To Test or
Not to Test?
...that is the
question!
By: Sandy Church and Linda Lerch
That’s not the real
question…
The real question is…
Why do we test? And why use
formative assessments?
Today’s Objectives
• Communicate the importance of
formative assessment
• Distinguish between formative,
benchmark, and summative
assessment
• Share with others how formative
assessment fits into a balanced
assessment system
What Are The Key Words?
Formative assessment is a process
used by teachers and students, during
instruction, that provides feedback to
adjust ongoing teaching and learning
to improve students’ achievement of
intended instructional outcomes.
What is Our Goal?
•To provide evidence that will
guide and inform daily
instruction
•To actively involve all students
in the teaching/learning process
•To narrow the achievement gap
between low and high achievers
Formative Assessments
•Assessments to drive / inform instruction
•Assessments for learning
•Gives descriptive feedback to students about their
learning
•NOT GRADED…Not used as accountability
How often do we use this type of
assessment?
Daily
Weekly
During instruction
Who uses these results?
Teachers
Students
Parents (when applicable)
What are Some Examples
Whiteboards
Response cards
Personal response systems
Whole class discussion
Observations
Teacher / student conference
Thumbs up – Thumbs down
PDSA quiz (if not graded)
Benchmark Assessments
Used to determine how much learning has taken place
up to a particular point in time
•Used to identify learning issues for targeted groups
•Used to assign grades and communicate progress
•May determine how well a program / strategies /
curriculum is working
How often do we use this type of
assessment?
Given periodically throughout the year
Between and among instructional units
Who uses these results?
School Leaders
District Officials
Curriculum Specialists
Teachers
Students and Parents
PLCs
What are Some Examples
PAs
CFAs
PDSA Quiz (if graded)
Quarterly Writing
K-2 Literacy
Weekly Test
Summative Assessments
•Annual “snapshots” of learning
•Shows evidence of student learning for the year
•Determine the effectiveness of instruction,
strategies, or curriculum
How often do we use this type of
assessment?
Annually
Bi-annually
As close to the end of year
End of unit study
Who uses these results?
School Board Members
Legislators
District Staff
Teachers
Students and Parents
PLCs
What are Some Examples
Unit Tests
EOG
K-2 Last Quarter PA
Any Cumulative Final Assessment (End of Year)
Components Of A Balanced
Assessment System
• Formative Assessments
• Benchmark Assessments
• Summative Assessments
Where am I Going?
NC FALCON
North Carolina’s Formative Assessment
Learning Community’s Online Network
•To provide North Carolina teachers with a basic
understanding of formative assessment and illustrate the role
it should play in a comprehensive, balanced assessment
system
•A comprehensive, balanced assessment system includes
formative assessment, interim/benchmark assessments, and
statewide assessments that are aligned to state standards.
•Formative assessment is an essential component of this
system because it forms the foundation of teaching and
learning and should occur more often than any other
assessment.
•In contrast to summative assessment, formative assessment
is focused on collaboration in the classroom and identifying
learning gaps during instruction that can be addressed before
end-of-year, summative assessments.
•The activities teachers will be asked to complete during the
modules include the following:
•reflect upon current practice using digital journals
•observe other teachers using formative assessment
•practice implementing formative assessment in the
classroom
•develop and implement formative assessment plans,
and post comments in the online Professional
Learning Community (PLC)
NC FALCON is intended to serve as a primer for teachers
to learn more about the impact formative assessment can
have on their instruction and help their students achieve
targeted learning goals. Whether a beginning or seasoned
teacher, the NC FALCON formative assessment modules
provide a solid framework on which to build effective
formative assessment practices in the classroom.
Implementing these strategies provides feedback to
adjust ongoing teaching and learning that will improve
students’ achievement of intended instructional
outcomes.
NC Falcon’s 5 Modules
• 1. Importance of Formative Assessment
• 2. Clear Learning Targets
• 3. Collecting and Documenting
Evidence
• 4. Analyzing Evidence and Descriptive
Feedback
• 5. Administrator's Role in Formative
Assessment
LEA Formative
Assessment
Committee
Participate in the
Process of the
Online Module
DPI Models
Process for LEA
Formative
Assessment
Committee
DPI and LEA
Discuss the
Monitoring and
Evaluation Process
Now For A
Self-Assessment Activity
• Categorize different types of assessments
into 3 different columns on the next slide.
• Use your mouse and click on a description
box, drag to the correct column and click
again.
• When you are finished go to the next slide to
see how well you know about assessments.
• We will check these as a Share Out at the
end.
Self-Assessment Activity
Formative
Student Reflections/
Journals
Benchmark
Summative
English Language
Teacher or Textbook
Proficiency Test
Quizzes, Tests
End of Unit Test
Vocabulary Quiz
Questioning
Interviews
9 Weeks or Quarterly
Assessments
Mid-term Assessments
Discussions
Graded Role Play
Writing Tests
Technology Test
Teacher-Student
Conference
Teacher Observations
NC End-of-Grade
NC End-of-Course
Descriptive Feedback
Un-graded Classwork
or Homework
Learning Activities
Self-Assessment Activity
Formative
Questioning
Interviews
Benchmark
Teacher or Textbook
Quizzes, Tests
Summative
NC End-of-Grade
Discussions
Student Reflections/
Journals
Vocabulary Quiz
NC End-of-Course
Learning Activities
Un-graded Classwork
or Homework
Graded Role Play
Writing Tests
Mid-term Assessments
Technology Test
9 Weeks or Quarterly
Assessments
English Language
Descriptive Feedback Teacher Observations
Teacher-Student
Conference
End of Unit Test
Proficiency Test
So…How did you do? The correct answers do not have to be
in a particular order but they must be under the correct
category.
Reflection
• We value your feedback
• Exit card today will be to post
Plus/Delta feedback