What is the difference between formative and summative assessment in instructional planning?

Formative assessments are tools used during the instructional process to gather feedback on student understanding and progress, enabling instructors to adjust their teaching strategies accordingly. These assessments are designed to provide insights into how well students comprehend the material in real time, allowing for immediate intervention when necessary. Their primary purpose is to identify areas where students may need additional support or clarification.

Summative assessments, on the other hand, are typically administered at the end of an instructional period, such as after a unit or course, to evaluate and measure overall student learning against predetermined standards or objectives. These assessments provide conclusive data about what students have learned and can inform decisions about their readiness to progress to the next stage of education or mastery of subject matter.

While the choice about feedback and progression touches on the essential functions of formative and summative assessments, it's particularly important to understand that formative assessments aim to enhance learning during the teaching process, whereas summative assessments evaluate learning outcomes after instruction has concluded. This distinction highlights the role of formative assessments as a proactive tool for improvement, compared to the retrospective nature of summative assessments.