Explain the difference between "formative" and "summative" assessments.

Formative assessments and summative assessments serve different purposes in the educational process. Formative assessments are ongoing checks that occur during the instructional process. They are designed to monitor student learning and provide immediate feedback to both instructors and students, allowing for adjustments in teaching strategies and learning techniques. This continuous feedback loop helps identify areas where students may need additional support or enrichment while the instruction is still taking place.

In contrast, summative assessments are conducted at the end of an instructional unit and are designed to evaluate and measure student learning, understanding, and proficiency. These assessments summarize the performance of students after the learning process has completed, providing a comprehensive overview of their knowledge and skills acquired throughout the unit.

The distinction lies in their timing and purpose: formative assessments focus on improvement during the learning process, while summative assessments focus on measuring what has been learned after instruction has finished.