# data[].attributes.body
What are formative assessments?

Formative assessments are varying methods that are used by teachers to evaluate student comprehension, needs, and progress while they are in the process of learning. As more and more research is being done on this subject, formative assessments are now widely considered to be one of the most effective methods teachers can use. There are a variety of ways to do a formative assessment. Some examples include:

1 to 5 - the teacher asks students to show 1 to 5 fingers to convey their understanding of a subject. 1 means they don’t understand, 5 means they understand it very well

Brainstorming - this one is often used before learning a new topic. Teachers ask a question related to the topic, and student’s respond with examples of what they know about it

Entry/Exit tickets - the teacher gives students at the beginning (entry ticket) or end (exit ticket) of class. The students will answer a question or be asked to write something about that day’s lesson. This should only take the students 2-3 minutes

Think-Pair-Share - give the students some time to think about the topic. Pair up students to discuss it. Students share their thoughts with the class. The teacher can correct or add on to what the students say as needed

Individual whiteboards - Give students whiteboards and then write a question or a problem for them to solve on your whiteboard

Quizzes - short, informal tests to assess student understanding. Can be done digitally or on paper

Polls - during lecture style teaching, students are asked to answer some questions to help keep them engaged. Poll Everywhere is an example of a good digital resource to use this strategy.

Dipsticks - simple assessments that can be done in a variety of ways. An example is “the 60 second paper” in which students are asked to describe the most important details from what they learned in that day’s lesson. I like this article because it has a lot of examples of how to do disticks

Why are formative assessments so important?

Formative assessments allow teachers to monitor students' learning growth and adjust their lesson plans in order to maintain continuous improvement. While this is beneficial for students in general, it is especially valuable for struggling and gifted students who have special needs that can be easily overlooked in favor of meeting the needs of the “average students”. Formative assessments not only tell the teacher what they need to focus on or change, but it also gives students immediate feedback and shows them where they can improve and what they know. It can also help keep students on track for their learning goals. This has been shown to help motivate learners and teaches them how to self-regulate their learning.

Sources:

9 Benefits of Using Formative Assessment to Increase Student Growth. (2021, January 22). Powerschool.com.
Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.powerschool.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-formative-assessment-to-increase-student-growth/

Formative Assessment Definition. (2014, April 29). The Glossary of Education Reform. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.edglossary.org/formative-assessment/#:%7E:text=Formative%20assessment%20refers%20to%20a,lesson%2C%20unit%2C%20or%20course.

Rich, J. (2017, December 14). Polling Students to Check Understanding. Edutopia.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/polling-students-check-understanding

Finley, T. (2014, July 30). Dipsticks: Efficient Ways to Check for Understanding. Edutopia.Org. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/dipsticks-to-check-for-understanding-todd-finley

Teachings in Education. (2016, November 14). Formative Assessments: Why, When & Top 5 Examples [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RXYTpgvB5I

Gaining Understanding on What Your Students Know. (2015, June 23). Edutopia.Org. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.edutopia.org/practice/exit-tickets-checking-understanding

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Formative Assessments: Why, When & Top 5 Examples

# data[].attributes.body
What are summative assessments?

Summative assessments are often high stakes methods used to evaluate student learning at the end of a semester or unit by comparing it to a school benchmark or other standards. They generally take place in a controlled environment.

Summative assessment examples

Portfolios - a collection of student work that is guided by required standards of learning. It is often gathered over a long period of time and should reflect what the student learned

Final projects - similar to portfolios, a final project is something a student has worked on for a long time. The project should have been revised multiple times before the final product is turned in. This method is a culmination of what the student has learned in class and through experience working on the project itself

Interviews - teachers conduct interviews with students to assess what they have learned

Essays - students write an essay on a topic to show what they have learned

Tests - can be achievement or standardized tests. Teachers give them to students to gain data on student performance at the end of a unit or semester

Presentations - students present a topic they have learned about in class in front of their teacher and peers

Why are summative assessments important?

