Formative and Summative Evaluation

Introduction

The purpose of formative evaluation is to gather information to understand strengths and weaknesses in order to improve teaching and learning. Summative evaluation assesses achievement with an end in mind such as a grade. The sites below compare these two forms of evaluation and offer examples of each.

General Resources

The Assessment of Teaching and Learning (University of North Florida, Office of Faculty Enhancement).
Useful discussion, with examples, of formative and summative evaluation measures.
http://www.unf.edu/ofe/teaching_learning/Assessment.aspx

The Teaching Doctor (Office of Health Sciences Education, Queens University, Ca).
Scroll down to Spring 2008 for a full issue devoted to formative and summative assessment: what, why, techniques, and examples of formative assessment.
http://healthsci.queensu.ca/education/ohse/teaching_resources/newsletters

Evaluation for Distance Educators (University of Idaho, Engineering Outreach).
Click on "Types of Evaluation" for a concise summary of formative versus summative evaluations plus examples of each that would be useful for in-class courses as well as distance education.
http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/eo/dist4.html

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