Formative vs. Summative Assessment
Whether you are creating an elearning course or content for live training, there is a good chance that you will have some form of assessment mixed within the material.
Assessments are essential for the success of a program.
Unfortunately, many of the assessment methods used in elearning and instructor-led training are one-dimensional, generally, it is simple multiple choice questions.
This doesn't mean that multi-choice does not have its place. But you shouldn't be confined to this method of assessment.
A majority of assessment techniques fall under two types either summative or formative.
- Formative assessment is a process that measures and give feedback throughout the process of learning.
- Assessment summative uses grades, points, or other data in order to show the learner's improvement after learning.
Exemples of Formative and Summative Evaluation
Both of these methods have applications. Maybe one of these techniques listed below will encourage you to mix up your evaluation methods in your next course.
Formative assessment examples include:
- Providing verbal or written summaries
- Activities that strengthen collaboration and evaluate the quality of work done by each other.
- Self-assessments that allow learners to evaluate their own performance
- Charts, lists as well as graphic organizers, to help students to communicate clearly and effectively through making connections and noting relationships
Summative assessment examples include:
- Tests to determine if certain skills were acquired
- Multiple-choice tests for assessing memory recall
- Tasks to motivate students to take part in lectures or seminars and online forums
- Oral presentations allow learners to demonstrate their knowledge or present the results of their research