In a balanced assessment system, different types of assessment are used to gather information about students’ learning for different purposes. For example, formative assessments gather information to inform teachers and students’ decisions about ongoing classroom learning. In contrast, summative assessments provide snapshots on students’ performance at the end of a unit or school year to inform decisions such as resource allocation. In this webinar, Dr. Caroline Wylie, research director in the Student and Teacher Research Center at ETS, will discuss the role each type plays in a balanced system and how data can be used to meet each stakeholder’s needs. She will also explore how to promote teachers’ assessment literacy, including key features of low-stakes formative assessments as well as interim and summative assessments.
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