Diglossia has announced the release of Mubakkir, an Arabic early-reading assessment designed for native and nonnative learners at beginning and intermediate proficiency levels. Experts agree that early and frequent measurement of young learners’ progress toward the acquisition of early literacy skills is an essential element for developing successful readers and writers, and the test addresses a need in the MENA region for a standards-based Arabic early-literacy assessment.
Mubakkir gives teachers and administrators a powerful and easy-to-use tool for the systematic gathering of student data to inform effective instruction and intervention. The mobile app is a suite of individually administered tests designed to help schools and teachers determine how early readers are performing on critical preliteracy and early-literacy skills. The test is administered up to six times per year in a one-to-one setting, where the teacher uses the mobile app while the student reads from printed phonics or story sheets. Student performance is audibly recorded while the teacher is tracking fluency and identifying miscues to monitor and record progress.
The assessment makes it easy to maintain a running record of student progress toward meeting the benchmark requirements for six to ten prereading and early-reading skills identified by experts as essential to the development of reading fluency in young learners. As a formative assessment tool, the detailed data gives teachers diagnostic information to provide every child with meaningful feedback and to develop personalized, evidence-based remediation and intervention strategies.
Mubakkir consists of a mobile application available on Apple or Android devices that captures responses and keeps a running record of progress, and printed test sheets to elicit oral responses from students in a one-to-one test administration. A full range of individual, class, and school reports are available on a customizable dashboard. The two- to three-minute tests are designed to be administered frequently, approximately once every four to six weeks. Mubakkir is available to download from the Apple App or Google Play stores.
Mimi Jett, Diglossia co-founder and CEO, is excited about the release.
“We are honored to partner with the Arab Thought Foundation on Mubakkir, the first online test to measure literacy development in Arabic language learners. Early literacy skills are critical in preparing children for success in school and in life, and Mubakkir gives educators the data necessary to ensure achievement for early Arabic readers. The test furthers our commitment to partner with MENA educational organizations in realizing our shared goal of supporting Arabic language literacy throughout the world.”
Mubakkir was created in partnership with the Arab Thought Foundation to promote early-literacy skills in young learners and is part of the foundation’s efforts to improve the teaching and learning of Arabic language with standards, materials, tools, and support, throughout the Arab world. The development of Mubakkir was funded by the Arabi 21 Project under the guidance of Dr. Hanada Taha and the Arab Thought Foundation.
www.diglossia.net
