Nov. 18 Class

We did not have class today, but reading through the syllabus, I noticed we are supposed to blog about 5 different assessment types we would use and how we would use them. Formative assessment happens during the instruction. This can be used in my future classroom by asking students questions during the lecture or presentation. Also, this can be seen through the students doing worksheets during the lessons and the teacher walking around and checking to see the student’s progress.
Summative assessment provides documentation of the students learning at particular points in time. This usually happens at the end of a unit study. This could be used in my future classroom by giving the students a test at the end of a unit to see what knowledge they have gained about the subject matter that we have been learning, like a science unit.
Informal assessment is often embedded in instruction and sometimes are not scored or graded. I would use this in my classroom when we are going over a new subject and I have the students complete a worksheet during class time, but with my help. I wouldn't grade the worksheet, but I would want them to complete it so I could see if they understand the material we are covering.
Formal assessment is typically announced to students as such, is scored, and is graded. Again, this would be used to assess the students at the end of a unit or a point in time in which I would want to grade the students work I would use this with a mid-exam halfway through the unit to make sure the students are understanding the material before the final exam, or it could be their final exam that I will be graded. But, the students will be given a warning so they know to study if they need to. Lastly, an embedded assessment is something I would use. This occurs within and is often indistinguishable from instruction. I would use this during my day to day class lectures because as I go through the lesson I can be asking my students questions about what we are learning to assess whether or not they are understanding the content. The students don't realize they are being assessed, but they are being asked questions that help me as the teacher find out what I need to recover and what they understand. These are the five assessment types that I would use and how I would use them within my classroom.

Source: Abell, S.K & Volkmann, M.J. (2006). Seamless assessment in Science. A guide for elementary and middle school teachers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.