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Curriculum-Based Dynamic Assessment (CBDA)

What is a CBDA?

A Curriculum-Based Dynamic Assessment (CBDA) focuses on specific curricular outcomes in the context of a dynamic assessment. Also known as the test-teach-test approach, a CBDA is an interactive and individualized assessment that goes beyond conventional testing by evaluating an individual's learning potential and ability to acquire and transfer new skills.

Our CBDA

Our CBDA assesses storytelling abilities and identifies not only what K-12 learners know but also their capacity to learn. This makes it valuable for understanding their cognitive development and for tailoring effective educational strategies and interventions.

Our CBDA features four sessions between a learner and the examiner. The total assessment time is approximately 75 minutes, typically over 4-7 days. It consists of two mediation sessions sandwiched between a pre-test and a post-test. The pre-test and post-test each require 5-10 minutes with the learner while each mediation session lasts 25-30 minutes.

Pre-test

Mediation 1

Mediation 2

Post-test

Learner

Tells a story based on a picture

Works with the examiner on the first identified skill

Works with the examiner on the second identified skill

Tells a story based on a picture

Examiner

Scores learner’s story and identifies two skills in need of improvement

Assesses learner’s learning potential by scoring:

Assesses learner’s learning potential by scoring:

Scores learner’s story and measures progress

examiner effort

examiner effort

learner responsiveness

learner responsiveness

skill transfer

skill transfer