Basic Assessment Definitions
Assessment
Assessment Definitions
 
 
     
Assessment Definitions

The following list of definitions provides an introduction to assessment terminology.

 
Learner Outcomes
The knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students should demonstrate by the end of their programs.
 
Assessment Matrix
A tool used to provide a visual representation of curricular coherence by plotting where each student outcome is introduced, revisited, formatively assessed and summatively assessed.
 
Formative Evaluation
Assessment during the ongoing teaching-learning process.
  • Refers to the learner's progress toward realizing student outcomes
  • Occurs frequently throughout the program, course, and module/unit
  • Used to continually monitor the progress of students, to provide feedback to students, and to determine how well the student is achieving the learning process so that improvement can be made in the teaching-learning process

Formative evaluation may include assessment of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains.
 
Summative Evaluation
Assessment occurring at the end of a designated period of learning.
  • i.e., end of a program.
  • Refers to the extent and degree to which the specified student outcomes have been attained.

Summative evaluation may include assessment of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains.

Cognitive Domain

  • Deals with knowledge and abilities in thought and understanding

Psychomotor Domain

  • Deals with abilities in physical or manipulative skills

Affective Domain

  • Deals with attitudes, feelings, or emotions

Source: Definitions provided by Columbus State Community College (Columbus, Ohio)

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