Summative assessments provide teachers, administrators, and districts with data on student learning. It can help identify areas that need improvement and areas that are working well in the curriculum. It also provides information to families and the general public. However, there are some well founded criticisms of summative assessments. It is not always an accurate portrayal of a student's ability. Students with anxiety or students who thrive on creative learning may be misrepresented by this method. So it is important to use summative data in conjunction with formative and other assessment methods to get a clear picture of student learning. Teachers and administrators can also consider less traditional ways to get summative data. I like this article for fun ideas to make summative assessments less daunting for students.

Sources:

Summative Assessments. (2020, November 24). Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://dpi.wi.gov/strategic-assessment/cycles-assessment/summative#:%7E:text=Summative%20assessments%20provide%20cumulative%20snapshots,families%20and%20the%20general%20public.

Does summative assessment risk learning outcomes? (2020, December 3). Promethean Blog. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://resourced.prometheanworld.com/summative-assessment-risk-educational-outcomes/#:%7E:text=So%2C%20school%20results%20would%20only,performance%20rather%20than%20learning%20goals.

Meador, D. (2019, March 4). Building a Portfolio Assessment Can Be a Powerful Tool for Students. ThoughtCo. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-purpose-of-building-a-portfolio-assessment-3194653

Summative Assessments. (2020, November 24). Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://dpi.wi.gov/strategic-assessment/cycles-assessment/summative#:%7E:text=Summative%20assessments%20provide%20cumulative%20snapshots,families%20and%20the%20general%20public.

Gardner, B. M., PhD. (2019, December 9). Using Interviews to Assess and Mentor Students. Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/educational-assessment/using-student-interviews-to-assess-and-mentor-students/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Summative Assessment: Overview & Examples

# data[].attributes.body
Harapnuik, D. (2020, December 24). Assessment OF/FOR/AS Learning. Harapnuik.org. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=8475

# data[].attributes.body
Assessment of Learning

Assessment of learning is what one may think of as 'traditional' or summative assessment, which generally comes at the end of a unit and is grade-based. These grades are used to communicate student achievement to teachers, administrators, parents, and students. Due to the weight grades are given, these types of assessments are considered more high-stakes for students due to their potential to affect students' standing. Popular examples of this type of assessment include standardized tests, portfolios, exams, and final projects.

While this assessment is often held in high esteem for the scores it produces or disregarded completely in favor of more student-based formative assessments, it does have some potential benefits. Assessments of learning can be used to inform future learning goals for students, communicate achievements made by students to broader audiences, and provide feedback to students on possible areas of improvement.

For assessments of learning to be effective, teachers must provide a rationale for the assessment to be taken at a certain time, clear descriptions of intended learning, and processes that allow for students to demonstrate competencies or skills.

Assessment for, as and of learning. Approaches | NSW Education Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/assessment/approaches

Assessment of learning - curriculum.gov.mt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://curriculum.gov.mt/en/Assessment/Assessment-of-Learning/Documents/assessment_of_learning.pdf

Bennett, J. (2017, December 8). Assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning. Pearson Assessments. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.pearsonassessments.com/professional-assessments/blog-webinars/blog/2017/12/assessment-for-learning-vs--assessment-of-learning.html#:~:text=Frequent%20progress%20monitoring%20is%20an,adjustments%20need%20to%20be%20implemented.

CLAS Network. (2015). Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning . YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wvRJyTExVU.

Kampen, M. (2021, September 24). 6 types of assessment (and how to use them). Prodigy Education. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/types-of-assessment/

# data[].attributes.body
Assessment as Learning

As the graphic shows, the trend toward assessment as learning has been seen to shift the focus of assessment toward enhancing learning versus assessment for reporting purposes. Assessments as learning actively involve students in the learning process and encourage 21st-century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking. Students also learn to make critical evaluations of their own work, ask questions and plan a pathway forward, and use assessments as tools to enhance their own learning. This type of assessment reflects a growth mindset perspective as well as gives agency to students, encourages student investment, and empowers students in their learning.

