The Universal Assessment System (UAS)

Program: Small Business Innovation Research

Award amount: $849,777

Project director: Michael Russell

Awardee:

Nimble Assessments

Year: 2008

Project type:

Fast Track

Contract number: ED08CO0056

Purpose

In this project, researchers developed NimbleTools, a universally designed test delivery platform that provides accessibility for students with disabilities. This project expanded the accessibility features that were in an initial beta version. For deaf and hearing-impaired students, the new features provided additional access to tests for through the use of signing. For blind students, the features included interactivity with electronic Braille displays. For students with language processing challenges, the additions included embedded writing supports.

Project Activities

Technology development included the creation of new interface features that enable interoperability with signed video, electronic Braille displays, and writing supports. Research activities included a series of usability studies and large-scale stress testing of the system when the new features were employed. Results from studies with 2,600 students demonstrated the feasibility and validity of the tools as a method to meet the identified access needs of the students being assessed

Structured Abstract

Intervention

NimbleTools is a universally designed system that delivers educational tests via the Internet or a local CD. The system enables up to 20 different accessibility and accommodation tools to be activated based on a student's need and to monitor the use of these tools during testing.

People and institutions involved

IES program contact(s)

Edward Metz

IES Research Scientist

NCER

Products and publications

ERIC Citations: Find available citations in ERIC for this award here.

Select Publications:

Books

Russell, M. & Airasian, P. W. (2011). Classroom Assessment: Concepts and Applications, 7th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Russell, M. & Kavanaugh, M. (2011). Assessing Students in the Margins: Challenges, Strategies, and Techniques.

Journal articles

Russell, M., Hoffmann, T., & Higgins, J. (2009). NimbleTools: A universally designed test delivery system. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(2), 6-12.