

This guide provides advice on effective use of assessments in adult basic and literacy education programs. Chapter 1 considers different types of standardized tests, their purposes, their advantages and limitations, misuses of standardized tests, and other types of assessments. Chapter 2 on informal assessments defines alternative and informal assessment and discusses types of informal assessment, their advantages and limitations, and design of informal assessments. Chapter 3 addresses use of assessments to document learner progress for program accountability, including types of assessment appropriate for program evaluation and accountability, how to standardize a locally developed assessment, and use of qualitative information for program accountability. Chapter 4 covers use of assessments to screen learners and to guide and evaluate instruction. The focus of chapter 5 is assessment of adults for whom English is a second language. Chapter 6 covers assessment strategies to use with students with learning difficulties and making accommodations. Chapter 7 describes the information that should be included in a manual for a commercially developed test and provides a checklist to examine a test to decide if it is appropriate for one's assessment needs. Chapter 8 discusses factors within the learner and the program that affect the testing situation and addresses supportive environments. Appendixes contain the following: test summaries for 11 tests, annotated list of 9 resource organizations, and disability definitions and checklists. Introduction and individual chapters contain references. (YLB)