Overview
Digital EMA@School is designed to support diverse student populations through bilingual assessment options and built-in accessibility features. The assessment is available in English and French, alongside tools to ensure accessibility and fairness for all learners.
Available Languages
Digital EMA@School is currently available in:
- English: Primary language, full support
- French: Complete translation and support
Language Selection
For Administrators
When setting up assessments:
- Select Language — Choose the appropriate language for each student
- Verify Translation — Ensure the selected language version is available
- Test Administration — Practice with the language version before actual administration
- Support Materials — Access translated guides and resources
For Students
Students can:
- Access assessments in their preferred language
- Switch languages if needed (with administrator support)
- Receive instructions in their language
- Complete tasks in their language
Translation Quality
Research-Informed Translation
All translations are:
- Professionally translated — By native speakers with educational expertise
- Culturally appropriate — Adapted for regional contexts
- Validated — Tested for accuracy and educational equivalence
- Reviewed — By educational and linguistic experts
Maintaining Validity
Translations maintain:
- Assessment validity — Same constructs measured across languages
- Cultural relevance — Appropriate for different cultural contexts
- Educational equivalence — Comparable difficulty and meaning
- Psychometric properties — Reliable and valid across languages
Implementation Considerations
Language Assessment
Before administration:
- Assess language proficiency — Understand student’s language abilities
- Consider language of instruction — Match assessment to instructional language
- Account for bilingual students — Some students may be comfortable in both English and French
Best Practices
- Consistent language — Use same language for all assessment components
- Clear communication — Ensure students understand instructions
- Support available — Have language support resources ready
- Document choices — Record language selections and rationale
Regional Adaptations
Provincial DEMA Implementations
In several Canadian provinces, Digital EMA@School is known locally as DEMA (Digital Early Math Assessment) and includes:
- Bilingual support — English and French options
- Regional curriculum alignment — Adapted for provincial standards
- Local implementation — Tailored to regional needs and educator workflows
Other Regions
Additional regional adaptations may include:
- Curriculum alignment — Matched to local standards
- Cultural considerations — Adapted examples and contexts
- Regional partnerships — Collaboration with local educational authorities
Technical Support
Platform Features
The digital platform supports:
- Language selection — Easy switching between English and French
- Bilingual interfaces — Platform available in both languages
- Translation tools — Resources for administrators
- Language-specific help — Support materials in both languages
Getting Help
For bilingual and accessibility support:
- Platform documentation — Available in both English and French
- Training materials — Translated guides and resources
- Support team — Bilingual support staff available
- Community resources — Shared translations and adaptations
Research & Development
Ongoing Work
The research team continues to:
- Expand language options — Add more languages based on need
- Improve translations — Refine existing translations
- Validate across languages — Ensure psychometric equivalence
- Develop resources — Create multilingual support materials
Contributing
Schools and districts can:
- Request languages — Suggest additional language needs
- Provide feedback — Share experiences with translations
- Collaborate — Partner on translation and validation
- Share resources — Contribute to multilingual materials
Best Practices for Bilingual Implementation
Planning
- Identify language needs early
- Plan for translation and validation
- Allocate resources for multilingual support
- Train staff on multilingual administration
Administration
- Use appropriate language versions
- Ensure clear communication
- Provide language support when needed
- Document language choices
Interpretation
- Consider language factors in results
- Account for language proficiency
- Use appropriate norms and comparisons
- Provide context in reporting