Data+Collection

Direct Measurement: One of the most important features of data-based instruction is its emphasis on direct, continuous and precise measurement of behavior. Direct measurement entails focusing on relevant classroom behaviors (e.g. oral reading rate, or math computation rate.)

Repeated Measurement: This requires that a behavior be counted and recorded over a period of time. Performance is a single measure of behavior on one occasion, whereas learning is indicated by a change in performance over time. When more than one performance is recorded, the teacher can tell whether the student is staying the same, getting better, or regressing.

Graphing Data: In data-based instruction graphing is the most common method of presenting data. Graphs serve three major purposes 1) they summarize data in a manner that leads to daily decision making. 2) they communicate intervention efforts, 3) they provide feedback and reinforcement to the learner and teacher.

Long-Range Goal Performance Monitoring-These charts display progress toward a long-range instructional goal. Measurement usually occurs twice weekly from a random sample of a pool of items that measure the same skill.

Short-Range Goal Performance Monitoring- A mastery monitoring chart is used to monitor progress on successive short term goals. When the student masters a short-term goal a new goal is establishd and monitoring continues through a series of short-term goals. The pool of measurement items changes each time the student masters a goal.

Data Analysis and Instructional Decisions: Instructional aims or goals provide the student and teacher with a framwork to analyze data and evaluate student progress. When instructional aims are expressed interms of percent correct, it generally is accepted that 80 percent correct responses represent mastery. The instructional aim also may be expressed in terms of rate. Rate is equal to the number of movement divided by the number of minutes observed.

Taken from: Students With Learning Problems Eighth Edition by Cecil Mercer, Ann Mercer, and Paige Pullen