What is "Assessment"?
How we can enhance teaching and learning using both formative and summative assessment approaches.
Introduction
Assessment in education encompasses a wide array of activities undertaken by both teachers and students to gather information that can be leveraged diagnostically to enhance the teaching and learning experience. This process serves various purposes, such as aligning student achievement with syllabus outcomes, offering students a platform to showcase their knowledge, and providing valuable insights into their current understanding to guide future learning endeavors.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment typically occurs at the completion of a unit of work and can also be administered at predetermined intervals within a unit. Its functions include ranking or grading students and furnishing information about achievement to stakeholders like parents, educators, and universities. Often considered "high stakes," summative assessments contribute to preparing students for formal examinations. While valuable, they are not the predominant focus of day-to-day teaching activities.
Formative Assessment
Formative assessment, in contrast, is a more dynamic and ongoing process that takes place before and during a unit of work. It serves diagnostic purposes, providing feedback to teachers about student learning and offering opportunities for students to respond to enhance their understanding. Unlike summative assessments, formative assessments are considered "low stakes" and may not always involve traditional grading. Emphasizing self and peer assessment, formative assessments align more closely with regular classroom interactions, fostering an environment where all students can improve their learning.
Role of Formative Assessment
Formative assessment plays a pivotal role in the teaching and learning continuum. Teachers often initiate a unit with a pre-assessment to gauge student knowledge, guiding subsequent lesson plans and assessments. Regularly integrating formative assessments, such as questions during class discussions, enables teachers to monitor student understanding and tailor activities to cater to diverse skills, interests, cultural backgrounds, and prior knowledge. This approach not only provides continuous feedback for students to enhance their learning but also empowers teachers to refine their instructional strategies.
Key Takeaways:
Both formative and summative assessments are integral components of the educational process, contributing to the improvement of teaching and learning.
Formative assessments are more frequent, informal, and ongoing, with feedback playing a central role in refining teaching and learning strategies.
Summative assessments are less frequent, more formal, and typically occur at the conclusion of a topic or unit, focusing on evaluating learning against established standards or benchmarks.
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