Rapid Alternating Stimulus and Rapid Automatized Naming

RAN and RAS test sheets

Introduction:

• (RAS) Rapid Alternating Stimulus and (RAN) Rapid Automatized Naming is a technique that involves reading shapes, colors, letter or numbers from a piece of paper; based on how fast and accurately the child reads, teachers/parents can automatically know if his/her student/child has a reading disability.

A reading disability is a condition in which a person has trouble reading.

• The RAN and RAS Tests are individually administered measures designed to estimate an individual's ability to recognize a visual symbol such as a letter or color and name it accurately and rapidly.

Why is it important?

•  In reading, fluency allows a person to see an object, symbol, or word, and name or process it quickly and accurately. Lack of fluency is precisely what people with dyslexia encounter when they have to read something. Difficulty in this can effect in speaking, reading, and writing.

• RAN/RAS can be implemented in all levels of classrooms be it lower, middle or upper division. Apart from being a technique to find out lack of fluency in students, it is a helpful tool that can be used to play with children in learning corners. Students can try it out with other classmates.

• The difference between RAN and RAS test is that RAN tests are basically a set of either number, colors, shapes or objects in rows and columns in one sheet. While, RAS tests are all of them combined in one sheet, meaning it would have numbers, letters, colors and shapes in rows and columns.

Steps on how to carry out the RAS/RAN test:

1. Teacher must assess students individually.

2. Teacher must explain the instructions to the student. (Read the test sheets rapidly and accurately.) 

4. Teacher will then time the individual student as soon as he/she starts reading the test sheet.
3. Teacher must record students time frame he/she took to read.

The below video shows an adult practicing Rapid Automatized Naming Chart.

The below video shows children practicing Rapid Naming Chart.

(We do not own the above videos, they belong to the rightful owner.)


The below video was created by students teachers.

Results for video:

• The Rapid Alternating Stimulus and Rapid Automatized Naming test were experimented on students teachers. Rapid Alternating Stimulus (RAS) consisted of one sheet and it took Melinda Tillett 21 seconds to complete the sheet, the sheet consisted a variety of numbers, letters, shapes and colors.  Rapid Alternating Stimulus (RAN) : The time-frame Gicely Garcia took was 33 seconds to read a sheet of Shapes and colors and it took her 43 seconds to read a second sheet of numbers and letters.

• Conclusion: Quick to administer and easy to score, the RAN/RAS tests assess children’s and adolescents’ ability to perceive a visual symbol and name it accurately and rapidly, effectively aiding in the identification of children who have reading disabilities.

RAS and Ran tests are both an important component of any diagnostic assessment of oral and written language, especially for teachers when assessing students learning.

The tests of rapid automatized naming (RAN) tests (i.e., letters, numbers, objects, colors) and  rapid alternating stimulus (RAS) tests (i.e., two-set letters and numbers; three-set letters, numbers, and colors). is when the child/student is asked to accurately name each stimulus item as quickly as possible. Here both speed and accuracy are assessed. Scores are based on the amount of time used to name all stimuli on each test.

The RAN and RAS tests are very useful tools to use in Language Arts. The teacher can either use the tests using flash cards or prepared sheets. The RAN and RAS tests are very useful for teachers when assessing the children’s ability to rapidly and accurately recognize and react to the number, color, letter, or symbol presented. This also helps teachers to identify students who may be at risk for reading failure.

References:

Paul Heavenridge, 2015. Rapid Automatized Naming Chart. Retrieved on April 17th, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uFiJAT8lk4

Kimberly Parker. 2015. Rapid Automatic Naming with Mel. Retrieved on April 17th, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4qixcK7Ems


Dyslexiahelp. 2016. Retrieved on April 17th, 2016 from http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/professionals/dyslexia-school/word-retrieval-fluency-and-ran