What distinguishes a formative assessment from a summative assessment?

Formative assessments are characterized by their ongoing nature throughout the training process. They are designed to monitor student learning and provide continuous feedback that can be used by instructors to improve teaching and by students to enhance their learning. This type of assessment focuses on the developmental aspects of learning, allowing educators to identify areas where students may be struggling and to adjust instruction accordingly.

In contrast, summative assessments typically occur at the conclusion of an instructional unit and are intended to evaluate student learning against a benchmark or standard, often measuring whether the learning objectives have been met. The goal of summative assessments is to judge the overall effectiveness of the training or education program, rather than to guide ongoing improvement.

The ongoing nature of formative assessments not only helps in keeping the learning process adaptive and responsive but also fosters an environment where students can continuously reflect on their performance and make improvements in real-time. This immediate feedback loop is crucial to characterizing formative assessments uniquely from summative assessments.