Question

Compare and contrast formative evaluation and summative evaluation in the development of a new medication alert system.

Answer 1

Formative Evaluation:

1. Formative evaluation is used during the teaching learning process to monitor the learning process.
2. Formative evaluation is developmental in nature. The aim of this evaluation is to improve student’s learning and teacher’s teaching.
3. Generally teacher made tests are used for this purpose.
4. The test items are prepared for limited content area.
5. It helps to know to what extent the instructional objectives have been achieved.
6. It provides feed-back to the teacher to modify the methods and to prescribe remedial works.
7. Only few skills can be tested in this evaluation.
8. It is a continuous and regular process.
9. It considers evaluation as a process.
10. It answers to the question, whether the progress of the pupils in a unit is successful?

Summative Evaluation:

1. Summative evaluation is used after the course completion to assign the grades.
2. Summative evaluation is terminal in nature. Its purpose is to evaluate student’s achievement.
3. Generally standardized tests are used for the purpose.
4. The tests items are prepared from the whole content area.
5. It helps to judge the appropriateness of the instructional objectives.
6. It helps the teacher to know the effectiveness of the instructional procedure.
7. Large number of skills can be tested in this evaluation.
8. It is not regular and continuous process.
9. It considers evaluation as a product.
10. It answers to the question, the degree to which the students have mastered the course content.