Assessments play a crucial role in the educational journey by measuring students' understanding and progress through various methods. Interim or benchmark assessments, such as chapter tests and projects, are conducted throughout the school year to evaluate if students have met their learning goals.
How/When It's Used:
It is used at the end of a curriculum to determine if a student has understood what they have been taught so far and if they have enough knowledge to proceed forward with the rest of the curriculum or onto the next grade level.
Definition:
Is an assessment that tests the knowledge of an individual student against that of a fixed, predetermined tests; unlike Norm-referenced tests, one student scored does not affect another students scores.
Example:
In-school-SAT's
Outside of school-Driver's License Exam
The Purpose/Why:
To comparing one student to state standards in school and/or to compare to standards outside of the classroom
Formative
How/When It's Used:
Before, during or after a lesson and when the students are in groups together
Definition:
Is an ongoing process to monitor and evaluate students on their current learning and their activities, using a variety of methods
Examples:
Weekly Quizzes, lesson exit tickets
The Purpose/Why:
Helps with student learning, setting goals, and adjusting teaching strategies when applicable. Also helps a student to find their strengths and weaknesses in the classroom
Interim/ Benchmark
How/When It's Used:
Its used during different intervals throughout the school year and used to also establish if a student has reached their learning goals at each interval.
Definition:
Is an assessment that checks a students understanding of the current learning material that's being presented and continues to check throughout the school year.
Example:
Chapter Tests, projects, essays with rubrics
The Purpose/Why:
To make sure a student is progressing throughout the year and not regressing.
Summative
How/When It's Used:
It's used at the end of each period and it's used to see if each student has achieved each learning goal. It's also used to determine if a curriculum needs to be modified to fit the students needs and learning goals.
Definition:
Is an assessment that evaluates where a students learning is at at the end of each period and compares it to a standard. It also evaluates the effectiveness of the curriculum being taught.
Example:
Mid-Terms, final projects
The Purpose/Why:
To check on the learning of each individual student at the end of each period to see if they have understood what they have learned. Also to see if what the students are learning is helping them to understand the subject matter.