How does DIDEA define “adaptive assessments”?

DIDEA defines “adaptive assessments” as assessments that adjust difficulty based on student responses to gauge proficiency. This approach enables a more personalized assessment experience, as the test adapts in real-time to reflect the student's understanding and skill level. By analyzing responses, adaptive assessments can modify the types of questions presented, increasing in difficulty when a student performs well and adjusting downward if necessary. This ensures that the assessment is effectively measuring a student's true level of proficiency rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, leading to a more accurate understanding of their learning needs and capabilities.

This method contrasts sharply with time-based, rigid assessments that do not adjust to student performance and instead apply a uniform standard to all students regardless of their individual capabilities. Likewise, static tests that do not change provide a fixed representation of student knowledge that may not reflect their true potential. Lastly, assessments focused solely on memorization miss the broader competency-based evaluation that adaptive assessments provide, which emphasizes understanding and application of knowledge.