What is the Difference Between Formative and Summative Evaluation?

The main difference between formative and summative evaluation lies in their purpose and timing. Here is a comparison of the two types of evaluation:

Formative Evaluation:

• Purpose: To monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback to improve outcomes.
• Timing: Conducted during the development or improvement of a program or course.
• Goal: Improve outcomes by identifying strengths and weaknesses and targeting areas that need work.
• Examples: Concept maps, one-minute papers, research proposals for early feedback.

Summative Evaluation:

• Purpose: To evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against a standard or benchmark.
• Timing: Conducted at the conclusion of a program or course.
• Goal: Describe what happened and measure "how much" a student has learned after a unit or course.
• Examples: Midterm exams, final projects, papers, senior recitals.

In summary, formative evaluation focuses on providing feedback for improvement and is conducted during the development or improvement of a program or course, while summative evaluation assesses the overall effectiveness of a program or course at its conclusion. Both types of evaluation serve different purposes and should be used in tandem to monitor and improve learning outcomes.

Comparative Table: Formative vs Summative Evaluation

Here is a table comparing the differences between formative and summative evaluation:

In summary, formative evaluation is an ongoing process that provides feedback to improve outcomes, while summative evaluation assesses the final outcomes and effectiveness of a program.