Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing
Jamal is a 22-month-old toddler in your home childcare center. He has been in your center for 2 weeks and you have some concerns about his development. His mother reports that the pregnancy and birth were non-eventful and that he has developed typically. Jamal’s mother stayed home with him until 2 weeks ago when she took a full-time clerical job. Your concerns about Jamal are two-fold: he is not walking yet and he only says three words consistently: mama, bye-bye, and no.
1. What would be your recommendation for assessing Jamal?
2. Would a standardized test be appropriate? Why or why not? If yes, give examples of appropriate standardized assessments.
3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of standardized tests.
4. Keeping in mind that you can and should always try to collect assessment data from a variety of sources, what further assessment would you recommend and why?
5. Give an example of how you would you approach Jamal’s mother to discuss your concerns and the need for appropriate assessment. Please remember that as a student in the early childhood profession you cannot identify nor suggest a diagnosis, but you can recommend appropriate assessment by a trained professional.

Instructions

The writing assignment needs to be written in essay form using APA format (see below for more). You need to support your diagnosis with at least 2 scholarly references. Scholarly references are peer reviewed references. You must use the DSM-V as one of your scholarly references. Examples of other scholarly references include your textbook, journal articles, and articles from .gov websites (such as the National Institutes of Health) among others. Popular media and other non-academic sources such as Wiki, .com or .net websites, blogs, or magazines like Psychology Today are to be avoided because they are not considered to be reliable sources for college work.

In the body of your paper use at least 2 scholarly references to help support your diagnosis. One of your references must be the DSM-V. All references listed on the reference page should have one or more corresponding citations (Author, year) in the body of the paper to give credit to the author.

Here are additional instructions to help organize your essay:

Start your essay with an introductory paragraph. In your introduction include a topic sentence and thesis statement. In your introduction provide the reader with an overview of the main concepts of your paper and the purpose of your paper. This is where you would provide background information on the character and their presenting problems and symptoms.

The body of your paper should be about 3-4 paragraphs (1-2 pages, plus a cover page, plus a separate page with your list of references). One topic/idea per paragraph. This is where you would explain your diagnosis, give examples of the character’s problems or symptoms, and explain your the rationale for the diagnosis using the DSM-V and other scholarly references. You must provide academic support and citations for your diagnosis (at least 2 references).

End your paper with a conclusion. Your conclusion should be a paragraph summarizing the key elements of your paper. Restate your thesis statement in your conclusion.

Include a cover page with your name, date, and title of assignment.

Double space your entire paper

Use Times New Roman 12 point font

Indent the first sentence of each new paragraph 5-7 spaces.

Include a separate page for references. Use the title “References” (omit quotation marks) at the top center of the page. List your references (hint: use only scholarly references).

You must have one or more corresponding in-text citations (Author, year of publication) for every reference listed on your reference page.