Formative + Summative Assessments & Feedback: helps your students build on their work and understand how their work connects with the larger picture of the class
1a) Formative Assessment: evaluates learning throughout the course (typically low to medium stakes)
Feedback (peer, self, instructor) is important
Examples: small quizzes, minute papers, writing exercises
1b) Formative Feedback: meant for revising, such as feedback on a draft or a low-stakes assignment
2a) Summative Assessment: evaluates cumulative learning from the entire course (typically high stakes)
Falls at the end of a topic, unit, or course
Previous activities/assessments have prepared students for summative assessment
Examples: exams, final projects, final presentations
2b) Summative Feedback: designed as a way for students to show their mastery on a final exam or project
Resource: Giving Feedback to Your Students
3) Authentic & Complex Assessments
- Fosters a deep approach to learning
The question “What do I want to know my students can do after they’re done taking my course?” can help you identify what is an authentic task for your students
Provide students with purposeful and challenging assessments that accurately reflect what students might be called upon to do after the course
4) Low Stakes Assessments
Think of them as activities
Make your students feel confident and take risks without the weight of being graded
Use class time for low stakes practice
Help your students practice and test their own knowledge or skills development before the high stakes midterm or final assessment
Help both you and your students know where they are and where support may be needed
5) Corrective Feedback: clarifies or adjusts students thinking
6) Motivational Feedback: highlights what students have done well
Resource: Assessing for Learning |
Finding the Balance with Assessments & Feedback
Too much pressure on summative assessments and feedback can cause students to center their studying around the assessments (“What’s on the exam” syndrome)
Use low stakes practice and formative assessments and feedback as changes to practice things they might fail at or struggle with during their first go-around (critical thinking skills & putting discrete things together)
Tools
Canvas Quizzes for Automated Feedback
Rubrics
Annotation
Video or Audio Feedback