Help Students Achieve Greater Depth of Knowledge
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A big part of academic success comes from acing tests and doing well on assessments. If your child or student suffers from test anxiety, not to worry. Keep reading to learn how to prepare students for tests at every level.
Let's get more familiar with Webb's Depth of Knowledge framework (or DOK framework) by reviewing test-taking skills for every learner at every level.
dok and exam prep
It doesn’t matter if we're talking about preparing for an evaluation exam to enter kindergarten or preparing for the American College Testing Exam (ACT) to enter a prestigious university, awareness of Depth of Knowledge levels (DOK levels) and strategies for each level are fundamental to exam preparation.
DOK refers to different levels at which a student is required to demonstrate mastery. The different levels represent students’ ability to think and complete tasks. There are four basic levels.
Let’s take a look at the four levels along with the skills required to prepare for tests at each level.
DOK 1
DOK Level 1 test items are the most basic category of assessments, and they generally measure ability to recall facts and memorize information. Test takers either know the answer… or not.
DOK Level 1 questions may ask us to…
Label (e.g., label locations on a map)
Calculate (e.g., perform order of operations to solve a number sentence)
Tell (e.g., list details from a story)
Test preparation: Since DOK 1 tests are all about recalling, recognizing, and reciting, lead your student to practice often.
If the test is about labeling locations on a map, they can complete a jigsaw puzzle of the specific map or color map printouts. For older students, connecting geography to current events may help with memory.
To prepare for a basic mathematical calculation test, also practice often by completing timed drills worksheets and/or playing with manipulatives.
Look for opportunities to lead students in discussion about the events of a story. Making room for students to pause between pages, paragraphs, or chapters to recall events, characters, and settings improves the likelihood of recall during examination.
DOK 2
DOK Level 2 test items are a little more difficult than level one, and they measure your child’s ability to use skills like organizing, classifying, and comparing in addition to the level one skills.
DOK Level 2 questions may ask us to…
Organize (e.g., organize and interpret data in a science lab)
Classify (e.g., identify patterns in events, behaviors, or numbers)
Compare (e.g., compare and contrast characters in a story)
Test preparation: Preparing for DOK 2 Tests requires a little pre-planning as the child must practice and have a firm understanding of what he or she is learning.
To prepare for DOK 2 science lab quizzes, you can have a child create a physical design that organizes steps and equipment. Have him explain to you the relationships between the steps that make up the activity and equipment used.
Mind maps are perfect test prep tools for identifying categories of information. Have your student write or draw a picture in the middle of the paper to represent a big idea. Next, have her circle the big idea and write related vocabulary and concepts on the page, drawing lines to show relationships.
Reviewing literature in small groups is a good way to prepare students for a comparison test. One group exercise involves completing t-charts. (All pictures and underlined green text are clickable and take you to resources and tools.)
DOK 3
This level requires deep thinking and strategy. DOK Level 3 test items build on level 1 and 2 skills and set a good foundation for level 4 assessments.
DOK Level 3 questions may ask us to…
Develop (e.g., develop a scientific model for a complex situation)
Investigate (e.g., research mathematical calculations to solve a problem)
Support (e.g., cite textual evidence to support one’s position in an essay)
Test preparation: Make sure your child has mastered level 1 and 2 skills before moving on to level 3 mastery.
Start with a small problem that requires development of a scientific method or mathematical approach. Then increase rigor by moving on to multi-step problems. Avoid an early dive into the most challenging items during study periods.
Prompt your students to first research the problem, then investigate research findings for possible solutions.
For an essay, start by prompting your student to provide points and quotes from the text that support her essay outline.
DOK 4
The highest Depth of Knowledge test items require extended thinking that usually cannot be mastered in one sitting. Students must have mastery of levels 1-3 to be successful.
DOK Level 4 questions may ask us to…
Analyze (e.g., analyze information from a chart and a written text before making a decision)
Design (e.g., design a mathematical model to solve a rea-world problem)
Prove (e.g., prove one side of a debate)
Test preparation: Give your student plenty of time to complete Level 4 tasks as they require deep researching, planning, problem-solving, and thinking.
Get your child to break down information in written form from one source before moving on to another. The goal is to analyze - think strategically - about each source.
Drafting or designing a model on paper before actually applying it to the real problem is good preparation for DOK 4 items on tests.
Working in groups to first develop ideas, researching various sources including videos, and considering opposing viewpoints are strategies to provide proof that supports conclusions.
Tests to Prepare For in Mississippi
Whether informal assessment, formal assessment, or state-mandated tests, students encounter all DOK levels toward becoming college- and career-ready. They take tests as early as pre-kindergarten and continue through 12th grade. Examples include the ACT, ELPT, MAAP, and NAEP.
Taking action on just one of the suggestions mentioned in this article has lead to significant educational gains when done on a consistent basis. At the very least, learners develop habits that will be beneficial for a lifetime.
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