Discovery Inquiry Test in Science (DIT)
Measures students' ability to analyze and interpret data, extrapolate from one situation to another, and utilize conceptual understanding.
Average Review: 
(4.0)
by Virginia Nelson,
ELL teacher, Chas. F. Tigard Elementary School,
This tool is applicable in informal STEM because it is similar to the high-stakes test instruments with which students are already familiar. The multiple choice format does not require additional test prep. Therefore the construct is both clear and concise. I would use the tool as formative assessment to guide teaching of the selected topics and even to determine curriculum for after school science clubs and other student- and family-oriented projects.
A comment about item writing: item writers are constantly encouraged to put items in context. Sometimes the context is too contrived. And for English learners, although there might be research suggesting that context matters, this contrived context is confusing. In one of the sample questions, the information is completely accessible without Juan. Adding words to satisfy the call for context merely adds struggle to the English learners' task.
