Assessment for learning is formative.
Understanding Formative and Summative Assessment
It's crucial to distinguish between formative and summative assessments to understand how assessment for learning fits into the educational landscape. Here's a breakdown:
| Feature | Formative Assessment (Assessment for Learning) | Summative Assessment (Assessment of Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback | To evaluate student learning at the end of a unit or course |
| Timing | Ongoing and frequent | Occurs at the end of a specific period |
| Impact | Adjusts teaching methods in real-time | Grades or classifies students |
| Goal | Improve learning | Measure learning |
Formative Assessment: The Heart of Assessment for Learning
- Formative assessment is directly tied to the concept of "assessment for learning," because it's designed to inform both students and educators about the learning process. As the reference points out, this type of assessment can occur frequently and provide immediate feedback.
- The purpose is to identify areas where students are struggling and to modify instruction accordingly.
- Examples:
- Classroom quizzes
- Discussions
- Observation of student activities
- Quick check-ins on learning
- This information can be used to make real-time adjustments to teaching strategies and curriculum delivery.
Summative Assessment: Measuring the Outcome
- Summative assessment, on the other hand, is considered "assessment of learning." It occurs after the instructional period to assess how much learning has taken place.
- The information gathered is usually used for grades and other forms of evaluation.
- Examples:
- End-of-term exams
- Final projects
- Standardized tests
Connecting Assessment for Learning to Formative Assessment
As highlighted in the reference, formative assessment is specifically considered "assessment for learning", because of the way its data is utilized to improve teaching and learning processes.
- The frequent and timely feedback from formative assessments allows teachers to adapt their approach and assist students on their learning journey.
- This is in contrast to summative assessment, which occurs after the learning process has concluded.
Therefore, the question 'Is assessment for learning formative or summative?' can be answered definitively: assessment for learning is formative.
