formative vs. summative assessments

I really enjoyed reading this blog (ageoflearning.blogspot.com), but I have never thought of assessments in that way. To make it simple, all formative assessments (Homework, class participation, quizzes, small activities and other forms of student performance) should be considered “feedback” and shouldn’t have grades attached and all summative assessments(Unit tests, major projects, some labs and the final exam) and should have grades attached.

Formative assessments are for growth and should measure student’s progress. Summative assessments are for mastery of content which should be preceded in many formative assessments. If you think about it, teachers have been doing this forever with the exception of assigning grades to formative assessments. Teachers usually give a quiz or test to measure the students’ progress and are suppose to adjust or adapt the material to build on students’ current knowledge or mastered skills, but the actual “feedback” subsides with the perception of student accountability. The teacher typically assumes the student will attend to his/her own need to re-examine unlearned or non-mastered skills. Therefore, the teacher moves on to the next skill with no feedback and/or no re-teaching.

I say, “why not do both.” I believe teachers should give grades as well as feedback as a guide and to enhance students desire to reach their own potential and beyond. I think the combination of the two practices would give the students a visual representation of how much work is needed and a guided direction to go in. I personally want to see the number and proper feedback because I need to know what I’m striving for and how to get their.