EDU 405
Assignment 1
Solution
Spring 2023
Q1: Exemplify the concepts of formative assessment and
summative assessment. Also, which type of assessment do you think should be
increased or decreased at school level? Discuss with justification. (2+3+2+3=10
Marks)
Answer:
Formative Assessment:
Formative assessment is an ongoing process that
takes place during the learning process. It involves gathering information
about students' understanding, progress, and areas of improvement to provide
feedback and guide instruction. The primary focus of formative assessment is to
support and enhance learning. Examples of formative assessment include
classroom discussions, questioning, quizzes, peer feedback, self-assessment,
and teacher observations. Formative assessment helps teachers identify
students' strengths and weaknesses, adapt teaching strategies, and provide
timely interventions to promote growth and learning.
Summative Assessment:
Summative assessment occurs at the end of a
learning period and aims to evaluate students' overall achievement and learning
outcomes. It typically involves assessing students' knowledge, skills, and
understanding through tests, exams, projects, or assignments. Summative
assessments are used to determine grades, rank students, or evaluate the effectiveness
of instructional programs. The primary purpose of summative assessment is to
make judgments about students' performance at a specific point in time.
Regarding the balance of assessments at the
school level, both formative and summative assessments have their value and
serve different purposes. It is important to maintain a balance between the two
types to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of student learning.
Justifications:
1.
Formative
Assessment:
·
It provides
ongoing feedback to students, allowing them to monitor their progress and make
improvements along the way. It helps students identify their strengths and
areas where they need to focus more effort.
·
Provides
valuable information to teachers, enabling them to adjust their teaching strategies,
tailor instruction to individual student needs, and provide timely
interventions. This promotes personalized learning and helps students achieve
their full potential.
·
Fosters
a learning-oriented environment where mistakes and growth are valued. Students
are encouraged to take risks, reflect on their learning, and develop a growth
mindset.
2.
Summative
Assessment:
·
Summative
assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of students' overall
understanding and mastery of concepts. It helps determine the extent to which
students have achieved the desired learning outcomes and provides a basis for
accountability.
·
It allows
for standardized comparisons among students, classes, or schools. It helps
identify high-achieving students, measure academic progress, and provide
valuable data for educational research and policy decisions
·
It can
prepare students for higher education or future careers, where similar
assessments are often used for admission or employment decisions.
Q2: Describe with relevant examples that how Norm-referenced
assessment is different form Criterion-referenced assessment? Also explain,
which type of assessment is better and why? (2+3+2+3=10 Marks)
Answer:
Norm-referenced assessment and criterion-referenced
assessment are two distinct approaches used in educational and psychological
assessments. They differ in terms of their focus, interpretation, and the way
scores are assigned.
Norm-referenced assessment:
Norm-referenced assessment compares an individual's
performance to the performance of a norm group or reference population. The
norm group typically consists of a large sample of individuals who have
previously taken the same test. The scores obtained by the norm group serve as
the basis for interpreting an individual's performance relative to others.
Example:
Standardized Tests Consider a standardized test like the SAT or GRE. The scores
obtained by test takers are compared to the performance of a reference group to
determine percentiles or rankings. These percentiles indicate how an
individual's performance compares to the norm group, providing a relative
understanding of their standing.
Criterion-referenced assessment:
Criterion-referenced assessment focuses on
measuring an individual's performance against a predefined set of criteria or
standards. The emphasis is on determining whether the individual has achieved
specific learning objectives or skills, rather than comparing their performance
to others.
Example: In
education, rubrics are often used for criterion-referenced assessment. A rubric
defines specific criteria and performance levels for assignments or projects.
Students are assessed based on their achievement of these criteria, regardless
of the performance of their peers. For example, a rubric may assess an essay
based on grammar, content, organization, and other specific criteria.
Which type of assessment is better:
Determining which type of assessment is better
depends on the context and purpose of the assessment. Both approaches serve
distinct purposes.
Norm-referenced assessments are valuable when
there is a need to compare individuals' performance or establish rankings. They
are commonly used in standardized tests for college admissions or evaluating
job applicants. Norm-referenced assessments provide a relative understanding of
an individual's performance compared to others in the norm group.
Criterion-referenced assessments are more
suitable when the focus is on determining whether an individual has achieved
specific learning objectives or skills. They are often used in educational
settings to measure mastery of content or skills. Criterion-referenced
assessments provide a clear indication of an individual's proficiency in
relation to predetermined criteria.
The choice of assessment type depends on the
goals and objectives of the assessment. Norm-referenced assessments are useful
for making relative comparisons, while criterion-referenced assessments provide
information about mastery of specific criteria. It's important to align the
assessment approach with the intended purpose to ensure meaningful and accurate
results.
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