Answer to Question #299003 in Psychology for hlabo

Question

Which of the questions used in planning credible formal assessments is most 

Important because it determines most other decisions?

a) Where, when, and how will assessment(s) take place (during the lesson, after the 

lesson, at home) and why?

b) What is the purpose of this assessment (what should learners be able to 

demonstrate – knowledge, skills, values); and with what curriculum content and 

objectives/learning intentions contained in curriculum documents for your subject 

is the assessment aligned?

c) Who is going to conduct the assessment (teacher assessment, self-assessment,

peer assessment) and why?

d) None of the above.

Answer 1

b) What is the purpose of this assessment (what should learners be able to 

demonstrate – knowledge, skills, values); and with what curriculum content and 

objectives/learning intentions contained in curriculum documents for your subject 

is the assessment aligned?

What Is a Formal Assessment?

Student learning is the main purpose of education systems, so it is essential for educators and school systems to find methods to ensure students are learning everything they need to in a grade level and content area. This is where formal assessments are crucial. Formal assessment refers to tests that are systematic, pre-planned methods to test students' learning of the material that has been taught in the classroom or in other areas. Formal assessments can take several different forms, from standardized tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, etc.) needed for admission to university programs to program tests or essay tests that teachers can use in a class to gauge student learning. Formal assessments can serve a variety of purposes:

Highlighting gaps in student learning and areas that need to be explained further

Identifying an individual student's strengths and weaknesses compared to other students

Measuring the amount of knowledge that students have retained from what they have been taught

Providing a way to compare achievement among students in the classroom, district, and nation

 

Formal Assessment Examples

 

Formal assessments can come in different forms, but all serve the purpose of providing an analysis of students' learning. Some common specific types of formal assessments are:

Achievement tests, which assess the level at which a student is learning

Aptitude tests, which assess a student's skills in a certain area or profession

Criterion-referenced tests, which assess how well a student is learning to meet certain standards

Norm-referenced tests, which assess how well a student is learning compared to peers

Standardized tests, which assess student learning based on a standard of learning

 

Types of Formal Assessments

While there are a variety of specific types of formal assessments, there are four main types or categories of formal assessments:

Standardized tests

Program tests

Essay tests

Criterion-referenced tests

Each type of test serves a different purpose for assessing student learning and collecting data.

Standardized Tests

Standardized tests are formal assessments that assess students based on a standard of learning that is the same across large sets of students. Standardized tests sometimes take place across a district, such as district common assessments in a particular subject area, or across a state, such as grade-level tests in subject areas. Most people are more familiar with nation-wide standardized tests that are commonly used by colleges, universities, and other programs to determine whether a student meets basic entry requirements.

ACT (American College Testing)

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)

GRE (Graduate Records Examination)

Praxis (examinations for certifying teachers)

SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)

Commonly used bubble sheet for standardized tests

 

Program Tests

Program tests are teacher-made assessments that measure student learning of a concept, lesson, or unit. They are usually unique to a teacher or class and use a rubric to ensure equal grading. One of the benefits of using a program test rather than a standardized test is that program tests can be tailored to assess learning objectives the teacher has created for the class.

Some examples of program tests are:

Class presentations

Class projects

Multiple-choice exams

Quizzes

 

Essay Tests

Essay tests are assessments that measure student learning based on a student's written product to demonstrate the student's thought processes. This can take a lot of different forms, and essay tests often fit into the category of program tests as well though standardized tests may also include essay test portions.

Stand-alone essay tests include:

Book reports

Lab reports

Student journals

Term papers

 

Criterion-Referenced Tests

Criterion-referenced tests assess student learning to see if it meets a pre-determined specific goal or criterion. These tests typically result in a ''pass'' or ''fail'' rather than just a percentage grade, score, or other scale. Criterion-referenced tests are used in a variety of different situations, sometimes in educational settings and sometimes outside of this.

Some examples of criterion-referenced tests are:

AP (Advanced Placement) exams

Driving school road tests

Gifted tests

 

Reference

 

https://study.com/learn/lesson/formal-assessment-examples-types.html