Abstract: A neuropsychological assessment of visual working memory includes a first display having a first set of distinct abstract elements positioned in a first order. A second display includes a second set of distinct abstract symbols positioned in a second order. The second set includes all the abstract elements of the first set plus at least one additional distinct abstract element not present in the first set. The first display is shown to an examinee. The examinee is asked to view the first display and to note the abstract elements in the first set and the first order thereof. The examinee is instructed to view the second display and to indicate, with reference to the second set, a location of each of the abstract elements present in the first set, in the first order.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing and monitoring student academic achievement levels for purposes of identifying students at risk for not meeting minimum academic standards as measured using standardized tests, and for tracking or monitoring student academic performance levels. The system and method of the present invention comprises producing a pool of curriculum-independent General Outcome Measures (GOMs) of substantially equal difficulty for a particular grade level, and further comprises a system and method of assessing and monitoring students in that grade level using the pool of GOMs for the purpose of identifying those students at risk for not meeting minimum standardized test target scores and for tracking or monitoring student academic performance levels.

Abstract: An assessment of a subject's inhibitory control is provided that can be administered from an early age. Such skills can be used to predict early school adjustment and readiness. The test may also be used for nonreaders and students in special education, and in children down to the age of 5. The assessment tests for the ability to override an automatic response of naming colors and shapes. Each item in the assessment is administered by asking the subject to, for example, say “square” when looking at a circle.

Abstract: A method for providing instructions to a student includes presenting a model assessment item to a student. The student is also presented with a series of pictures. At least some of the pictures in the series represent steps in a thought process of the depicted student used to deduce an answer to the model assessment item. An assessment intended for substantially completely nonverbal administration includes a model assessment item for presentation to a student. The assessment includes a series of pictures for presentation to the student. At least some of the pictures in the series represent steps in a nonverbal sequence of instructions for answering the model assessment item. The model assessment item is depicted in the pictures, and at least some of the pictures in the series represent steps in a thought process of the depicted student used to deduce an answer to the model assessment item.

Abstract: A method for testing a working memory and fluid reasoning of a subject includes the step of sequentially presenting to a subject a first plurality of images, wherein each image is positioned in a different sector of a display device. The first plurality of images totals one fewer than a total number of sectors. Next the subject is simultaneously presented with a second plurality of images. One of the second plurality of images bears an analogous relationship to the first plurality of images. The subject is then asked to select an analogous image from the second plurality of images.

Abstract: A neuropsychological assessment includes cards having a first indicium on a top face and an index indicium on a bottom face. A display includes an arrangement of images, each image corresponding to one of the first indicia, the image number fewer than or equal to the card number. A receptacle has depressions for holding a card, each having an aperture therethrough positioned commensurate with the index indicium's location. At least some of the depressions are positioned analogously to the display arrangement. A trial is administered by revealing the display to an examinee. The display is removed from examinee view, and the examinee is instructed to reproduce the arrangement of the images by selecting a card having a first indicium corresponding to an image and placing the selected card within a selected depression on the receptacle in a position that corresponds to a position of the corresponding image on the display.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for dynamically, automatically aligning an element within textual matter, wherein the element has a vertical extent differing from a vertical extent of surrounding text. The method comprises the step of, based upon a difference between a font size of the text font size and a vertical extent of the element, calculating a vertical offset for placing the element relative to the textual matter. The calculated vertical offset is stored for subsequently achieving a dynamic adjustment in presentation of textual matter with the element placed therein, irrespective of desired output format.

Abstract: An assessment system includes interim tests administered at predetermined intervals. Each assessment is designed to test specific concepts, and includes multiple-choice test items, each having an item stem, a correct answer, and several distractors. Preferably at least two of the distractors are directed to disparate cognitive levels. Any distractors selected are automatically correlated for each student, in order to determine a presence of a possible problem in a particular concept. Then an individual focus can be applied to correcting any problems. Any distractors selected by any of the students are automatically correlated for the teacher, to determine the presence of a possible problem for a number of students, for applying focus to improving the understanding of some or all of a class for any problem identified by the correlation. A benchmark assessment is also administered that has a format substantially identical to that of an upcoming high-stakes test.

Abstract: Score results are received from an assessment recorded by a plurality of students in a unitary class. The assessment includes a items that are representative of a plurality of content standards, with each item designed to assess at least one content standard. An electronic correlation is made of incorrect answers for each student with respective content standards. A remedial learning action for each correlated content standard is retrieved, and a remedial learning action plan is automatically produced therefrom. An electronic correlation is also made of incorrect answers for the plurality of students with respective content standards. A proportion of the plurality of students needing remediation is calculated in each of the respective content standards, and a remedial teaching action for each of the content standards for which the calculated proportion exceeds a predetermined value is retrieved. From the retrieved remedial teaching actions is automatically produced a remedial teaching action plan.

Abstract: An assessment system includes interim tests administered at predetermined intervals. Each assessment is designed to test specific concepts, and includes multiple-choice test items, each having an item stem, a correct answer, and several distractors. Preferably at least two of the distractors are directed to disparate cognitive levels. Any distractors selected are automatically correlated for each student, in order to determine a presence of a possible problem in a particular concept. Then an individual focus can be applied to correcting any problems. Any distractors selected by any of the students are automatically correlated for the teacher, to determine the presence of a possible problem for a number of students, for applying focus to improving the understanding of some or all of a class for any problem identified by the correlation. A benchmark assessment is also administered that has a format substantially identical to that of an upcoming high-stakes test.