In assessment as learning, the responsibility for assessment shifts to the learner and can also involve peer support and evaluation. Due to the responsibility shift, and the main focus of the assessments as tools to enhance learning, this is considered a low-stakes form of assessment in which students have the freedom to collaborate, continually reflect, and self-evaluate.  This type of assessment, while seemingly ideal, cannot stand alone in a world of credentialing exams and standardized testing, but should be used in harmony with the other types of assessments to develop desired learning environments.

To use assessments as learning teachers must guide students in setting goals, monitoring progress toward said goals, and the steps of self-assessment. Teachers must also provide good models of practice and exemplary work so that students have the skills and knowledge to achieve curriculum outcomes through this process. Teachers can support an 'assessment as learning' environment by providing a space where students feel safe to try new things, fail, and try again.

Some examples of assessments as learning include ipsative tests (where the student is given a second chance on an assessment in order to compare knowledge), project-based learning, and collaboratively-developed assessment criteria.

Assessment for, as and of learning. Approaches | NSW Education Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/assessment/approaches

Assessment of learning - curriculum.gov.mt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://curriculum.gov.mt/en/Assessment/Assessment-of-Learning/Documents/assessment_of_learning.pdf

CLAS Network. (2015). Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning . YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wvRJyTExVU.

Harapnuik, D. (2020, December 24). Assessment OF/FOR/AS Learning. Harapnuik.org. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=8475

Kampen, M. (2021, September 24). 6 types of assessment (and how to use them). Prodigy Education. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/types-of-assessment/

# data[].attributes.body
Assessment for Learning
Assessment for learning is another way of terming 'formative assessment'. In assessment for learning, teachers use their findings to inform their teaching. They are able to identify areas that need more instruction, students who need more practice, and students who need more challenges, and then adjust their teaching plan to fit those needs.

This process can be done throughout the teaching period as often as necessary to allow for the entirety of the content to be instructed (e.g. ongoing feedback). Peers can also use this process of formative assessment to identify areas in which learners can improve. Because of the nature of this type of assessment, at-risk students are able to be identified early, interventions can be put in place, and the progress monitored and updated as needed.

This type of low-stakes assessment feedback can take the form of verbal discussions, peer-based feedback, entry/exit tickets, quizzes, games, virtual tools like Edpuzzle or Kahoot, etc., but must always be ongoing and actionable. This type of assessment reflects a growth mindset in that it assumes all students are capable of growth and improvement. It also allows for inclusivity with differentiation, clear goals for students, and self/peer reflection.

Assessment for, as and of learning. Approaches | NSW Education Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/assessment/approaches

Bennett, J. (2017, December 8). Assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning. Pearson Assessments. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.pearsonassessments.com/professional-assessments/blog-webinars/blog/2017/12/assessment-for-learning-vs--assessment-of-learning.html#:~:text=Frequent%20progress%20monitoring%20is%20an,adjustments%20need%20to%20be%20implemented.

Kampen, M. (2021, September 24). 6 types of assessment (and how to use them). Prodigy Education. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/types-of-assessment/

YouTube. (2018). Introduction to Assessment for Learning. The Education Hub. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63PdFKIFzNU.

# data[].attributes.body
What is it?
Diagnostic assessment is a tool that lets a teacher know students' knowledge about a topic before the lesson or unit of inquiry begins, a pre-assessment of students’ prior knowledge, highlighting possible strengths, skills or knowledge gaps within your classroom.

Diagnostic assessments inform both the teacher and the students and can come in many forms-written form or class discussions depending on age group, and subject area.

Why are Diagnostic Assessments used?
It is primarily used to highlight student difficulties and guide lesson and curriculum planning and give the teacher information to modify any lessons, differentiate instruction and provide more choices for students to gain the knowledge and skills of the topic in question.

For Diagnostic examples to be effective, they must occur at the beginning of each unit.

