Assessments
Formative Assessments (Joseph Schmidt)
Summative Assessments (Dom Morizio Jr)
Criterion-referenced Performance Assessment (Gourav)
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Definition: Formative assessments are assessments that serve as a guide to student learning. They also guide teacher instruction by allowing instructors to identify areas where students need more help. Formative assessments can help create meaningful learning experiences for students and improve the ability of teachers to deliver effective curriculum.
Examples: Some types of formative assessment are classroom discussions, reflections, and summaries of what has been learned, as well as projects that students can work on to demonstrate mastery of concepts.
Here are two valuable links identifying differences between formative and summative assessments: https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/assessment/basics/formative-summative.html and one providing valuable general information about formative assessments. https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/Formative-Summative-Assessments
Performance assessment is a task that students perform instead of writing a test
In a language class, students may be asked to deliver an oral presentation
In a music class, this could be a music performance students have been working on
It could be an assessment of learning as students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical concepts in a real-world scenario
Since these assessments are usually are open ended, they must be backed with a strong criteria framework making it a Criterion-referenced type of assessment
Criterion-referenced assessments compare the score of an individual student to a learning standard and performance level, independent of other students around them
Each student is graded to provide insight into their strengths and areas for improvement
Some more links that discuss the Criterion-referenced and Performance assessment:
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/types-of-assessment/
https://tophat.com/glossary/p/performance-assessment/#:~:text=Performance%20assessment%20is%20a%20task,of%20than%20write%20a%20test.&text=Performance%20assessment%20involves%20students%20taking,perform%20those%20skills%20on%20paper.
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Examples: Final exams, term papers, final projects, demonstrations, presentations or a performance.
Why used: Provides teachers with evidence of learning especially when measured against standards (i.e., national grade averages)
Definition: The type of assessment that is done at the end of a learning journey or at the end of key segments and evaluates the final outcome of the learning and not the learning process itself. Summative assessments fall under the category of "Assessment OF Learning"
Resource 1 (good examples of how to use assessments and the differences plus the assessment process: https://www.opinionstage.com/blog/types-assessments/#:~:text=Types%20of%20Assessment%20in%20Education%201%20Diagnostic%20assessment.,their%20previous%20results.%20Ipsative%20assessments%20support%20effort-based%20attributions.
Resource 2 (excellent information on importance and benefits of summative assessments: https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/summative-assessment/#:~:text=Summative%20assessment%20strategies%20for%20keeping%20tests%20clear%20and,whose%20tests%20they%E2%80%99re%20grading.%20...%20More%20items...%20
Diagnostic Assessments (Deni Blakely)
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Why do we use Diagnostic Assessments?
Diagnostic assessments are used to gauge what learners already know or think about a topic or concept before a lesson. It can also help the educator understand the weakness, strengths, or skill set a learner may have about the topic.
By using Diagnostic assessments, an educator can use the information to better plan lessons in order to support and meet the needs of their learners in two major ways. First, to help enhance their strengths and current knowledge. Second, it helps educators identify where to focus differentiation in order to help learners where they struggle.
An educator can give the same assessment before and after the lessons. When this is done the educator and learners can compare and chart the learning.
Examples of Diagnostic Assessments
Writing Prompts
Multiple Choice Questions
Running Records
Surveys
Journals
What are Diagnostic Assessments?
Diagnostic assessments are formative and generally include sets of questions usually given to learners before and a lesson. They are most often given in the form of multiple choice or short answer. They are also known as pre assessments and can be informal or formal. Diagnostic assessments are considered Assessments For Learning.
Assessments Of/For/As Learning
(Deni Blakely)
Assessment For Learning occurs during learning. It informs the educator about what learners do and don't know, what they can and can't do. This allows educators to better plan learning in ways that are most beneficial to the learners.
Assessments As Learning is when students monitor their own learning. This allows them to develop metacognative skills. It gives learners ownership of their learning and teaches them how to participate and have constructive conversations about their learning process.
Assessments Of Learning summarize what students can do, what they know, and what they understand. These are usually given at the end of a lesson or unit. These type of assessments are generally used to give learners scores in order to rank their learning.
Benefits of Formative assessments: Some benefits of formative assessments are that they can be used to help guide student learning, identify key areas to focus on for further instruction, and providing collaborative opportunities for students to interact with the curriculum.