Dilemma 3
What are the best, summative or formative assessments?
Formative Assessment
This is the basis of learning as the assessments given here inform and form the structured learning pathways. Learning through mistakes, extra feedback or resources, rewards and shaping of behaviour are involved. The issue for the authentic formative assessment is that it is the cornerstone of learning, requires almost continual assessment and feedback.
Summative Assessment
Analysis of standards of achievement or the final outcome of a course with respect to a pre-determined rubric is called the summative assessment. It is much like the traditional assessment philosophy but can take the guise of an authentic assessment.
Without summative assessments there would be no standardisation, ability to reward those that achieved a grade. There are some courses that do not require summative assessments, particularly where there is no registration of attainment required.
In most cases both formative and summative assessments are required.
Which do you prefer?
Do we always need summative assessment?
What are the best, summative or formative assessments?
Formative Assessment
This is the basis of learning as the assessments given here inform and form the structured learning pathways. Learning through mistakes, extra feedback or resources, rewards and shaping of behaviour are involved. The issue for the authentic formative assessment is that it is the cornerstone of learning, requires almost continual assessment and feedback.
Summative Assessment
Analysis of standards of achievement or the final outcome of a course with respect to a pre-determined rubric is called the summative assessment. It is much like the traditional assessment philosophy but can take the guise of an authentic assessment.
Without summative assessments there would be no standardisation, ability to reward those that achieved a grade. There are some courses that do not require summative assessments, particularly where there is no registration of attainment required.
In most cases both formative and summative assessments are required.
Which do you prefer?
Do we always need summative assessment?
Further readings:
Cavanagh, S ()Maths teachers encouraged to assess creatively Education Week 25(36) retrieved 13/5/2007 ERIC database USQ library
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.usq.edu.au/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=3&sid=493709b9-2725-438a-88a6-841abb0eb883%40sessionmgr
Fox-Turnbull,W (2006). The Influences of Teacher Knowledge and Authentic Formative Assessment on Student Learning in Technology Education. International Journal of Technology & Design Education, 16 ( 1), pps. 53-77,
retrieved Ebscohost, USQ library 19/4/2007
Zaphiris, P &Zacharia, G (2005) Participatory Design of Interactive Computer-based learning systems in Eds C.Howard, J.Bpettcher, L.Justice, K.Schenk, PL Rogers & GA Berg Encyclopedia of distance Learning , Vol 3, USA Idea Group Reference, pp 1460-1466
Retrieved USQ Library Database 13/5/2007
http://reference.igi-online.com.ezproxy.usq.edu.au/content/details.asp?id=8174&keywords=summative%2C+formative%2C+assessment
7 comments:
I think that in almost all learning environments and cases, a mixture of summative and formative assessment produces the best outcomes. This is because it enables students to measure their progress and build confidence using formative assessment tasks, and this is especially so if the formative tasks feed into the summative task(s) directly - this allows students to "practice" and get their head around the assessment before "putting it all on the line".
I agree Cassandra.
Is there a place for only formative assessment?
Joyce
I would agree with Cassandra. From a learner perspective, I need to know at various points along the way that I am on the right track. In this course the lit review that tied into the paper was an excellent way for us to 'test the waters'.
When meeting criteria that is standardized within an industry then there is a need for summative assessment. Within our college, we provide the training, assess the students, and the student must then write an industry wide exam and flight test (aviation). The college test, simulates to the best of our ability, what they will encounter when they tackle the Ministry of Transportation Federal Exams.
I agree with Cass and Judy - both are always desirable for the reasons they describe.
I'd add that as a learner I want to have a sense that a subject 'took me somewhere' , so to speak, and I'm clear about how I performed on that journey. So I guess the only situation where a summative assessment is not required is where there is no defined end point or outcome, in which case the assessment is always formative. Probably kinder is a bit like this, and quite a bit of primary school.
I must say that I am in two minds about summative assessment. Yes formative assessment is really important for alerting you to being on track but summative assessment in my former context of teaching maths it's important to know that the students really do know the work. This is more important if the next course they do builds on the former one. That being said I am awfully glad that I dont have to write a final summative exam for this Masters course.
interesting read. I would love to follow you on twitter.
Thanks for comment
If I had time for twitter I would be asking questions of myself
You can email if you like drjoycearnold@gmail.com
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