Research Guides: Assessment of Student Learning: Formative & Summative Assessments

Summary of formative & summative assessments

**Types of Assessment**
elements	Normative	Summative
Definition	The gathering of information about student learning-during the progression of a course, usually repeatedly, in order to improve the learning of the students currently in the course.	The gathering of information at the conclusion of a module or course to evaluate student skills and knowledge in light of learning objectives. Can be used to gauge the effectiveness of instruction and learning activities for improvement, impacting the next cohort of students taking the course.
Example	Assessing lab reports or weekly journal entries to determine students if require more guidance to align their learning activity to the learning outcomes.	Evaluating student final exams in a course to see if certain specific areas of the curriculum were understood less well than others.
Purpose	Used to check the students' understanding and progress. Provides an opportunity for students to engage in metacognition and for instructors to adapt instruction or learning activities.	Used to assess learning and the effectiveness of instruction. Provides teachers and students with information about the attainment of learning objectives. Provides instructors with guidance for future improvements to instruction and learning activities.
instruments	Observations of student body language, etc. Journal entries or lab reports Discussion board posts/class discussions Quizzes	Final speech or presentation Culminating project Midterm exam and final exam Final research paper