With this form of assessment, teachers can plan meaningful and efficient instruction and can provide students with an individualized learning experience. In short, it saves everyone’s time and is especially beneficial for teachers starting with a new class, it can ensure you do not assume students have prior knowledge of certain topics, and you may need to revisit your ideas, strategies and methods of instruction. On the other hand, you may find lots of students have skills, ideas and lots of information about a topic, and you can modify or differentiate accordingly. You may find you have gifted students or students in the lower bracket who may need individualized instruction or are lacking in a particular area of the unit.

Another benefit is that it can be used before every new unit or new book and act as a good baseline for future learning. It makes the teaching and learning process more efficient by highlighting content that needs to be taught.

Diagnostic assessments are "low-stake" assessments because they are non-graded and do not determine whether the student moves to the next educational level, so students shouldn’t feel any pressure and can answer honestly and without judgement

I found this article very useful researching Diagnostic Assessments explaining it clearly, outlining benefits and limitations of this assessment tool.
https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/diagnostic-assessment/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Diagnostic Assessment: Examples & Overview

# data[].attributes.headline
Diagnostic Assessments- My Experience and Examples.

# data[].attributes.subject
Diagnostic Assessments- My Experience and Examples.

# data[].attributes.body
My use of Diagnostic Assessments.

I must admit,I hadn't heard of the term ‘diagnostic assessments’ before today but after researching, it turns out I have been conducting these assessments for quite some time now.
In my class, I use a KWL board before each IB unit of inquiry to assess what students 'know' and importantly for student-centred learning-what they 'want to know'. As my students are 6-year-old English language learners in a Chinese bilingual school, my KWL boards usually come in the form of  discussions where I can guide the questions and conversations.

The L section at the end of each unit (What we have learned) is another example of diagnostic assessment and a useful comparison tool for your students to complete at the end to see if you as a teacher and the students have filled these knowledge gaps, and the class have met their aims and objectives.

Another example of diagnostic assessments that I use for my students are individual student questionnaires, which I simplify for my student’s needs. I learned the value of this in Module 3 in an assignment about ‘getting to know your students ’and found that it can be useful to apply it to certain topics and also to gauge knowledge at the beginning and end of units. These questionnaires help me receive up-to-date to date information  of my student's knowledge. I use the same or slightly modified  questionnaires at the  end of units, which is an effective  assessment tool.

I also use the 'Heninemin rubric' to assess students  initial writing levels at the beginning of term and  also assess reading levels for our TCRWP program (Teachers, college, reading and writing project) At the beginning of term, I can assess all student's reading and writing levels quickly and efficiently using the previously linked  rubric. This would also fall under the category of Formative assessment, but it is a good baseline and guide for me to understand my student's prior reading and writing ability. It also helps me differentiate accordingly and place students into  appropriate reading and writing groups.

Other examples of Diagnostic Assessments.

Diagnostic Assessments can be either informal  or more commonly standardized for your class or grade level. Informal assessments can be used if you need information quickly and can come in the form of conversations with individual students or the whole class.

Standardized assessment are more common as you can gather data about your whole class and are more beneficial for planning units or lessons and spotting obvious areas of strength knowledge gaps.

Some common Diagnostic assessments include

Quizzes ( Can be self-made and we now have the benefit of using great technology apps such as Quizzes, Kahoot to collect data  easily and quickly.

Mindmaps

Student surveys

Checklists where students can outline their level of understanding and competence in a specific area.

Jamboards

Entry slips to collect information from students

Poster displays

Pre-tests.

KWL boards.

References.

