Unit 1- Formative Assessment
Unit overview
Unit objectives: After completing this unit learners will be able to
- Understand the difference between formative and summative assessment
- Explain what elements are included in formative assessment
- State several examples of formative assessment they have used or experienced
Definition of formative assessment:
"Formative assessment is a systematic process to continuously gather evidence about learning. The data are used to identify a student’s current level of learning and to adapt lessons to help the student reach the desired learning goal. In formative assessment, students are active participants with their teachers, sharing learning goals and understanding how their learning is progressing, what next steps they need to take, and how to take them(Heritage, 2007)."
Basically, formative assessments are tools that inform the learner and the teacher of progress while learning is taking place. Formative assessment can come in many forms, but is always focused around giving feedback on the student's areas of weakness and strength.
Key Features of Formative assessment are:
- Provides feedback DURING the instructional process
- Provides feedback on what is good and what improvements in learning should be made
- Is an ongoing process throughout instruction
- Many times does not involve an official grade
- Allows student to manage and reflect on their learning
- Allows student to take action to improve learning before a summative test
Now that you have a better idea of what formative assessment is, watch this video to see examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzncbcp_f8w
Key Features of Summative Assessment are:
- Measures attainment of content knowledge
- Measures isolated skills
- Provides an assessment OF learning at a point in time
- Grade or feedback does not provide ideas for further learning or identifies misconceptions ie. “B+” or “Good Work” or “Needs Improvement”
- May not show student understanding
- Regardless of student score, instruction moves on to next topic
How do the two types of assessment differ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJxFXjfB_B4&list=PLCgSiWtJzl7eiXPCYbpbaS2-xxNe3a_gD&index=11
As you watch this video reflect on the following questions:
- What are the main differences between summative and formative assessment?
- How does formative assessment benefit students? How does it benefit teachers?
- In what ways should summative assessment be used? How often should it be used in the classroom?
Record your observations in the following google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oBD4NfTw2MlykWAdJugCwvx4jqm2ktKCvw3SZo8OU10/viewform
Reflection
This article by Heritage is a great source on the practical applications of formative assessment. Please read the sections titled Elements of Formative assessment and What teachers need to know. File:Heritage article.pdf
Respond to the prompts on this voicethread. http://voicethread.com/?#u2792979.b5152589.i26178522