Assessment, in its various forms, is a crucial pillar of education- for better or worse. There are two main types of assessment: formative and summative. Formative is used more fluidly throughout the learning process. In general, formative assessments are meant to be quicker checks for understanding and areas for improvement! Formative assessments can take the form of end-of-chapter quizzes, exit tickets, or even on-the-spot checks for understanding. Formative assessments should inform the teachers of where they can improve teaching as well as inform students of areas for improvement. On the other hand, summative assessments are more formal, end-of-material assessments to specifically measure the students knowledge. Summative assessments are heavier in bulk weight than formative assessments, since they are more concrete final grades or can influence grade promotion. Overall, both formative and summative assessments are critical for measuring students' knowledge and informing educators' teaching process.
