Training session focussed on Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children
Pearson Clinical Assessment, the global leader in assessment industry, recently conducted a one-day training and certification workshop training on Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC IV) for clinical psychologists and special educators. Psychologists and special educators representing schools for differently-abled children participated in the workshop. The workshop was conducted by Dr Angelina Mao, Product Development Leader, Pearson Clinical Assessment.
The Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children is a psychological test that assesses the intellectual capacities of children. As a clinical tool, many practitioners use it as part of an assessment battery to identify intellectual giftedness and learning difficulties. The workshop highlighted the differences between the WISC-IV and its predecessor, the WISC III and discussed key modifications made to the WISC-IV, including changes to subtest content and administration and scoring procedures. A live demonstration of the test’s administration and guide to test scoring and interpretation was also presented for the benefit of the participants. According to Dr Angelina Mao, “the workshop really helped participants understand the complexities of the WISC IV and gave them the confidence to use this assessment in their respective clinical practice’.
Chetana Anoop Keni, Special Educator and Director from Chetana Keni Institute for Remedial Institution, Bangalore, found the workshop very useful and said “It was a great experience getting trained by Pearson themselves. The training was well paced, informative and had practical exposure. We feel empowered to use the tool with confidence.”
“The workshop not only oriented us towards the new sub tests of WISC-IV , picking up both theoretical and practical aspects of it but also created a wonderful platform by bringing in various practicing professionals under one roof by which we all could learn something new from each other. I thank Pearson Clinical Assessment for initiating such a program which I believe to be first time ever in India and I am very glad to have associated myself with them. I hope they continue to come up with more such activities,” said Supriya Sharma, Speech Therapist, Bangalore.
The fourth revision of the WISC-IV provides composite scores that represent specific cognitive domains of intellectual functioning (Verbal Comprehension Index, Perceptual Reasoning Index, Processing Speed Index and Working Memory Index), as well as provides a composite score that represents a child’s general intellectual ability (Full Scale IQ). The dual IQ (Verbal IQ and Performance IQ) and index score structure in the WISC-III is no longer utilized in the WISC IV. The WISC IV incorporates significant revisions, which include updated norms, new subtests, and an increased emphasis on composite scores that reflect a child’s performance in more discrete domains of cognitive functioning. In addition, modifications to administration and scoring procedures have been made to enhance the user-friendliness of the scale.
WISC IV encompasses various subtests such as Matrix Reasoning, Picture Concepts, Word Reasoning, Letter Number Sequencing, and Cancellation. The structure of the WISC-IV has been updated to reflect current theory and practice of cognitive assessment in children, including increased attention to working memory and processing speed.
