Assessment and the Quality of Learning Summative assessment: Gives a numerical mark or grade at the conclusion of a term of study. Formative assessment: Provides feedback to students to influence the quality of learning during a term of study.
Summative Assessment is used mainly for: 1. Certification Purposes 2. Accountability purposes It is not essentially concerned with the quality of learning. But can it influence the quality of learning?
Formative Assessment is used mainly for: 1. Feedback to the students on the quality of their learning: 2. Feedback to the teacher on the quality of learning, and of teaching 3. Progressively enhanching the quality of learning
Three key elements in the quality of Learning 1. The students’ achievements in learning 2. The students’ practices of learning 3. The students’ attitudes to learning
Key strategies in formative assessment 1. Comment-only marking 2. Using questions to promote questioning 3. Learning intentions and learning criteria 4. Formative use of sumative tests