Abstract: A method for improving a scoring process includes displaying an original scanned image of a hard copy page of an answer to a scorer. If the scorer determines that the image is of insufficient quality to read, an electronic request for an improved image is received from the scorer and routed electronically to an archive containing the hard copy page, from which the page is retrieved. The retrieved page is rescanned to form a new image, which is then electronically transmitted to the scorer for scoring. A system includes hardware and software elements, including a processor and a database accessible by the processor containing original scanned images of answer pages. A scorer display and an input device are located at a scoring site, and an archive display and a scanner at an archive site. Software as described above is resident on the processor for implementing the method steps.

Abstract: A method for providing instructions includes the step of presenting an assessment item to an examinee. A first series of pictures is presented to the examinee, each representing a step in a nonverbal sequence of instructions from a depicted examiner to a depicted examinee for answering the assessment item. Next a second series of pictures is presented, each representing a step in the depicted examinee's thought process used to deduce an answer. Alternately, a unitary series of pictures is presented, each representing a step in both a nonverbal sequence of instructions from a depicted examiner to a depicted examinee and a thought process of the depicted examinee used to deduce an answer. Thus a nonverbal set of instructions can be given to the examinee via an easily understandable pictorial form, with demonstrations by the examiner provided as well as necessary.

Abstract: A tutorial method for teaching the scoring of open-ended questions holistically includes displaying a student response to a scorer and permitting the scorer to access a rubric containing the rules for scoring that response. The scorer can choose a display form from a handwritten form and a typed text form that retains and originally present errors. Following the scorer's having entered a score, a model score is displayed so that a scoring efficacy may be determined. Annotations prepared by expert scorers may be accessed to enhance the learning process. In addition, a running correlation between the model and entered scores is calculated and displayed for the scorer over a tutorial session that includes attempts at scoring different responses. The system includes a processor, a workstation, and software for performing the above-described method.

Abstract: A test, system, and method for testing parietal lobe function in a subject, wherein the method includes displaying to a subject a first ordered array of objects having a variety of colors, which the subject is prompted to name. The named object colors are compared with the correct object colors, and a count is maintained of errors in the named object colors and an interval taken by the subject to complete naming the object colors, these numbers compared with predetermined data for determining a possible parietal lobe function deficiency. An analogous test is performed of shape-naming, and, in a preferred embodiment, of color and shape naming. A practice test administration is also described, as well as a software-driven administration and scoring of the test.

Abstract: A tutorial method for teaching the scoring of open-ended questions holistically includes displaying a student response to a scorer and permitting the scorer to access a rubric containing the rules for scoring that response. The scorer can choose a display form from a handwritten form and a typed text form that retains and originally present errors. Following the scorer's having entered a score, a model score is displayed so that a scoring efficacy may be determined. Annotations prepared by expert scorers may be accessed to enhance the learning process. In addition, a running correlation between the model and entered scores is calculated and displayed for the scorer over a tutorial session that includes attempts at scoring different responses. The system includes a processor, a workstation, and software for performing the above-described method.

Abstract: A method for scoring an answer page containing an answer to an open-ended question includes viewing a first visual image of a first portion of an answer page. The first portion contains an answer space in which an answer to an open-ended question is expected to reside. If the first portion of the answer page contains a complete answer, the answer is electronically scored. If the first portion of the answer page does not encompass a complete answer, a second visual image of a second portion of the answer page is accessed and viewed. The second portion contains a sector of the answer page outside the answer space. A method is also provided for delivering an answer page to a reader for scoring.

Abstract: A tutorial method for teaching the scoring of open-ended questions holistically includes displaying a student response to a scorer and permitting the scorer to access a rubric containing the rules for scoring that response. The scorer can choose a display form from a handwritten form and a typed text form that retains and originally present errors. Following the scorer's having entered a score, a model score is displayed so that a scoring efficacy may be determined. Annotations prepared by expert scorers may be accessed to enhance the learning process. In addition, a running correlation between the model and entered scores is calculated and displayed for the scorer over a tutorial session that includes attempts at scoring different responses. The system includes a processor, a workstation, and software for performing the above-described method.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a speech problem includes the steps of presenting to a student/user a symbol representative of a word and prompting the user to pronounce the word represented by the symbol into a microphone in signal communication with a processor. Next the therapist enters a phonetic representation of the user pronunciation into the processor. It is then automatically determined whether an error exists in the user pronunciation. If an error exists, the error is automatically categorized. The system and method may be adapted for presentation of a single word, a plurality of words having a predetermined feature desired to be tested, a pretest for screening for potential articulation disorders, and an analysis of connected speech with the use of a moving picture to elicit a narrative from the student.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a speech problem includes the steps of presenting a symbol representative of a word and prompting the user to pronounce the word represented by the symbol into an audio input device such as a microphone in signal communication with a processor. Next the therapist enters a phonetic representation of the user pronunciation into an operator input and storage device, the phonetic representation subsequently downloaded into the processor. It is then automatically determined whether an error exists in the user pronunciation. If an error exists, the error is automatically categorized.

Abstract: A transcription method uses a computerized process to prompt a student to produce at least one phoneme orally. Next a correct and at least one incorrect production of the phoneme are displayed. The therapist selects from among the displayed productions based upon the student-produced phoneme. The system includes a processor and display to prompt a student to produce at least one phoneme orally, display a correct and at least one incorrect production of the phoneme. The therapist then uses an input device in signal communication with the processor to select from among the displayed correct and incorrect productions based upon the student-produced phoneme, thus obviating the need for the therapist to enter the incorrect production symbol by symbol, unless it is desired to do so, or unless the actual production is not found among the displayed production selections.