Summative Assessment is the term used to describe the final evaluation of learning. It is assessment of learning that has taken place over a span of time. Often, summative assessment comes in the form of unit tests, chapter quizzes, competency tests, and final written works.
Students and instructors still benefit from summative assessment feedback, when instructors deliberately collect data from student work. For example, data collected from rubrics can provide instructors with information on how to better align instruction to course learning outcomes. It can also show us where further teaching may be needed in key areas.
Summative assessments are directly aligned to Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs), which allow Baker College to determine program successes and institutional alignment for higher learning standards. Students' performance on these assessments allow the institution to collect reliable and valid data that best determines how instructors within programs deliver quality instruction. This data is the feedback from students that promotes continuous improvement of programs and quality instruction.
It is important that faculty utilize all associated rubrics embedded within course assessments. To that extent, direct measures provide programs with data that program leaders can analyze more intentionally, and should be used deliberately.