The Dialogic Inquiry Tool: Validation and Application in Elementary School Classrooms

• In Event: 49.056 - Classroom Assessment Tools and Tasks

Abstract

This paper discusses the Dialogic Inquiry Tool (DIT), an observational scale designed to assess the quality of interactions in elementary school classrooms. The users of the DIT watch segments of group discussions of assigned readings and apply a set of evaluation criteria. We describe the theoretical and empirical foundations of the DIT and discuss several validation studies. In these studies, we examined validity and reliability of the DIT, analyzed teacher reactions, and examined the DIT’s potential to improve instruction. The evidence supports the intended interpretation of the DIT scores and indicates that the tool can be used reliably by multiple raters. Practitioners found the DIT to be a valuable instructional resource that prompted them to reconsider their approaches to teaching.

Authors

• Alina Reznitskaya, Montclair State University

• Joe Oyler, Montclair State University

• Monica B. Glina, Montclair State University