Evaluating the student’s learning needs at any point of learning is pivotal for teachers. Such type of analysis or evaluation is done through the formative assessment. National Education Policy(NEP) 2020 recommends formative assessments in practice sessions since they contribute to the overall holistic development of the students.
SETU, an AI-based assessment platform in sync with NEP, fosters formative assessment techniques in practice sessions. It enables teachers to track students’ performance in real-time and adjust course content and delivery.
It involves asking questions, conducting exercises, assignments, quizzes, and gathering feedback to monitor learners’ progress quickly and continuously.
This article will discuss formative assessment, their types, and the critical differences between formative and summative assessments.
Formative Assessments
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2023 encourages a shift in assessment practices to ensure a comprehensive evaluation and bridge students’ learning gaps to meet 21st-century skills.
Unlike summative assessment, which occurs at the end of a unit or course to measure overall learning, formative assessment is ongoing. It focuses on providing feedback to students and teachers to improve learning outcomes.
It helps identify the student learning gaps, informs instructional decisions, and supports students’ growth.
Types of Formative Assessments
When discussing the types of formative assessments, a myriad of assessments come under this roof. They are:
- Classroom Observation: Teachers observe students’ behavior, interactions, and engagement in class to assess their understanding and progress.
- Questioning and Discussion: Teachers ask questions during class discussions to gauge students‘ comprehension and encourage critical thinking.
- Summary Notes: Brief assessments are given at the end of a class or lesson to assess students’ understanding of the material covered.
- Quizzes and Tests: Short quizzes or mini-tests conducted during or after a lesson to assess understanding and identify misconceptions.
- Homework and Assignments: Assignments are given for practice or reinforcement, which provide insights into students’ grasp of concepts.
- Peer Assessment: Students evaluate and provide feedback on each other’s work, promoting self-assessment and collaboration.
- Self-Assessment: Students reflect on their learning, set goals, and evaluate their progress, fostering metacognitive skills.
In sync with NEP 2023 vision, SETU integrates these formative assessments into its platform. These assessments help schools, teachers, and students improve their entire teaching and learning process.
I am sure you are very clear about formative assessment and its types.
Next, we will discuss the key difference between formative and summative assessments.
Formative Assessment vs Summative Assessment
The key difference between formative assessment and summative assessment are:
| Difference | Formative Assessments | Summative Assessments |
|---|---|---|
|
Purpose |
Monitor students' learning progress during the instructional process |
Evaluate students' learning achievement at the end of a unit, course, or instructional period |
|
Timing |
Occurs throughout the learning process |
Administered at the end of a semester, course, or academic year. |
|
Focus |
Identifying students' strengths and weaknesses, promoting self-reflection, and informing instructional decisions to support continuous improvement. |
Extent of achieving the student learning outcomes or standards set for the course or curriculum |
|
Feedback Mechanism |
Immediate or timely feedback to students, enabling them to understand their progress |
Provides feedback to students but often with less immediacy compared to formative assessment. |
|
Cumulative Evaluation |
Support learning rather than determine overall achievement. |
Serves as a culmination of learning and determines students' overall achievement. |
Examples of formative and summative assessments
The below-illustrated examples serve different purposes and contexts of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are designed to provide ongoing feedback and support learning, while summative assessments are typically used to evaluate overall achievement and determine grades or certifications.
Examples of Formative Assessments:
- In-class Discussions: Engaging students in discussions to assess their understanding of a topic and promote critical thinking.
- Quizz sessions: Quick quizzes or short written responses at the end of a lesson to gauge students’ comprehension.
- Concept Mapping: Asking students to create visual diagrams that represent their understanding of the relationships between concepts.
- Peer Feedback: Having students provide constructive feedback to their peers on projects or presentations.
- Classroom Observations: Teachers observing students’ behavior, participation, and engagement during class activities.
- Homework Assignments: Assigning practice problems or tasks that allow teachers to gauge students’ understanding and identify areas for improvement.
Examples of Summative Assessments:
- Final Exams: Comprehensive exams administered at the end of a course or academic year to evaluate overall knowledge and understanding.
- Standardized Tests: Assessments designed to measure students’ proficiency in specific subjects are often used for comparative purposes.
- Projects: Longer-term projects demonstrate students’ ability to apply knowledge and skills acquired throughout a course.
- Portfolios: Collections of student work, such as essays, projects, or presentations, are compiled to showcase their achievements and progress over time.
- Graded Assignments: Assignments or assessments that are scored and contribute to students’ final grades, such as essays or lab reports.
- Capstone Presentations: Final presentations where students showcase their knowledge, skills, and accomplishments in a specific area of study.
How does SETU help to conduct Formative Assessments?
SETU can play a significant role in collecting student feedback, allowing instructors to refine their formative assessment practices and create a more effective and engaging learning environment.
- The feedback mechanism helps teachers gauge how well their instructional methods facilitate student learning and adjust accordingly.
- SETU helps in determining the student’s engagement level during instructional activities and assessments.
- By identifying Strengths and Weaknesses, teachers adjust their instructional approaches, provide targeted support, and design effective formative assessments to address areas where students may struggle.
- Overall by analyzing the feedback data, our SETU platform helps continuously refine formative assessment practices.
Conclusion:
Formative assessment positively impacts the entire teaching and learning process. Teachers use the data to improve their teaching methods, and students can identify areas of improvement and highlight areas where they need help.
It also encourages class participation through quick-fire tasks. To look at how we support students in providing the formative assessment, login to the platform SETU, and our expert team will provide you with all the details required for smooth operations.
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