District Assessment Information
Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and curriculum development.
In the field of education, there are 6 types of assessment that is utilized to assist in the improvement of student learning and curriculum development. These 6 types of assessment are:
1. Diagnostic Assessment (as Pre-Assessment)
- One way to think about it: Assesses a student’s strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills prior to instruction.
- Another way to think about it: A baseline to start instruction from.
2. Formative Assessment
- One way to think about it: Assesses a student’s performance during instruction, and usually occurs regularly throughout the instruction process.
- Another way to think about it: Like a doctor’s “check-up” to provide data to revise instruction
3. Summative Assessment
- One way to think about it: Measures a student’s achievement at the end of instruction.
- Another way to think about it: It is an autopsy of learning. After it is over, what went right and what went wrong?
4. Norm-Referenced Assessment
- One way to think about it: Compares a student’s performance against other students (a national group or other “norm”)
- Another way to think about it: Group or “Demographic” assessment
5. Criterion-Referenced Assessment
- One way to think about it: Measures a student’s performance against a goal, specific objective, or standard.
- Another way to think about it: a bar to measure all students against
6. Interim/Benchmark Assessment
- One way to think about it: Evaluates student performance at periodic intervals, frequently at the end of a grading period. Can predict student performance on end-of-the-year summative assessments.
- Another way to think about it: Bar graph growth through a year
The Upper Perkiomen School districts utilizes all forms of assessment to ensure student learning. To learn more about the types and purposes of the assessments given to students at all grade levels, please visit the the District Assessment sub-pages.