Comparing Assessments
formative and summative assessments
Key Ideas from Assesment for Learning video
- Student lead learning
- Teacher's role is a guide and coach, not lecturer.
- Check for understanding and give the students tools to problem solve and further their understanding.
Using formative assessment every step of the way. Example are:
- Ending lesson with evaluative questions.
- Two stars and a wish: Two things students understand, and one they wish they knew better.
- Checklist that sto upport student feedback to each other.
- Green, Yellow, and Red to help determine how well students understand content. Green= good understanding, Yellow= needs some more information, Red= I am lost.
Rystad, M. (2013, April 7). Assessment for learning [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcLMlY6R7RM
My own ideas about formative and summative assessments
There is a place in the classroom for both formative and summative assessments. Teachers need to know what students know in order to move forward (formative assessment). They also need a way to check what students have learned (summative assessments).
I think that informal formative assessments need to be done by the teacher almost at a constant bases. This means that the teacher is always looking for understanding, and information that will help them guide the student's learning. The more the teacher knows and understands about where the students are at in their learning and understanding the better they will be able to support them.
Summative assessments are apart of the learning process, there has to be a way to see how much a student has learned. Standardized test are a form of summative assessments. Although now with all that is riding on the the standardize testing, it has been placed in the spotlight of focus in the classroom when it should be on the back burner.
I think that informal formative assessments need to be done by the teacher almost at a constant bases. This means that the teacher is always looking for understanding, and information that will help them guide the student's learning. The more the teacher knows and understands about where the students are at in their learning and understanding the better they will be able to support them.
Summative assessments are apart of the learning process, there has to be a way to see how much a student has learned. Standardized test are a form of summative assessments. Although now with all that is riding on the the standardize testing, it has been placed in the spotlight of focus in the classroom when it should be on the back burner.
How both formative and summative assessments could be implemented to create an effective classroom environment
formative assessment through circle time
In my future classroom of preschoolers I will use formative assessment twice a day in opening circle time and closing circle time. This will be a time where I introduce new ideas and use opened ended questions to see where the students interest and curiosity will lead the learning. I will also use this time and open ended questions to check for understanding in my students.
formative assessment through interation with my students
Center time is also another great way to do a formative assessment. While the students are playing and working in centers go around and interact with the students in the centers. Again use open ended questions to check for the level of understanding, and see where they need more practice. Example: in the art center ask the students to identify the color of crayons or paint they are using. T
Summative assessments in preschool classroom
Preschool students do not take standardized bubble test that older students take, but summative assessments are still important to document what students have learned. At this level it can be a portfolio of the students work that shows their progress throughout the year, or the teacher can sit down with each student and go through a series of questions such as "What sound does the letter A make?" and " What color is this circle?" The student's answers can be recorded and used to measure the student's understanding.