Formative vs. Summative Assessments

Guiding Questions

How do I use assessment to inform my planning?
How do I ensure that grades in my class match the learning students have demonstrated?

NOTE: The term "formative assessment" is used incorrectly in BCPS, in which "Formative Assessment" is 50% of a student's grade. Instead, think of the "Formative" Category as "short-term" or "minor" summative assessments.

Everywhere in the education world EXCEPT BCPS: Formative assessment refers to LOW STAKES (usually ungraded) checks for understanding that inform the student and the teacher about progress towards a learning goal
- - - Examples: A warm up, a fist to five, a teacher circulating and listening to student conversation, a specific question on a worksheet that is worth very little in a gradebook, a white board activity.
BCPS: "Formative Assessment" is used to refer to short term or minor summative assessments.

Formative vs. Summative Assessment

Assessment is "information gathering" about students' learning.

Formative Assessment is when teachers collect information about student learning in order to provide feedback and improve instruction moving forward so that student learning will increase.

***In the world of sports, formative assessment is called "practice," and the goal of practice is for the coach (teacher) to help the players improve.***

Summative Assessment is when teachers evaluate student understanding and hold them accountable for their learning after they have had a chance to practice and receive feedback on their work.

*** In sports, summative assessment is the "game," and the goal is for athletes (students) to use what they learned in practice to maximize performance.***

Formative vs. Summative Assessments and Grading

The term "formative assessment" is used incorrectly in BCPS literature, in which "Formative Assessment" is 50% of a student's grade. Instead, think of the "Formative" Category as "short-term" or "minor" summative assessments.

When assigning grades:

TEACHERS SHOULD NOT BE GRADING STUDENT "PRACTICE" FOR ACCURACY.
Assignments given for practice should be labeled as classwork/participation assignments
Students DO need to be held accountable for their learning with regular summative assessments.

See the chart below for more details:

Sources:

Schimmer, T. (2016). Grading from the inside out : bringing accuracy to student assessment through a standards-based mindset. Solution Tree Press, a division of Solution Tree.

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