2022). Twinkl.com. https://www.twinkl.com/teaching-wiki/kwl-grid

Diagnostic Assessment: Meaning, Examples, and Types. (2021, October 13). Harappa. https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/diagnostic-assessment/

What is Diagnostic Assessment? - Definition & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com. (2011). Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-diagnostic-assessment-definition-examples.html

Diagnostic Assessments: Assess Prior Knowledge. (n.d.). Courses.dcs.wisc.edu. https://courses.dcs.wisc.edu/design-teaching/PlanDesign_Fall2016/2-Online-Course-Design/3_Learning-Assessments/5_assessment_diagnostic.html

Blog, F. (n.d.). Diagnostic Assessment in Education: Purpose, Strategies, Examples. Www.formpl.us. https://www.formpl.us/blog/diagnostic-assessment

Teachings in Education. (2016). Diagnostic Assessment: Examples & Overview. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-WEmsuvDsA

What is Diagnostic Assessment Definition & Examples Video & Lesson Transcript Study com. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95D2dGnfAVM

# data[].attributes.body
What is it?

A performance assessment involves students applying and showing skills and knowledge through carrying out performance tasks. The objective of a performance assessment is to improve the student learning experience and evaluate the effectiveness of lesson plans/projects etc.

Performance assessments demonstrate can the students apply the knowledge and skills they have learned through different tasks - not how they can remember the information.

It is a very useful tool if your school practices student-centred learning and for measuring if students have important 21-century learning skills such as communication, and collaboration.

The key to effective performance assessments is that it requires the student to produce something, such as a report, experiment, or performance, which is scored against specific criteria.  Performance assessments should be open-ended and time bound.
From an educator's point of view, for performance assessments to be effective and serve a future purpose, they should have clear and defined goals and a defined checklist to  evaluate the assessment and the learning process.

Why are Performance Assessments used?

As education slowly edges away from relying on traditional summative assessments, new educational concepts and modern ideas such as IB, student-centred learning and project-based learning are becoming more widespread. As a result, different means of assessment are required. In a project-based learning environment, there would be little value in a traditional test or written summative assessment at the end of the module, as the whole point of the project could mean the inquiries could go in different directions and be extremely difficult to grade in a traditional context.

Performance assessments give the student an opportunity to demonstrate learning and skills, and the teacher the chance to see if the students are using the skills you wished them to demonstrate. Performance assessment often asks students to use problem-solving skills or critical thinking to produce a report, experiment or give a performance that displays their ability to apply what they have learned. Also, some educators may use performance assessments to develop conclusions regarding  the effectiveness of course curriculums, different projects and to evaluate their teaching. It is an opportunity for students and teachers to check their progress.

Benefits of Performance Assessments

Performance assessments can engage if done properly and pique the interest of students.

Performance assessments can be accurate indicators of what students know and whether they can use their knowledge.

Performance assessments can identify students who are struggling and may need extra assistance.

Performance assessment tasks can help you provide progress reports for students and give the teacher feedback on their own performance if students are reaching targets or failing to meet expectations.

Examples of Performance Based Assessments

Role-plays(usually around problem-solving)

Collaborative  Presentations

Essays addressing student's understanding of a subject.

Group projects

Experiments- carrying out scientific experiments to demonstrate real life mastery.

Portfolios-showcasing different content knowledge.

Disadvantages of Performance based assessments in my view are without enough experience and knowledge to create effective rubrics or checklists, then it is too subjective to the teacher's opinion.

My experience with Performance Based Assessments
I work in an IB school, so I feel this sort of assessment is relevant and beneficial. I teach young students and there isn't a big emphasis on grading or assessing what they have learned in IB modules. The school and parents focus more on reading and writing levels.
In the past I have given students mini projects and tasks including posters and presentations to demonstrate skills and knowledge. Researching this form of assessment will help me in the future to design more relevant and engaging  performance assessments.
I found this article to be very useful regarding Performance based learning

References

What Is a Performance Assessment? (Definition and Tips Included). (n.d.). Indeed Career Guide. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/performance-assessment

Performance Based Assessment | Project Appleseed. (n.d.). Project-Appleseed. https://www.projectappleseed.org/assessment

Editors, T. (2019, February 6). What Is Performance Assessment?Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/what-is-performance-assessment/2019/02assessment/

Performance Assessment Definition and Meaning. (n.d.). Top Hat. https://tophat.com/glossary/p/performance-assessment/

Teachings in Education. (2017). Performance Based Assessment & Learning. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYcGO1Izs-U