Session Submission Summary

Depth and Breadth: Approaches to Assessing Partial Vocabulary Knowledge and Supporting Word Learning

Sun, April 15, 10:35am to 12:05pm, Vancouver Convention Centre, Floor: First Level, East Ballroom C

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

There is a considerable need for better methods of vocabulary assessment, particularly to support interventions and to help teachers understand where students need scaffolding and support during word learning. Measures of vocabulary assessment used in many studies and across the nation are often insensitive to, and inconsistent with, research and knowledge about vocabulary acquisition. This symposium presents research that begins to address what is known about the depth and breadth of vocabulary knowledge through two large-scale research initiatives focused on providing better measurement of partial vocabulary knowledge. One research group is developing a norm-referenced test for measuring multiple aspects of word knowledge across the curriculum in 4th and 5th grade classrooms. Another is developing produce large-scale assessments capable both of surveying breadth of vocabulary knowledge in a particular topic, and of probing depth of knowledge for particular words in middle school, 9th and 11th grades. The papers in this symposium will present the results of these studies along with implications for further research and practice.

Sub Unit

Chair

Papers