Formal and Informal Assessment Comparison Chart

Definition and Purpose

Definition and Purpose

Definition

Formal assessments are assessments that are data driven that can have a conclusion about a student at the end with supported statistics. Most of these assessments are standardized measured. An example of this would be any assessment that determines a student’s grade after a unit or course.

Definition

Informal assessments are assessments that are not data driven instead they are driven based on performance and content. These assessments are used to observe and evaluate the student’s learning. An example of these assessments would be lesson based assignments or quizzes.

Purpose

Informal assessments help plan instruction for the future by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of students. It aids in planning student work groups and individual support. Its purpose also lets a teacher know whether or not instruction is being delivered at the necessary pace.

Purpose

Formal assessments use data that supports the conclusions made from the test. Formal assessments can also be referred to as standardized measures. These tests use the data to analyze situations such as a students reading below average for his or her age. The data from these tests is mathematically computed and summarized. The results or scores are usually given as percentiles, stanines, or standard scores. These types of tests should be used to assess overall achievement or to compare a student’s performance with another student of the same age or grade.

Formal and Informal

Similarities and Differences

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Formal assessments can reveal the performance level of both the teacher and the student, this helps address accountability with concrete data. A formal assessment can provide specific data that will allow the teacher to provide the adequate level of intervention needed for a struggling student.

Strengths

Informal assessments can be conducted in a whole group setting, which will allow the teacher to be able to save time. They can be done through observations, students are not aware they are being tested, which is good for students that tend to get nervous during tests. Informal assessments also yield immediata data, which can be then used that same day when pulling for small groups or when reteaching.

Similarities

Formal and Informal assessments can be used to form and modify instruction.

Formal and Informal assessments measure reading levels, instructional needs, strengths and weaknesses, and comprehension.

Formal and Informal assessments provide student’s results.

Formal and Informal assessments can be used to determine mastery of specific skills

Formal Assessments

Informal Assessments

Weaknesses

Formal assessments may cause students to answer incorrectly based on wording and poor knowledge of content. Students may have added stress because of the pressures put on formal testing in schools today. Students’ scores are compared to other students and not compared to their previous knowledge or abilities.

Weaknesses

Informal assessment can be subjective, have unreliable variables in administration, evaluation, and interpretation. It can be difficult to relate the information. Students may not take the assessment process seriously as opposed to a standardized or unit test so data might be construed. Informal assessment can be time consuming depending on the type of assessment used.

Differences

Informal assessments are typically content and performance driven.

Informal assessments give immediate feedback.

Informal assessments are administered more often.

Informal assessments are given in more various ways.

Informal assessment results are more difficult to use in order to compare year by year reports.

Formal assessments are administered less frequently.

Formal assessment results are compared to either other students’ results or a standard/criterion that is being met.

Formal assessment provide a wider, more concrete view to compare students, classes, grade levels, and school years, not individual student progress.

Uses in Classrooms

(Weaver, 2015)

Long and Short Answer Tests are used to test subjects. For a long answer test the student will be given a subject and then they will be instructed to expand on the topic by creating an argument that builds on and is supported by proof. Normally this is done in an essay form. These assessments use critical thinking instead of memorization.

Short-answer tests, the student will answer a question with a few sentences, rather than a full essay. Multiple choice exams are a simple form of assessment in which the student taking a test is expected to select the correct answer from a list that also includes several wrong choices.

Problem-solving tests can take many forms, from simple math tests where the student must solve formulas to more detailed assessments where people are expected to evaluate a situational problem and develop or select an appropriate solution.

Observational Assessments can be used in the classroom. This may involve the teacher watching the student perform a task or assessing his or her behavior in the classroom.

(Stuart, n.d.)

Portfolios are a great assessment tool that shows a students progress over time. They are very useful to students, teachers and parents because they show all of the students work over a certain time period. They show how the student has improved and/or where they may need help.

Written samples are a type of written work that students create to show their comprehension of a particular concept being taught. Written samples can take many forms. Essays are the most common.

Project-based assignments are a type of assignment that is usually quite extensive and allows the student to show off his or her accomplishments in a variety of ways. The student can create a project of some sort that illustrates his or her understanding of what they have learned over a period of time

(Greaver, n.d.)

Formal and Informal Assessment Comparison Chart

References

Formal vs. Informal Assessments. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2018, from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/formal-vs-informal-assessments/

Greaver, J. (n.d.). Informal Assessments in the Classroom: Examples & Types. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/informal-assessments-in-the-classroom-examples-types-quiz.

Stuart, J. (n.d.). Types of Formal Assessments in Education. Retrieved from https://classroom.synonym.com/types-formal-assessments-education-4208.html

The Access Center . (n.d.). Early Reading Assessment: A Guiding Tool for Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/early-reading-assessment-guiding-tool-instruction

Weaver, Brenda. (2015). Formal vs. informal assessment. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/formal-versus-informal-assessments

Taylor Boling, Susana Conforti, Tonya Hooker, Tori Labombard and Alaina Thigpen

Learning Team A

Professor Piper

RDG 415

March 5, 2018