Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. (2021, October 6). Formative and Summative Assessment. https://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/assessment-and-evaluation/assessment-overview/

First, formative assessment refers to tools that can help to identify learning gaps along the way (Lowa State University, n.d.) and help teachers to adjust their teaching strategies while they teach. In another words, teachers can know how students learned so far by using formative assessments. Typical formative assessments usually include I-Clicker question that took in the class; short quizzes or short reflection writing assignment. However, it takes more time than summative assessment. Which resulted a less time for teaching (Education for Equity, 2019).

In contrast, summative assessments refer to tools that can evaluate student learning, knowledge after a period, a course, or program (Lowa State University, n.d.). And it often heavily weighted, due to the summative assessments are measuring students’ overall knowledge, and it is compared against a standard (Education for Equity, 2019). For example, final project, final exams both belongs to summative assessments. Students can realize their weak area by taking this type of assessment. Comparing with formative assessment, summative assessments can help instructors to indicate whether the teaching was effective, and understand which topics need more attention in the next term. But, this summative assessments happened too late in the educational process, so that instructors unable to make adjustment as soon as possible(Lynch, 2021). On the other hand, it may foster a “teach to the test” mindset to students.

References:

6 Types of Assessment (and How to Use Them). (2021, September 24). Prodigy Education. https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/types-of-assessment/

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. (2021, October 6). Formative and Summative Assessment. https://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/assessment-and-evaluation/assessment-overview/

Info, E. (2019, October 22). Summative Assessments vs Formative Assessments | Online Course. Education for Equity.https://education4equity.com/about/resources-for-teachers/summative-assessments-vs-formative-assessments-in-teaching/