Module 42 Blog

Blog: Differentiate between formative and summative assessment and give examples of how each might be used in your own teaching situation.

            Formative assessment and summative assessment are very different. Assessment that occurs before or during instruction is formative. Formative is also usually ungraded and helps form instruction. For example, I might use formative in my own teaching by giving my students in class activities after I teach them a lesson. So say that we learned a lesson on math, I might have my have my students play a math game, just so I can get an idea of whether or not they understand the concept. I could also do what some of my classes now do, which is to have a pop quiz but not actually grade it. On the other hand, summative occurs after instruction. It summarizes students’ accomplishment and is usually graded. In my class, I could use summative assessment by having a big chapter test after covering all the information with them. Another way to assess them this way would be by having them do graded projects or papers.