Formative, Summative, Informal, and Malicious Assessments

Hi there to all of you.

I am attempting to determine the differences between formal, informal, summative, and formative assessments. While I am aware that each serves a certain purpose, I would need further details regarding each’s application in educational settings and its role in evaluating students’ development.

What impact do these assessments have on teaching strategies or student learning objectives?

If you have tried any of them in an educational setting, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Here’s a simple breakdown:

  • Formative Assessments: These are progress checks quizzes or activities that help teachers see how students are doing and adjust their lessons accordingly.
  • Summative Assessments: These are the big ones, like final exams or projects, that measure how much students have learned by the end of a course or unit.
  • Informal Assessments: These are the casual, everyday checks like observing class discussions or quick Q&As. They give a snapshot of student understanding.
  • Malicious Assessments: Ideally, these shouldn’t exist. Assessments are meant to support learning, not harm it.

Each plays a role in how teachers guide learning and track student progress.

Formative and Summative Assessments:

  • Formative Assessment: An ongoing process that offers feedback to both teachers and students during learning. It identifies strengths and weaknesses, allowing for adjustments in teaching strategies.
    • Purpose: To monitor progress and guide instruction.
    • Examples: Quizzes, homework, discussions, observations, and self-assessments.
  • Summative Assessment: Conducted at the end of a unit or course to evaluate overall student learning outcomes.
    • Purpose: To measure achievement against learning objectives.
    • Examples: Final exams, projects, and standardized tests.

Formal and Informal Assessments:

  • Formal Assessment: Structured with predefined criteria, often involving scoring.
    • Purpose: To assess student achievement.
    • Examples: Standardized tests, written exams, and graded projects.
  • Informal Assessment: Less structured, focusing on observations and qualitative data.
    • Purpose: To monitor progress and guide instruction.
    • Examples: Teacher observations, class discussions, and portfolios.

Impact on Teaching and Learning:

  • Formative Assessments: Guide instructional decisions, help identify misconceptions, and engage students.
  • Summative Assessments: Measure achievement, motivate learning, and provide accountability.
  • Formal Assessments: Offer standardized data for comparisons and accountability.
  • Informal Assessments: Provide insights into student thinking, attitudes, and learning styles.

Balancing all four types of assessments is key to effective teaching. Formative assessments guide instruction, summative assessments measure achievement, formal assessments ensure accountability, and informal assessments offer a deeper understanding of student learning.