7- Assessment and Evaluation Explained
Key Concepts
1. Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is a process used by teachers and students during instruction to gather feedback that can be used to improve teaching and learning. It is ongoing and provides immediate feedback.
Example: A teacher might use quick quizzes or exit tickets at the end of a lesson to gauge student understanding and adjust the next lesson accordingly.
2. Summative Assessment
Summative assessment is used to evaluate student learning, knowledge, or skills at the end of a period of instruction. It typically provides a snapshot of student achievement and is often used for grading purposes.
Example: A final exam at the end of a unit or semester is a common summative assessment.
3. Diagnostic Assessment
Diagnostic assessment is used at the beginning of instruction to determine a student's starting point and identify any knowledge or skill gaps. It helps tailor instruction to meet individual needs.
Example: A pre-test at the start of a new unit can help a teacher understand what students already know and what they need to learn.
4. Self-Assessment
Self-assessment is a process where students evaluate their own work and learning. It encourages students to take ownership of their learning and develop critical thinking skills.
Example: Students might grade their own essays using a rubric provided by the teacher, reflecting on their strengths and areas for improvement.
5. Peer Assessment
Peer assessment involves students evaluating each other's work. It promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the assessment criteria.
Example: In a group project, students might review each other's contributions and provide feedback based on a set of criteria.
6. Authentic Assessment
Authentic assessment involves tasks that reflect real-world applications of knowledge and skills. It is designed to assess students' ability to apply what they have learned in meaningful contexts.
Example: A French immersion class might have students create a travel brochure in French, showcasing their language skills in a practical way.
7. Standardized Assessment
Standardized assessment is a type of testing that is administered under uniform conditions, with consistent questions and scoring criteria. It is often used to compare student performance across different schools or districts.
Example: Provincial or national exams that all students in a grade level take are examples of standardized assessments.
Explanation and Examples
Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is like a GPS for learning. Just as a GPS provides real-time directions to help you reach your destination, formative assessment provides real-time feedback to help students and teachers adjust their approach and stay on track.
Example: During a French lesson, a teacher might ask students to write a short paragraph in French and then provide immediate feedback on common errors, helping students correct their mistakes before moving on.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment is like a final report card at the end of a semester. It summarizes what students have learned and achieved over a period of time, providing a comprehensive view of their progress.
Example: At the end of a French unit, students might take a written exam that covers all the vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills they have learned.
Diagnostic Assessment
Diagnostic assessment is like a doctor's check-up at the start of a new school year. It identifies any areas where students might need extra support or intervention, ensuring that instruction is tailored to their needs.
Example: At the beginning of a French immersion course, students might take a placement test to determine their current language proficiency and ensure they are placed in the appropriate level.
Self-Assessment
Self-assessment is like a personal trainer who helps you evaluate your own fitness progress. It encourages students to reflect on their learning and set goals for improvement.
Example: After completing a French oral presentation, students might fill out a self-assessment form, rating their own performance on criteria such as pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.
Peer Assessment
Peer assessment is like a group critique session where artists evaluate each other's work. It fosters a collaborative learning environment and helps students develop critical evaluation skills.
Example: In a French writing class, students might exchange essays with a partner and provide feedback using a rubric that outlines specific criteria for evaluation.
Authentic Assessment
Authentic assessment is like a job interview where candidates demonstrate their skills in a real-world context. It assesses students' ability to apply what they have learned in practical, meaningful situations.
Example: In a French immersion class, students might create a video in French where they role-play a conversation between a customer and a shopkeeper, showcasing their language skills in a realistic scenario.
Standardized Assessment
Standardized assessment is like a universal fitness test that everyone takes under the same conditions. It provides a consistent measure of student performance across different schools and districts.
Example: Provincial French language proficiency exams that all Grade 10 French immersion students take are examples of standardized assessments, allowing for comparison of performance across different schools.
Analogies and Practical Application
Formative Assessment
Think of formative assessment as a GPS for learning. Just as a GPS provides real-time directions to help you reach your destination, formative assessment provides real-time feedback to help students and teachers adjust their approach and stay on track.
Example: Just as a GPS updates your route based on traffic conditions, formative assessment updates teaching strategies based on student understanding.
Summative Assessment
Imagine summative assessment as a final report card at the end of a semester. It summarizes what students have learned and achieved over a period of time, providing a comprehensive view of their progress.
Example: Just as a report card summarizes a student's performance over a semester, summative assessment summarizes a student's learning over a unit or course.
Diagnostic Assessment
Consider diagnostic assessment as a doctor's check-up at the start of a new school year. It identifies any areas where students might need extra support or intervention, ensuring that instruction is tailored to their needs.
Example: Just as a doctor's check-up identifies health issues, diagnostic assessment identifies learning gaps.
Self-Assessment
Think of self-assessment as a personal trainer who helps you evaluate your own fitness progress. It encourages students to reflect on their learning and set goals for improvement.
Example: Just as a personal trainer helps you set fitness goals, self-assessment helps students set learning goals.
Peer Assessment
Imagine peer assessment as a group critique session where artists evaluate each other's work. It fosters a collaborative learning environment and helps students develop critical evaluation skills.
Example: Just as artists critique each other's work, students critique each other's learning.
Authentic Assessment
Consider authentic assessment as a job interview where candidates demonstrate their skills in a real-world context. It assesses students' ability to apply what they have learned in practical, meaningful situations.
Example: Just as a job interview tests real-world skills, authentic assessment tests practical application of knowledge.
Standardized Assessment
Think of standardized assessment as a universal fitness test that everyone takes under the same conditions. It provides a consistent measure of student performance across different schools and districts.
Example: Just as a universal fitness test measures everyone under the same conditions, standardized assessment measures student performance uniformly.