| This
table gives a brief and general summary of the differences between
formative and summative assessment.
It does not attempt to define these forms of assessment, but rather
to give an indication of general practice with each. It would be incorrect
to conclude that formative assessment does not or should not take
place as part of summative assessment. One could generalise and say
that formative assessment happens when feedback is given that can
enhance learning, while summative assessment is normally done prior
to reporting, but these are only general distinctions and not a rule.
| |
Formative |
Summative |
|
Why? Purpose |
used as feedback to improve
the process of learning |
used to measure the learning
that has taken place |
Report
To whom? |
the learner receives
feedback |
feedback is often in the form
of a report to a third party e.g. the Head
of Department or parent |
|
When? |
this generally
happens during the learning process |
this generally tends to be the
final assessment after the learning process
and is normally linked to rewards (pass or fail) |
|
How? Examples
|
In the classroom:
1. An educator assesses a team exercise and intervenes after
discovering that some members are being left out. The result
is that the team functions better.
2. A teacher marks an essay and gives comments and advice.
The student re-writes the essay in response to the comments
before being finally assessed. Everyday
example:
TV programme popularity ratings (if programmes are rated poorly
they know they must improve) |
In the classroom:
Learners write exams at the end of the year to determine who
passes and who fails Everyday example:
Oscar awards for actors (the little Oscar statue is the reward
for excellent performance) |
Formative assessment is as much a part of learning
as it is a part of assessment. The dialogue between the teacher
and the learner that takes place during various forms of formative
assessment is a vital part of the learning process.
"In order for
learners to gain insight into their learning and their understanding,
frequent feedback is critical: students need to monitor their
learning and actively evaluate their strategies and their current
levels of understanding."
John D Bransford et al., How
People Learn
|