1473L - Reducing Bias in the Assessment of Multilingual Learners: Dynamic and Processing-Based Assessments

Conventional approaches to language assessment measure how much knowledge a child has accrued in a specific language, which is problematic for multilingual learners because they have variable experiences in their languages. Both dynamic assessment and processing-based assessment may reduce bias by measuring language learning abilities instead of language knowledge. Within each of these approaches, we will provide an overview of the different types of tools available, including dynamic assessments at the narrative and morphological levels, and processing-based assessments using linguistic and nonlinguistic stimuli. We will demonstrate specific assessment tools within these categories. The presentation will conclude with a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the dynamic assessment and processing-based assessment approaches.