Assessment timing and purpose

Last week we discussed assessments. Let's review -

3 of the most common types of assessments are diagnostic, formative, and evaluative:

• Diagnostic assessments are typically used before training to determine a gap or knowledge level. 
• Formative assessments are typically used during training to determine a gap or knowledge level.
• Summative assessments are typically used at the end of training to determine the level of knowledge or understanding.

Notice one of the biggest differences is how and when the assessment is used? Now let's consider a real-world example. Before you can take your first college-level class, you will probably need to take a placement exam of some sort. This is a Diagnostic assessment that can determine your knowledge level and whether you will be able to perform at the college level. Once you begin taking the class, there will be assessments throughout the course. They may be in the form of quizzes, assignments, or other projects. These are Formative assessments, which measure as you progress through the course. Once you reach the end of the course, there will likely be a final exam or project, which is a Summative assessment.

Now let's consider the timing and potential use of each type of assessment.

Diagnostic assessments are typically done before training begins. This can be used for several purposes, such as getting a baseline for reference on the student's progress. It can be used to ensure the student is capable of performing at an adequate level to keep up with the course materials. It can also be used as a needs analysis so that the training can be customized to focus on gaps or deficiencies.

Formative assessments are typically done during training and can be thought of as a progress report. When training in chunked into smaller pieces, formative assessment can evaluate how well the student learned the information in that chunk. This can be used for a lot of different purposes as well. Needs analysis is a common use for this type of assessment, but training feedback is another. This allows the trainer to see how effective the training is, and make adjustments to the material or delivery. This can also be indicative of other problems that may require intervention, such as a learning disability or other barriers to learning the material.

Summative assessments are done when the training is complete and are typically used to see how well the student has learned the material now that the training is over. This is usually a comprehensive assessment that covers the entire scope of the class, and not just the individual chunks that the formative assessments use. This is often at a higher level of Bloom's taxonomy than formative assessments, as the learner will often have to demonstrate a skill or application of the information.