Formative and Summative Assessments

Deanna E. MayersDirector of Curriculum

Blendedschools.net

Overview

• This session will compare and contrast the differences in formative and summative assessments and discuss when and why to use each type of assessment.

• The session will also demonstrate how to use Blackboard tools to create each of these assessment types.

Comparing the Two

Blackboard Tools

Summative

• Design performance tasks or test items that require students to use the targeted thinking and content knowledge.

• Occurring at the end of a learning episode—for example, at the end of a course

Hot to Assess Higher Order Thinking Skills by Susan M. Brookhart

• Research supports the conclusion that formative classroom assessment is one of the most powerful tools a classroom teacher might use. • Read more here:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/106006/chapters/The-Case-for-Classroom-Assessment.aspx

• Characteristics of sound feedback include that it should be frequent, give students a clear picture of their progress and how they might improve, and provide encouragement. 

Formative Assessment

Test Manager

•Tests are knowledge / skill - based but well-written questions can require higher-order thinking

•Tests are self-scoring (no essay or short answer questions).

Phrasing your Questions• Use simple vocabulary

• Avoid using too many negatives in a question (What might not have happened had the Allies not won the war)?

• Avoid using incomplete sentences (The Declaration of Independence was signed in the year _____.)

• Avoid using “all of the above” or the words always / never.

• Make answer choices similar length.

Creating a Test1. Go to the location you want the test2. Click Create Assessment button then Test

3. Title of the test is the column in your grade center

4. Description (outside of test)5. Instructions (inside the test)6. Submit

Self Assessments

Test CanvasNow, you have a blank Test Canvas let’s create a questions:1.Create a question2.Question Text 3.Read through the options area, each question type has different options4.Tag the correct answer5.Feedback – correct and incorrect6.Categorize your test if you want7.Add notes just to the teacher there8.Click submit and your question is created

Assignment Tool

• Practice assignments – allow multiple attempts and record the highest

• Feedback to instruct and redirect understanding in individual assignments

Blogs, Wiki, or Discussion

• This are all strong formative assessment tools

• Students not only get feedback from you but also from their peers

• Collaboration helps students clarify their thinking

Journal

• Teacher/Student interaction

• Students can respond to demonstrate understanding with no threat of embarrassment

• Teachers can provide individualized feedback to redirect understanding or affirm understanding

References

• How to Assess Higher Order Thinking Skills by Susan M. Brookhart

• Transformative Assessment by W. James Popham

• Assignments Matter, ASCD 2012, Eleanor Dougherty