HomeInquiryCalm the Testing Qualms Annmarie July 23, 2014 Dear Ed Inquiry, I am a new high school teacher, and although I think I have a grasp on the concept of formative vs. summative assessments, I am experiencing some anxiety about what they look like in the classroom. There is so much buzz about students being over-tested, and I certainly don’t want to add to that problem. Can you point me to resources that will help clarify my confusion? Thanks in advance, Calm the Testing Qualms Dear Calm the Testing Qualms, Don’t feel bad! Even experienced teachers get formative and summative assessments muddled from time to time. I like to take the beginning of each word to keep it straight in my head: form – conceive; develop; acquire sum – composite; total; overall As an educator, I want to form my students’ minds, help them develop into self-motivated learners, and acquire knowledge and skills in engaging ways. More importantly, it is how I use the results that matter most. Formative assessments are worthless if the teacher doesn’t use the information gathered to drive further instruction. However, summative assessments are definitely a part of the current educational culture, so it is important to know how to assess learning after all the formation is complete. Check out these great resources to help you get a handle on it all: http://conversationed.com/2014/02/19/a-chat-about-formative-assessment/ http://www.edudemic.com/summative-and-formative-assessments/ http://community.prometheanplanet.com/en/blog/b/blog/archive/2012/03/20/10-creative-and-quick-classroom-assessments.aspx#.U85d6VZN1uY On a final note, choose and use your classroom assessments wisely. Don’t let any of them become a “hit it and quit it” measure or a filler for your grade book! When the students see that there is value in what you are asking them to do, they will be less likely to grumble! Just make sure to use summative assessments sparingly. In our opinion, formative assessments are way more valuable! Good luck as you enter your first year! We have a feeling you will be fantastic because you are asking the right questions! Sincerely, Ed Inquiry Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Name* Email* Website Comment Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.