Utilizing Fast-Mapping for More Accurate Dynamic Assessment in Speech Therapy
I want to share with you a fun, inexpensive, and clinically accurate way to diagnose children through telepractice: fast mapping. In addition to research saying it has higher validity than standardized testing, it is play-based so it is very fun!
What is fast mapping?
Fast mapping is a dynamic assessment method that tests how an individual learns words and word concepts after their first exposure to a new word.
Why is fast mapping important?
Fast mapping is based on a test-teach-retest model. It is a more accurate diagnostic tool than standardized assessment because it eliminates bias of prior knowledge. For example, during a standardized test, a child may accurately label the word “cookie.” However, this doesn’t provide data on if the child was explicitly taught the word prior to assessment.
This is problematic because children from monolingual, high socioeconomic backgrounds may pass standardized tests and falsely present as without a disability. Alternatively, children from multilingual or low socioeconomic backgrounds may falsely present as having a disability.
Using fast mapping, we gain insight on if the child has adequate working memory for learning language, their learning style (what prompts they need to answer correctly), their problem solving skills (how they plan or ask for help to remember the word), and auditory processing (if they can hear the word accurately).
What materials do you need to conduct a fast mapping assessment?
You don’t need many materials and you don’t need to spend a penny!
Required:
1. One familiar object, ex: their favorite toy or food.
2. One unfamiliar object. Some objects you can try that you may already have around the house are: envelopes, a wrench, dumbbells, a whisk, plier, tweezers.
Optional:
You can choose to increase the complexity of the task by including:
1. More than one familiar object
2. More than one unfamiliar object
3. Unlabeled foil object(s). Foil objects do not need to be labeled as they are simply used to distract the child from the correct answer.
How do you conduct a fastmapping assessment?
1.Test to determine prior knowledge.
Ask the child, “What’s this?” If the child can label an object, replace it with a new object. If the child can not label, go to step 2.
Teach the child the new word.This word can be a real word or a nonsense word. The important thing is to pick a word that reflects the child’s present levels. For example, don’t use the word “wrench” if the child can not produce /r/ sounds. Substitute it with a nonsense word like “koob.” Also, focus on clear communication of the word by using appropriate sentence length. For example say: “This is a stamp.” Not “Look at this stamp, have you ever used a stamp? I use them to mail letters to my friends?”
Retest for both receptive language comprehension and expressive language.
Test for receptive language by showing the unfamiliar object along with the familiar object. Then you can instruct, “Point to the koob.” You can also place the unfamiliar object amongst a group of familiar objects and foil objects to increase task complexity.
Test for expressive language test using the same materials. Alternate between pointing at the familiar and unfamiliar object, asking the child to label. You can also alternate between the foil and additional familiar objects if you have chosen to test in this manner. Alternation ensures that the child is truly creating word-association and not guessing or echoing words.
Do not wait until the end of the assessment, as you will lose out on opportunities for more data. Retest immediately after the first presentation of the word, and then after a brief play-based activity, then again towards the end of the assessment.
How do you report results of a fast mapping assessment?
When we we report how a child learns a new word, describe:
How many repetitions used in your assessment
The assessment activity
Any prompting used to elicit production of the new word
Amount of time between each retest
Fast mapping is fun, clinically accurate, and inexpensive!
Given the choice, most kids would rather participate in a fun, enjoyable activity than take a test. In addition to the excellent clinical implications, I love fast mapping because it’s fun! There are so many games which you can use for a fast mapping tele-assessment. Some suggestions are virtual bingo, read alouds, or holding a doll up to the screen.
A child is more than a score from a standardized test. Using fast mapping we gain more knowledge about a child’s true abilities!