A brief history of scenario-based assessment and other innovations stemming from the Reading for Understanding Initiative: From elementary to secondary applications and beyond
The Reading for Understanding initiative (2010-2017) was $120 million research investment by the US DOE across six research teams to improve reading comprehension across preK to 12th grade. Our assessment team project, “Assessing Reading for Understanding: A Theory-based, Developmental Approach (R305F100005)”, was charged with creating theoretical and developmentally appropriate learning/assessments. Building on our prior R&D, we developed scenario-based assessments (SBAs), as well as explored/developed complementary constructs or measures (foundational reading and linguistic skills, background knowledge, motivation, metacognition). Since that time, I and colleagues have continued to evolve the conceptual and practical research around SBAs and related constructs, with applications of SBAs now being used in large scale assessments (PISA, PIAAC, the US NAEP), with adult education and post-secondary learners, and commercially in the US. In this talk, I will provide a retrospective review of our research to date, as well as, time permitting, a glimpse into our current projects incorporation large-language models and other AI into the design and delivery in assessment/learning paradigms – hopefully, stimulating some critical discussion with audience.

Please note that this seminar is hybrid, taking place in Seminar Room D, 15 Norham Gardens, and also available on Teams
teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3aH7IoYwBLlY_nR8d0DFzqC4yXRigyhbzyOceuytRk4g01%40thread.tacv2/1740401121174?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22cc95de1b-97f5-4f93-b4ba-fe68b852cf91%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22be558437-bc8f-4f3b-801c-af85d95b70ea%22%7d
Date: 28 February 2025, 15:30
Venue: 15 Norham Gardens, 15 Norham Gardens OX2 6PY
Venue Details: Seminar Room D and Teams
Speaker: Dr John Sabatini (University of Memphis, USA)
Organising department: Department of Education
Booking required?: Not required
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editors: Hannah Freeman, Heather Sherkunov, Kristina Khoo