Testing in Schools Is Not About Passing or Failing, It's About Learning! by Pepi Silverman

Any conversation about schools evokes the word “testing," triggering parental concerns that their kids are loosing invaluable learning time. There are two types of assessments, formative and summative. Summative assessments are given at the conclusion of instruction to measure outcomes. Formative assessment refers to the process students and teachers engage in when they:

• focus on learning goals
• take stock of current work in relation to the goal
• take action to move closer to the goal

It begins with what good work "looks like;" the teacher describes, explains or demonstrates what will be taught in order to put content into students' hands and helps to “inform” the instruction to be presented to the students. When testing guides instruction, learning is achieved.